Do you use chopstick when you go out to east Asian food? (buy, orange)

[rainroosty]

I use chopsticks very well but I prefer the fork because I eat like a horse.

[tvdxer]

Originally Posted by elnina

^^^ most of the Asian rice is a sticky rice... no problem. But you can master to eat individual corns if you want

That is true, but on the other hand how do you eat both the starch (rice in this case) and the sauce / protein / vegetable, etc.? I can see how you would if they are combined (e.g. sushi), but I can't imagine eating ma po tofu or a similar dish with chopsticks.

[SATX56]

I'm gonna use the modern day appropriate equipment thanks!

[theatergypsy]

Eating with chopsticks is easily learned and with a little practice one can become proficient. Grasp one stick about a third to a half of the way from the pointed end and tuck it in the crease of your thumb. Rest it on your ring finger near the nail. You can adjust this once you find your comfort zone. Take the other stick and hold it as though it was a pencil. The one in your thumb-crease will remain stationary for the most part. The one in the pencil-grip will be the "mover". All that remains is practice. For the record, this doesn't work if you're eating soup.

You can probably find a tutorial on youtube.

Why? Simply because it's beneficial to attempt to learn something new every day.

[texantodd]

Originally Posted by elnina

^^^ most of the Asian rice is a sticky rice... no problem. But you can master to eat individual corns if you want

You don't have to eat individual corns, you make a small v-pattern, and use it almost in a spoon fashion and it works just fine.

[LaFemme86]

Some of the comments in this thread are disappointing, and fortifies what I said in the "Dislikes" topic. I do eat chopsticks when eating foods that are typically eaten with chopsticks, whether I make it at home, order in, or eat out in the restaurant. Similarly, when I eat Indian or Ethiopian food, I use my hands. When I have steak and potatoes, I use a knife and fork.

This is not about modern vs. not, it's food... different cultures prepare different foods to be eaten in different ways. Have fun with it-- no need to be a snob about it!

And to be fair, for chopsticks-- it's one thing if you just can't get the hang of it, but to downright dismiss it is a bit appalling IMO.

[princesasabia]

I like using chopsticks, but only use them when I eat Asian food.

[DitsyD]

We use chopsticks to eat Oriental/Asian foods. We are very caucasian, but I too feel that you should eat the food the way that it is normally eaten in its country of origin. I feel that it is important to connect with others and sharing food has always been a big way to do so. IMHO, eating foods their native way forges stronger bonds.

We have many pairs of chopsticks at home to use, but I will admit that I don't use chopsticks for fast food, like at the mall.

[Sunnydee]

I always eat Asian food with chopsticks because it's fun. I once went on a diet that required you to use chopsticks on anything you wanted to eat. I thought I'd lose a lot of weight, I lost a little bit, but actually got pretty proficient at using chopsticks.

[theatergypsy]

One beautiful thing about chopsticks is learning to eat slowly and reaching your "full factor" before you have a chance to overeat.

The preparation of Asian foods facilitates the use of chopsticks because it is cut into (mostly) bite-size pieces. In the west, we are served whole chops, slabs of beef, chunks of tuna or salmon which require the use of a knife and fork.

Strangely, I once heard that in earlier times, the knife was used to transport the food to the mouth, and the fork was used to push the food onto the knife. I don't imagine they ate an awful lot of peas.