How do you eat with chopsticks?

[CajunRider]

There are three ways to hold them, it's regional. Chinese, Japanese, or Korean.

You are missing the Vietnamese. What are we? Chopsticks?

 

[IslandTractor]

You are missing the Vietnamese. What are we? Chopsticks?

Houston described the three techniques he mentioned earlier. Do the Vietnamese not use one of those (most likely the Chinese style like the Thais and Cambodians I would think).

 

[CajunRider]

Houston described the three techniques he mentioned earlier. Do the Vietnamese not use one of those (most likely the Chinese style like the Thais and Cambodians I would think).

Truth be told it is entirely up to the individual. We just don't like to be lumped in with other group. Just like the USA, we don't like to be lumped in with Europe as "the West", do we?

 

[IslandTractor]

Truth be told it is entirely up to the individual. We just don't like to be lumped in with other group. Just like the USA, we don't like to be lumped in with Europe as "the West", do we?

Europeans use knife and fork backwards so of course we don't want to be lumped with them!

 

[not2old]

Why bother? Forks are much easier to use. I could go outside and fetch water with a bucket from my well, but I choose to turn on a tap.

 

[Wagtail]

Europeans use knife and fork backwards so of course we don't want to be lumped with them!

<snert> Did you ever consider that you're the ones using the knife & fork 'backwards'?

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

<snert> Did you ever consider that you're the ones using the knife & fork 'backwards'?

No.

You drive on the wrong side of the road, too.

 

[MossRoad]

Check out this video on YouTube: How to use Korean chopstick - YouTube Check out this video on YouTube: how to use chopsticks / japan - YouTube Japan. Check out this video on YouTube: Learn how to REALLY use chopsticks from a Chinese ... - YouTube China. I use Japanese method. The Chinese scissors method is hard, never mastered it....

Great Videos!!! Not one of them shows anyone picking up food! :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

Many years ago I bought 10 pairs of non-disposable chopsticks from the Asian market in town, along with a bunch of food and fortune cookies, made a nice stir-fry for dinner, and taught my kids and myself how to eat with chopsticks. Ever since then, one of the kids and I always use chopsticks for Asian dinners, however, my wife and other child reverted back to forks. Anyhow, I like them, but don't like to shovel my rice, especially towards the end of the meal, when there's only rice and sauce left. Seems silly to hold up a bowl or plate and shovel, when using a knife to load your fork works much easier. :licking:

 

[Wagtail]

No.

You drive on the wrong side of the road, too.

:steeringwheel: We drive on the correct side of the road. We also spell words like neighbour, honour and tyre correctly too!

The letter "Z" is pronounced 'zed'.

An African black & white striped equine is a zebra, not a zeebra.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

:steeringwheel: We drive on the correct side of the road. We also spell words like neighbour, honour and tyre correctly too!

The letter "Z" is pronounced 'zed'.

An African black & white striped equine is a zebra, not a zeebra.

You're wrong about tire, the zeeebra, and the side of the road.

I concede on the others!

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Great Videos!!! Not one of them shows anyone picking up food! :laughing:

Shhhh! That's the secret! That's why Asians are so rarely fat!

 

[sixdogs]

Update. Just an update the from the OP on this. From the advice and videos given, we are now reasonably proficient at using chopsticks and if I wanted to, could pass a pea back and forth. Chopsticks use was merely learning how to hold them. Now, it's no big deal and I do prefer them for most dishes. It's a quick study of a serious 10 minutes with a dish like chicken and broccoli. FYI.

 

[Rara Avis]

Update. Just an update the from the OP on this. From the advice and videos given, we are now reasonably proficient at using chopsticks and if I wanted to, could pass a pea back and forth. Chopsticks use was merely learning how to hold them. Now, it's no big deal and I do prefer them for most dishes. It's a quick study of a serious 10 minutes with a dish like chicken and broccoli. FYI.

Now you need to learn how to catch flies...

 

[dragoneggs]

I have always taken it for granted using/eating with chopsticks. I learned and a young kid because my good friend was Japanese... and still a friend today. It turned out to be a prophecy of things to come. In my career I have traveled to many Asian countries more than 50 times (lost count long ago) and chopsticks are second nature to me. Most things can be eaten with them but a big steak is not a pretty sight! :laughing:

 

[sixdogs]

I have always taken it for granted using/eating with chopsticks. I learned and a young kid because my good friend was Japanese... and still a friend today. It turned out to be a prophecy of things to come. In my career I have traveled to many Asian countries more than 50 times (lost count long ago) and chopsticks are second nature to me. Most things can be eaten with them but a big steak is not a pretty sight! :laughing:

For me, eating with chopsticks is like when you were a kid and got a ride in a car compared with riding your bike over the same road and the difference in things seen or not seen along the same route. With a bike, you notice every bit of scenery with any changes along the way and in a car things just whiz by.

With a fork, the menu seems the dietary equivalent of gruel and everything is wolfed down with a burp. With chopsticks, each portion must be sized up for ability to be picked up and then studied so it can be eaten in a reasonable manner. Now I understand why the Japanese spend so much time on food prep and presentation. It's all part of the package.

 

[sixdogs]

Now you need to learn how to catch flies...

:laughing:

 

[riptides]

All of this talk on chopsticks, makes me hungry.

Sushi sounds good for lunch!

I have mastered the chopstick, down to the single grain of rice, in the soy dip no less. LOL.

 

[mikeman1]

how do i eat with chopsticks? VERY SLOWLY!

 

[MossRoad]

While I can and do use chopsticks well enough to not embarrass myself, I much prefer a fork and knife. I'm from the school of using the knife as a backstop to the pile while using the fork like a front end loader. Push in slowly, lift and curl. Let gravity fill the fork. Transport to mouth. Repeat.