On 2012-06-28, Gary > wrote:

> That said.... I watched an "Iron Chef" show where Morimoto used chopsticks
> to prepare his meals. I was amazed at his proficiency.

It's a skill developed over a lifetime of practice. Not jes the motor
skills and hand-eye co-ordination, but the muscle strength required to
hold an object in complete control. I've been using chopsticks
regularly for over a decade, now, and still don't consider myself
proficient.

The long cooking chopsticks are particularly troublesome, as the
further from one's hand, the more leverage required. This is the
muscle strength I spoke of. I use chopsticks for cooking, but it's
not something I'm good at and I still find myself reaching for a set
of hinged kitchen tongs quite often.

In another twist, many lifelong chopstick users have perfected an
entirely different style. More a scissors approach than the classic
triangulated style. This is quite common amongst old Vietnamese
geezers in pho houses. My lily-white buddy from Missouri also has
mastered this method, he having married a native Japanese woman long
long ago. It's so natural to him, he can't even explain how he does
it. Drives me crazy!

nb


--
vi --the heart of evil!
Support labeling GMOs
<http://www.labelgmos.org/>