Amy Tan Fish Cheeks Summary

Have you ever been invited to a Chinese dinner and see food you have never seen before? Well in the story Fish Cheeks Amy’s crush has been invited over for dinner and wonders whether he will like their Chinese culture. Chinese culture is different from American culture in many ways, first they could be different in the types of food they eat and the manners they have at the table.
The food and table manners in the Chinese culture are very unique. First unique thing about the Chinese culture, “Chinese must always use chopsticks: Rice is served with every meal, and food is eaten with wooden chopsticks.”(China Para. 20) When eating soup, you are allowed to use a spoon. Second is what not to do when you are at the table. Do not lick or suck on your chopsticks it is extremely poor manners to do so. Lastly, wait until everyone at the table is seated and all have been served rice then you can help yourself to the main dishes. The main dishes Chinese …show more content…
Table manners in the story that relates to the research, “My relatives licked the ends of their chopsticks” (Amy Tan 185)in my research its very rude to do so. The Robert waited patiently to be served but in Chinese culture you serve yourself once everyone is seated. “Then my father poked his chopsticks right below the fish eye and plucked out the soft meat” (Amy Tan 185) in my research you must always start from the head or the tail. In the story Fish cheeks they served many different foods for the celebration. Roberts’s family was expecting a roasted turkey but instead found Chinese food. During their dinner they served fish, prawns, tofu and other foods. In celebrations fish or duck is always served. Amy tans family stacked tofu making it look like stacked sponges and served it for there celebration. The food they served in the story has a lot in common with the research I’ve found on Chinese