Comparison and Contrast EssayInteresting Differences about Food between India and South KoreaHave you ever seen directly how Indians have a meal? It looked very interested when I observed how they have a meal in the local restaurant. There are many various differences between India and South Korea. However, what I want to say is about food which is the one of the most important things when you trip to India. Accordingly this essay will represent about the differences about foods between India and South Korea; the differences of the table manners when Indians and South Koreans have a meal, the differences of main and side dishes between India and South Korea, and the differences of prices and services. Also this one can be useful for the tourists who visit India first and the tourists who visit South Korea first.First difference about foods is the table manners when Indians and South Koreans have a meal in restaurant. In case of South Korea, South Koreans are usually not only using a spoon and chopsticks while they have a Korean dishes, but also they use knife and fork while having western foods such as steaks, pastas and so on. Koreans need to reserve the seat which is the farthest away from the entrance door for elderly when dining with elderly people and also wait for them to hold their spoon first and keep pace with them (blog.naver.com, dining with elderly people section). In case of India, India has developed some interesting table manners, which contrast to South Korea. One of the most amazing table manners is that Indians eat using their right hands, but never with left hands, which is considered unclean (iloveindia.com, para.2). This is very different from most Koreans, who use chopsticks. Also there is a formal arrangement with regard to seating in India, with people sitting in a clockwise direction starting with the eldest.Another difference between India and South Korea is what kind of main and side dishes they eat. Koreans like to eat rice with some side dishes because they tend to think that eating rice is more substantial than eating any other foods such as bread or fishes. That is the correct thinking. When Koreans eat rice, they always eat rice with some side dishes such as Kimchi, dried meat or fish and soups, which contains many essential nutrients. As for India, the most popular main dish is ‘Thali’ a combinations meal containing individual servings consisting of rice and vegetables with meat, chicken, or fish (Wikipedia, definition of Thali). Indian dishes have various fried rice so the concept of side dishes is almost unused. Also the curry is eaten with rice which forms staple diet of India. Indians garnish main dishes with curry and mix curry with rice or bread. Unlike Korean dishes, Indian dishes look so simple and light.Finally, the prices and the services about foods are different between India and South Korea. Generally the prices of Korean foods are more expensive than the prices of Indian foods under the same condition of amounts because the side dishes are included in main dishes (Irishtimes.com, para.4). Also the Korean restaurants have much cleaner spaces to eat, better services and more luxury atmosphere than Indian. For example of main dishes, when I was in India, I paid for the Thali commonly with Indian currency 50 Rupees which is almost close to Korean 1500 won. However, Many Koreans usually spend money for a 5000 won meal. It shows big differences of prices. In case of the services for foods, the servers do not say any comments when they serve foods and care whether the guests get in or not unlike very kindly Korean servers (nyindia.us, para.12).There are many differences about foods between India and South Korea as mentioned above so if you have a plan to trip to India, you ‘d better read this essay and I suggest that you have a chance having a meal by using only hands and try Indian local foods as much as possible. Although the Indian foods are cheap and not luxury, we need to respect and not to frown about Indian foods which are intrinsic and special. I know that the Indian foods are not unfamiliar to foreigners except curry, but try and enjoy it. The first step is always the hardest.References“Thali” Wikipedia. April 13, 2011.“General Table Manners” blog.naver.com. June 6, 2009. “Lunch for two to share for a fiver” IRISHTIMES.COM. April 30, 2011. “Indian Table Manners” iloveindia.com. “lousy food; bad service” nyindia.us.