Do you use chopstick when you go out to east Asian food?

[it_serpent]

Originally Posted by Momotaro

Actually you can and do. They have spoons mostly for people who are Westerners or for some folk who just prefer a spoon. Often times, people eat their soup like Miso with the Chopstick. It is essentially a guide to get the chunky morsels of the soup to your mouth, then you drink the soup base itself.

Yeah that was kinda what I was getting at: unless you pick up the bowl, the chopsticks don't work that well (aside from whatever is in the broth). I use all untencils myself, but the right tool for the right job. I dont mind drinking out of the bowl, but it tends to be frowned upon in western culture for the most part.

[Momotaro]

Originally Posted by it_serpent

Yeah that was kinda what I was getting at: unless you pick up the bowl, the chopsticks don't work that well (aside from whatever is in the broth). I use all untencils myself, but the right tool for the right job. I dont mind drinking out of the bowl, but it tends to be frowned upon in western culture for the most part.

Well to me that is efficient and proper. The westerners who have the closed mind just needs to get over it.

[bs13690]

Depends on what I am eating. Sometimes I go somewhere and they give you chopsticks and a giant hunk of duck. How am I supposed to eat a whole duck breast with some damn chopsticks?

Or, they give you non-sticky rice. Almost impossible for me to eat that with a 'stick. I'll chow down some noodles and/or sushi with them, though.

[swgirl926]

Yes I do. When in Rome...

It's just part of the experience. And I enjoy the food more if I use the chopsticks.
Even if I eat Asian food at home, I will use chopsticks. I got an 80 pack of bamboo chopsticks for under $3. Beats the price of flatware. I know I can get the lacquered ones, but I prefer the bamboo. Even have the melamine dishes and the Asian soup spoons.

Maybe I like to replicate the restaurant experience, or maybe I'm just weird.

[Curmudgeon]

Been using them since I was about three or four and living in mainland China. Over the course of some years I also lived in Japan and Korea. I use them at home and in restaurants and always carried a pair with me when in the field in the military. Very handy and second nature to me!

[Chava61]

Originally Posted by it_serpent

I know it's kind of odd question, but I've been wondering about it: do you use chopsticks when you eat Asian food?

Personally, I enjoy it. And it seems fitting somehow. In fact it almost feels weird to me to not use them when eating Asian foods. Have you seen someone eat a noodle dish with a fork and knife at a Chinese restaurant? I have and it makes me wince just thinking about it. Not sure why. Then again, if I go out to eat with my aunt and they server the meal with chopsticks, she always asks for a fork because she simply can not figure out how to use them.

But sometimes I wonder: woudn't it be easier to use a knife, fork and spoon? Do you find it fun to eat with chopsticks because it's not the normal fork and knife? If you're at a Chinese restaurant and they're not on the table do you seek them out?

I eat Asian food with chopsticks when I am in Asia. But when I eat Asian food in the USA I use a knife and fork.

[Kayekaye]

Yes I do too, and I like them for other foods as well, especially salad. Now I find my salad falling off my fork when I eat out without them. Hosted years of Japanese foreign exchange students so got used to chopsticks.