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I think people just like to try other customs, to see how they work, feel, etc... Not a big deal.
I do find it odd though that some people I know switch hands to use their knives--not everyone, but many here in the States; I was taught to use my knife in the non-dominant hand, and I taught my kids how to use it too, but not because I thought the other method was wrong, just how I was taught.
I agree. Chopsticks are inefficient and don't make sense, just like American Currency is inefficient compared to international customs (ours is all green, the same size, relatively low use of coins.)
Regarding fork-and-knife etiquette, I was taught that "The American system doesn't make sense but we're in America and I won't have people thinking you were raised in a barn." Knife cuts with right hand, fork moves to right hand to eat.
I agree. Chopsticks are inefficient and don't make sense, just like American Currency is inefficient compared to international customs (ours is all green, the same size, relatively low use of coins.)
Huh? I don't agree with any of this. Chopsticks work perfectly for Asian food which was prepared with chopstick use in mind. I've never had any problem with American currency either, and I pay with cash all the time. Would much rather have ten $1 bills that fold up neatly than ten heavy $1 coins rattling around.
I'm flabbergasted. I've never heard of this American vs European way of eating. I just eat how I eat. I usually cut everything up at the start of the meal and put down the knife period.
This notion that Asian cuisine is "made for chopsticks" is inane. There's no food which can't be eaten using a fork or spoon.
Of course not. But many Asian cuisines are deliberately prepared in such a way that the food is easy to eat with chopsticks. In other words, it is already in bite-sized pieces and doesn't need to be cut up at the table. Western food is NOT prepared with this presumption.
No one said Asian food couldn't be eaten with silverware.
Huh? I don't agree with any of this. Chopsticks work perfectly for Asian food which was prepared with chopstick use in mind. I've never had any problem with American currency either, and I pay with cash all the time. Would much rather have ten $1 bills that fold up neatly than ten heavy $1 coins rattling around.
Yes, chopsticks work great for most asian food but a spoon works for nearly any food excepting tough meat requiring a knife - obviously utensils aren't entirely used for their "utility".
I enjoy using chopsticks to eat and taught myself to use them eating spaghetti at home.
I think when eating out it is fun and part of the overall experience to enjoy a culture's food in the manner that members of the culture do. But for me eating out is more about an experience than about shoving food in as fast as I can.
Most chinese food here is not really what they eat in China anyway. Forget fried rice. Sticky rice is best for using chopsticks.
There is a story that when forks were first introduced in western culture, some considered them "ungodly" because it was a change from eating with the hands that were given by the creator.
Stop and consider the issues that the blind have at meals. How does one know if food is actually on a spoon or fork? What is where on a plate?
I agree. Chopsticks are inefficient and don't make sense, just like American Currency is inefficient compared to international customs (ours is all green, the same size, relatively low use of coins.)
Regarding fork-and-knife etiquette, I was taught that "The American system doesn't make sense but we're in America and I won't have people thinking you were raised in a barn." Knife cuts with right hand, fork moves to right hand to eat.
Chopsticks aren’t inefficient if you know how to use them. I find that they pick up small items better than an a fork, to be honest. Sometimes with salads there are items I cannot get with a fork but are easy to pick up with chopsticks.
Forget fried rice. Sticky rice is best for using chopsticks.
Because fried rice is usually made from the long grain Jasmine rice which is non-sticky. Sticky rice is the short grain.
In fact, even Asians vary in the way they eat rice. Chinese hold up the bowl and use chopsticks to scoop rice into their mouths. Japanese use chopsticks to pick up rice from the bowl. Koreans use spoon to eat rice.
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