Japanese

             The traditional food of Japan is based on rice with miso soup and other dishes. The side dishes often consist of fish, pickled vegetables, and vegetables cooked in broth. Fish that is grilled, can be served raw as sashimi or sushi, is common in the traditional cuisine. Apart from rice, staples include noodles, such as soba and udon. Japanese has many cooking techniques such as: boiled, stir-fried, grilled, etc. Some of the popular dishes are: tempura, chawanmushi, sushi, etc. Traditional Japanese table setting is to place a bowl of rice on your left and to place a bowl of miso soup on your right side at the table. Behind these, each okazu(side dish) is served on its own individual plate. Chopsticks are generally placed at the very front of the tray near the diner with pointed ends facing left and supported by a hashioki(chopstick rest). Traditional Japanese low tables and cushions, usually found on tatami floors, are very common.The honoured or eldest guest will usually be seated at the centre of the table farthest from the entrance.The host sits next to or closest to the entrance.Before eating, most dining places will provide either a hot or cold towel or a plastic-wrapped o-shibori( wet napkin). The rice or the soup is eaten by picking up the bowl with the left hand and using chopsticks with the right, or vice versa if you are left-handed. Soy sauce is not usually poured over most foods on the table. It is customary to eat rice to the last grain.

 

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cuisine

Indian

            Indians generally prefer roti, prata and a vegetable dish, accompanied by pickles and some curd and to drink tea or coffee for breakfast. People of western India prefer dhokla(a fermented batter derived from rice and chickpea splits) and milk and South Indians prefer idlis and dosas, generally accompanied by various chutneys(mixture of spices, vegetables, and/or fruits. Lunch in India usually consists of a main dish of rice in the south and east, or whole-wheat rotis in the north and west. Lunch also includes two or three kinds of vegetables. They will also take dessert, paan( betel leaves), which aid digestion, after lunch in parts of India. Dinner is considered as the main meal of the day. Indians eat while seated either on the floor or on very low stools or cushions. Food is eaten with the right hand rather than cutlery. The left hand is used to serve oneself when the host does not serve the courses. Roti is used to scoop curry without allowing it to touch the hand. In the north, a piece of roti is gripped with the thumb and middle finger and ripped off while holding the roti down with the index finger. In the south, the middle finger is pressed down to hold the crepe down and the forefinger and thumb used to grip and separate a small part. Indian food is heavily influenced by religious and cultural choices and traditions.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_cuisine

Italian

    Many of the Italian dishes have four to eight ingredients. Italian food constitutes a key feature of global food culture. Ingredients and dishes vary by region.  Cheese, wine and coffee are a major part of the cuisine. Italian cuisine has its origins in Etruscan, Jewish, ancient Greek, and ancient Roman cuisines. Meals in Italy usually contain 3 or 4 courses. On weekends, meals are often seen as a time to spend with family and friend, and are thus longer. During Christmas and New Year eve, feast can last for hours. The traditional Italian menu is kept mainly for special events while an everyday menu includes only the first second course, the side dish, and coffee. Some of the popular dishes are pasta, pizza, tiramisu, etc. The development of international food chains selling pizza that people across the globe recognize Italy as one of the world's great food nations.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_cuisine

Chinese

          Some of the popular are: dumpling, peking roasted duck, spring roll, etc. Peaches symbolises longevity and immortality. In Northern China, wheat is a staple diet. Southern China food are spicier. They have lots of cuisine like: Sichuan, Cantonese, Hainan, etc. Chinese always present the best or fine food first to the senior members of the family. They will arrange the main courses at the centre with the supporting dishes evenly placed around them. When the main dishes are prepared in a decorative form they will be placed facing the major guests and elder people at the table. On the wedding day, it is also customary to serve dates, peanuts, longan and chestnuts together as wish that the couple will soon have a baby. Almost all eat zongzi( glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves) during the Dragon Boat Festival.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_cuisine