Culture:Eating like a Korean
【明報專訊】Bill and Pat had a great time exploring Kimberley Street, or Little Korea, in Lunar New Year. Pat is visiting the place with Dr Panda and MoMo again. MoMo learns something new there.
“ Pat: This restaurant is famous for serving authentic Korean food! ”
“ Korean waitress: Koreans don't pick up their bowls when they eat. Please bear it in mind. ”
“ MoMo: I see. I'm sorry. ”
“ MoMo: I wonder why that's the case? ”
“ Dr Panda: You'll find out soon. ”
“ Dr Panda: That's why Koreans don't pick up a bowl when they eat. ”
■Culture tips
Unlike people in other East Asian countries, Koreans never pick up their bowls during a meal. They believe that only beggars do that. This belief may stem from that in the past, only servants held their bowls when they ate because they had to go back to work quickly after finishing their meals. Therefore, eating with a bowl in the hand symbolises poverty. Moreover, many bowls Koreans use are made of metal. They are heavy, hot and difficult to hold when they are filled with food.
(See photo C )
■English highway﹕bear in mind
To bear something in mind is to remember something. What needs to be remembered may be introduced by "bear in mind + that".
e.g. Please bear in mind that you must finish your work by 5 pm.
■Glossary
authentic (adj) 真正的、正宗的
beggar (n) 乞丐
stem from (phr v) 起源於
poverty (n) 貧窮