Among many families in America and elsewhere it is frowned upon to waste food. As a result when one goes to a sit down restaurant in America and cannot eat all that has been ordered, it is culturally okay to take home the leftover uneaten food. In most restaurants in Saudi Arabia it is also okay to ask to take home the leftover uneaten food on a plate. However the primary distinction is that in America one would ask for a “doggy bag.” A server on receiving a request for a doggy bag would in turn transfer the leftover food into a bag such as the image which accompanies this post.
But where did this name come from and when did the phrase doggy bag start being used? The name comes from the euphemistic pretense that the food will be given to the diner’s pet, rather than eaten by a person. One of its earliest appearances in print is from Time magazine of Sept. 4, 1964 – “All too frequently, guests use doggie bags to haul off pilfered ashtrays, pepper mills, and silverware.”
Now depending on where one is dining in Saudi Arabia and the nationality and/or religion of the restaurant server, a diner can have very differing and surprising reactions if requesting a doggy bag. Not only may the term “doggy bag” be a completely foreign and unknown term but among many Saudis and others of the Muslim faith, dogs are viewed as ‘haram’ or forbidden. Therefore asking for something with connotations to the word dog could result in a big misunderstanding. Therefore, in Saudi Arabia instead of using the term doggy bag, it is more culturally correct to request a take home container for leftovers instead.
I’d like to close this post with a question and I’ll share my perspective as well. If one is dining out in Saudi and as the guest of a Saudi, is it considered okay to request a take home container with his or her leftovers? My inclination is to follow the lead of the Saudi host. If the Saudi host has leftovers on his or her plate and requests a take home container then there should be no surprise or unintentional insult on the part of the guest to ask for a take home container. If the Saudi host had no leftovers but suggests that the guest may like to request a take home container then I believe it indicates acceptance of this practice on the part of the Saudi host. If no move or suggestion is made by the host regarding any leftovers and the restaurant server does not ask diners if a take home container is required, I would suggest do not raise the subject of a take home container.
Filed under: America, Animals, culture, Food, friendship, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, Saudi education, Saudi Living, travel, Uncategorized Tagged: | America, culture, culture shock, customs, Food, heritage, KSA, places, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, travel
While it is fine here in America to take food home after a meal one cannot finish, the term “doggie bag” is long gone. In fact, I have never seen one like the one shown in the photo. they use Styrofoam , foil and other such containers and no one believes it is going home to a doggie…it is so commonly accepted here that there is no embarrassment in asking to take it home and if one doesn’t the waiter/ess will ask if you’d like them to pack it up to go. However, as a rule “doggie bags” are not allowed at a buffet for the obvious reason that people will eat their fill and take home a second meal while having paid for one.
Regarding asking to take home leftovers from a saudi host:
It would be unusual for the guest to ask for leftovers, however the host would probably never refuse the guests request (in saudi tradition the guests are treated like kings/queens). It would depend on the family(how traditional) and how well you know them.
If youre shy to ask you could probably act cute and over-praise the meal and they might offer you to take home leftovers or maybe the recipe.
As for what they would think, they’d probably be surprised as it is an unusual request but they will likely see it as a cute request by an american and be all too happy to give you what you want.
Oby – I guess those of us who use the term ‘doggy bag’ and remember such bags are dating ourselves! (LOL)
Simple Saudi – I don’t think anyone would ask for a ‘doggy bag’ if they were at the home of a Saudi but you never know when out with a Saudi at a restaurant and the Saudi was the host but the guest could not finish a good meal.
Oby said what I was going to say!
@american bedu
When I worked in a restaurant during my college days, doggie bags were exactly like the ones pictured, and many times they were used to carry bones. As @oby says, doggie bags are passe and styrofoam containers are used.
okay…so I am showing I’m turning into an antique here!
I agree that I have never seen a doggie bag either. I don’t know that I have ever been to a restaurant where they don’t ask me if I want ‘a box’.
When I was in America the wiatress asked before she even came with the bill if we wanted the (failry large) amount of food wrapped. Indeed in a stryrofoam box. It was a Chinese restaurant (excellent restaurant) near our hotel, we went several times. And the portions were fairly large.
It’s also perfectly normal in the netherlands.
The only time I saw a doggie bag with an actual dog on it was back in 1975. It seems like it was just that particular restaurant we went to that used them. Other places used foil molded and bent into swan shapes etc with the leftover food. This was before the styrofoam boxes….back when I was very, very young like Bedu of course! : )
I like to the doggy bag picture above. In fact, I take preference over the word “doggy bag” over a “take home container”.
Ofcourse in upscale restaurants a taking home left overs is inappropriate. I useally do take some home, especially pizza. ( Sounds gross but I like cold pizza for breakfast.
As far as quest are concerned, if I am hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner there is plenty of turkey to go around and the left over turkey makes a great sandwich along with rasbery/cranberry walnut relish adn stuffing. In turn, the hosts keeps the deserts and some of the other side dishes. It is particularly common at least in my family to give to someone who might be going through some difficult times some extras.
So those visitng the US feel free to ask for some left overs at my house! ( except I am Turkey right now–and not the bird the actual country)
jacee – you are not alone in enjoying cold pizza for breakfast!!
What I have done on holiday dinners which I’ve hosted, since it is just my hubby and I at the house and I do enjoy cooking, I always make much more with the intent on preparing a variety of the leftovers for guests to take home. Especially in my family where Thanksgiving leftovers are also a family tradition.
jacee, I might be ashamed to ask you for any leftover since you give them to ‘those who are going through difficult times’.
I think that that is why people used ‘doggie bags’ and it is deemed inappropriate at ‘upscale’ restaurants. Who would be dining at an upscale restaurant that would have a ‘need’ for leftovers? Wealth seems to come with a requirement to waste in order to ensure the appearance of wealth.
@Lynn, In NJ i’ve seen people ask for take homes in reasonably expensive restaurants ($60 per head w/o drinks). I’ve done it myself. No embarrassment here.
I’m sorry, I meant waaay back in the past Jerry when ‘doggie bags’ were first thought of and people were more hoity toity than they are these days.
I always ask to take my meal home. Especially with the tough economic times we are facin why would I let food I pay for go to waste?
I’m an American (and southern) and currently living in a southern state and I have never asked for a “doggy bag.” The term I have used and is used by restaurant servers here is “box.” As far as the practice of taking home the leftovers, it is normal in any restaurant in my opinion but the term “doggy bag” is a bit archaic.
Hi Shannamama,
Welcome and thanks for your comment. Yes, doggy bag is pretty much an outdated comment now but it is also something (doggy bag) that never existed in KSA so it is interesting to compare the traditions and how they have evolved and why.