The meal of the year is coming. This is the day we will (casually!) prepare our annual dinner. It’s the day when we (casually!) whip up a 10-course meal in our kitchens without any help from prep cooks or dishwashers. We search for the turkey baster that we haven’t used in 364 days and the giant roasting pot hidden under trays at the back of the cabinet. As we remove the bubble wrap on the gravy vessel that has been handed down through generations and packed away each year after its service at the table is over, we count napkins and rings.
Why the fuss? Thanksgiving is all about food and people. Cooks love it because, although it’s a lot to do for the host, they also enjoy their version of Thanksgiving. This is not a day to run around buying gifts or setting off fireworks. This day’s tradition is to spend time at home. You prepare a meal to nurture the people who are important to you and strengthen your relationship.
Should we tip 25% everywhere now?
Information is literally available at our fingertips. Siri and Google can answer any question. Ask Jeeves probably said, “Yes, tipping your server at a restaurant is customary,” even before the advent of the internet. Tipping at restaurants is not the norm in many countries. In some states, servers earn $2.13 per hour, while in other countries, they might make a living wage. Attention Fodor’s Travel Guides, Frommer’s Guides, Lonely Planet, and other travel guides: please inform travelers to the United States that tipping is expected at restaurants and bars. It is common to tip 15-20% of the total bill. If fractions are difficult, double the tax. When they are waiting for someone who is from another country, many servers assume that the tip will be low. Although they don’t like to think this way, years of poor tips from tourists have reinforced the stereotype.
Do You Tip Cash or with a Credit Card
My friend and his family went to a restaurant with their visiting family from London, and the bill was $300. My friend explained how tipping worked to his dad, who wanted to pay for the bill. The advice was received by one British ear but not the other. This resulted in a tip of $20. He couldn’t understand the American tradition of adding 20%, or perhaps he was just stubborn. My friend saved the server by secretly leaving an extra $40. If it weren’t for my friend, the server might have believed the old cliche about tourists not tipping.
How to enjoy a meal with friends and family who don’t tip enough
I love tourists. When I see someone struggling to use the subway, I am the first to offer assistance. I try to be friendly and communicate if we don’t share the same language. New Yorkers are known for being a bit gruff. But that’s not entirely true. This is another stereotype that can be broken. We all must try to adapt to the culture and language of wherever we are. It’s hoped that it will be well received.
Remember, if your question is in a foreign language, you can expect the answer in that language. In my perfect French, I asked the Louvre staff where the toilets were. Les toilettes weren’t near. After apologizing to the other person for not understanding their language, I replied, “Merci,” and asked another question in English. Like Europeans, who cannot handle tipping too little, I couldn’t take tipping more than 20%. It’s hard to break some habits.
