The 'Grandma Rule' Anthony Bourdain Suggests Using When Eating Abroad

The late chef Anthony Bourdain considered meals a conversation in which the host tells you about their culture and history, and he finds it rude to turn down what you are offered.

Bourdain even had a name for this idea: the grandma rule. "When I go to Grandma's house, I eat what Grandma puts on the table," he told EF Journal.

The chef considered interacting with strangers a privilege that should be met with graciousness, and argued that turning down food means thwarting a connection to the cook.

"If you say 'No, no, no,' you're not just saying, 'I'm not touching your food,'" he said. "You're also saying, 'I'm not interested in pursuing any kind of relationship with you.''"