rosie > wrote:

> Living in Hawaii, we all learned to use chopsticks quite well. Now of
> course , in Texas, there is not the same need to be efficient with
> them. I do remember once, when patting myself on the back for my
> expert usage, a friend informed me until I could eat Tacos, with
> chopsticks-- I really wasn't any good.

We went to Pao's Mandarin restaurant (Lakeway, TX) a few weeks ago
and the server assembled and rolled our mu-shu pork and shrimp with
chopsticks at the table.

I really prefer to do it myself, but this was worth watching even if
as the hunger pangs were setting in while we waited patiently :-)

You never said where you went to dinner last weekend in Austin,
BTW ;-) Or else I missed it.

-sw

> wrote:

> I can't use them to eat, but they are handy for:
>
> stirring stuff in a tall, narrow vessel, e.g. powdered milk and water,
> propping open the lid a tad on a saucepan,
> propping up a small plant,
> fishing anchovies out of the can,
> mixing separated tahini

I roll my hair up in a bun and stick them through the cross-folds
perpendicularly. I think they make me look more sophisticated,
scholarly, and intelligent.

But mostly I just hang them out of my nose like a walrus and make
barking sounds.

-sw (Coo-coo-kAH-CHOO!)

Andy said...

> James Silverton said...
>
>> Omelet wrote on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:13:47 -0600:
>>
>>>> On 19-Jan-2009, Andy > wrote:
>>>>
>>> >> Andy <--- The "Can I have a fork" all thumbs guy
>>> >> Voter #21
>>>>
>>>> I'm with you on the "Can I have a fork"; though, perhaps, I
>>>> have fewer thumbs. I've just never understood the "charm" of
>>>> chopsticks; sure, if I lived in a place and culture that had
>>>> only chopsticks, I'm sure I'd use them competently. But, I
>>>> have all kinds of better suited utensils available to me; why
>>>> would I choose choose chopsticks instead of a fork or spoon.
>>
>>> Because they are fun. :-)
>>
>>> YMMV as always...
>>
>> Just to stoke things up again :-) It's easier to eat spaghetti with
>> chopsticks than with a fork.
>
>
> JAMES!!!
>
> When I tried my first bowl of pho, if the waiter hadn't kindly offered
> me a fork, I might've been there for a month of Sundays finishing the
> bowlful.
>
> Therefore I can safely declare your claim FALSE.
>
> Andy


I DID use the Asian (? ceramic) soup spoon for the soup portion of the
dish. Chopsticks would've been an evil joke in that respect in ANY
population!!! Although I would be entirely capable of tipping the bowl and
sipping it up! Maybe not in public!?

Andy

Andy wrote:

>
> Yeah, I can imagine in skilled hands it's magic, just not in mine,
> obviously!

Well, several billion Chinese people have that 'magic' ;-)

FWIW, I am pretty useless with chopsticks too.

However, it actually makes for some interesting reading about how and
why chopsticks as we know them came into being...
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

ChattyCathy said...

> Andy wrote:
>
>>
>> Yeah, I can imagine in skilled hands it's magic, just not in mine,
>> obviously!
>
> Well, several billion Chinese people have that 'magic' ;-)
>
> FWIW, I am pretty useless with chopsticks too.
>
> However, it actually makes for some interesting reading about how and
> why chopsticks as we know them came into being...


Why are we ALWAYS the last to kinow?!!

Andy
Andy's Evil Twin

Andy said...

> last to kinow?!!


Last to know?!!

"ChattyCathy" > wrote in message
...
> http://www.recfoodcooking.com
>
> Thanks go to Andy for this survey...
> --
> Cheers
> Chatty Cathy


MCNL. I know how to use chopsticks but why bother?

Jill

On 2009-01-20, jmcquown > wrote:

> MCNL. I know how to use chopsticks but why bother?

More practical application of hand/mind coordination than video games.
Keeps the mind active. Easier than calculus.

nb

Andy wrote on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:43:36 +0000 (UTC):


> I DID use the Asian (? ceramic) soup spoon for the soup
> portion of the dish. Chopsticks would've been an evil joke in
> that respect in ANY population!!! Although I would be entirely
> capable of tipping the bowl and sipping it up! Maybe not in
> public!?

I don't think I'd tip a large pho bowl in a restaurant or at home but I
have drunk Japanese soup in public in traditional style from the small
bowl .

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

On 2009-01-20, James Silverton > wrote:

> I don't think I'd tip a large pho bowl in a restaurant or at home but I
> have drunk Japanese soup in public in traditional style from the small
> bowl .

As a past denezin of many pho holes, I can attest to the fact that the
Vietnamese do not tip their bowls. They use chopsticks and Asian-style
spoons to consume the luscious pho nectar.

One thing I've learned after using and observing Asians use chopsticks:
oldtimers do not use the isoscles triangle technique taught to newbies on so
many websites, but rather a scissors technique. They cross the sticks and
catch the food in the closing squeeze of the crossed tips. It's harder to
learn the manipulation, but once mastered, seems to be the easier and more
relaxed method. A great practice for chopsticks is eating buttered popcorn
or potato chips. Good control exercise and keeps finger from getting all
greasy.

nb

notbob wrote on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:46:19 GMT:

>> I don't think I'd tip a large pho bowl in a restaurant or at
>> home but I have drunk Japanese soup in public in traditional
>> style from the small bowl .

> As a past denezin of many pho holes, I can attest to the fact
> that the Vietnamese do not tip their bowls. They use
> chopsticks and Asian-style spoons to consume the luscious pho
> nectar.

> One thing I've learned after using and observing Asians use
> chopsticks:
> oldtimers do not use the isoscles triangle technique taught to
> newbies on so many websites, but rather a scissors technique.
> They cross the sticks and catch the food in the closing
> squeeze of the crossed tips. It's harder to learn the
> manipulation, but once mastered, seems to be the easier and
> more relaxed method.

That's really interesting! Do you know of a video that shows the
scissors technique, especially in slow motion? I can't really go and
stare at oriental people in restaurants, especially with my poor
eyesight :-) The triangle method that I know is the one that seems to
appear in all the online videos about learning to use chopsticks.. You
are even cautioned *not* to cross the sticks in videos that I have seen.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

On Jan 19, 2:48*pm, "l, not -l" > wrote:
> On 19-Jan-2009, Andy > wrote:
>
> > Andy <--- The "Can I have a fork" all thumbs guy
> > Voter #21
>
> I'm with you on the "Can I have a fork"; though, perhaps, I have fewer
> thumbs. *I've just never understood the "charm" of chopsticks; sure, if I
> lived in a place and culture that had only chopsticks, I'm sure I'd use them
> competently. *But, I have all kinds of better suited utensils available to
> me; why would I choose choose chopsticks instead of a fork or spoon.

Versatility. When I go to Asian restaurants, I use whatever utensil
is on
the table. If it's chopsticks, I use them. If it's a fork, I use
it. (At home
I always use a fork.)

I also drive stick shift; no matter what kind of passenger vehicle I
get into, I
know I can drive it. I might be able to take a crack at an 18-wheeler
in
an emergency, although the owner of it might not be very happy
when I was done.

Cindy Hamilton

jmcquown wrote:

>
> MCNL. I know how to use chopsticks but why bother?
>
> Jill

Dunno. Maybe those 1.something billion
Chinese/Korean/Japanese/Thai/Vietnamese/Indonesian etc. folks who use
them every day might be able to tell you why they bother...
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

On Jan 19, 10:55*pm, Sqwertz > wrote:

> But mostly I just hang them out of my nose like a walrus and make
> barking sounds.

As does my husband. I just can't take him anywhere.

Cindy Hamilton

On 2009-01-20, James Silverton > wrote:

> That's really interesting! Do you know of a video that shows the
> scissors technique, especially in slow motion? I can't really go and
> stare at oriental people in restaurants, especially with my poor
> eyesight :-) The triangle method that I know is the one that seems to
> appear in all the online videos about learning to use chopsticks.. You
> are even cautioned *not* to cross the sticks in videos that I have seen.

I first noticed this scissors technique from my more-geezer-than-me friend,
the one with the Japanese wife I've referred to so much, lately. He's a
native Oklahoman who now uses chopsticks almost exclusively, proof old dogs
can learn new tricks. While eating at his bento place, I noticed he used
this scissors technique. Later, when I went to pho places, I noticed all
the oldtimers were using the same technique. I've never mastered it myself
and have seen no online videos showing the fine points, but it's something I
aspire to.

I remember when I first learned to used chopsticks. It took all four
fingers and my thumb to control the dang things. Eventually I went to 3,
then 2 fingers, and finally to only one finger to pinch/control the top
stick. Then, seeing my friend so casually wield his sticks in such a
relaxed fashion with only his thumb and index finger again made me feel
clumsey and stupid. Another crusher is trying to use cooking chopsticks,
which are anywhere from 10-18" long. Makes your wonder if you'll ever have
the strength in your hand to pull it off or if only ppl raised using them
from childhood will truly master them.

nb

James Silverton wrote:
> I don't think I'd tip a large pho bowl in a restaurant or at home but I
> have drunk Japanese soup in public in traditional style from the small
> bowl .
>
I do that, and I am in the minority.

--
Jean B.

On 2009-01-20, ChattyCathy > wrote:

> Dunno. Maybe those 1.something billion
> Chinese/Korean/Japanese/Thai/Vietnamese/Indonesian etc. folks who use
> them every day might be able to tell you why they bother...

OTOH, I've read that in Japan, using chopsticks is a dying skill and getting
kids to bother with them is a real problem.

nb

notbob wrote:

> OTOH, I've read that in Japan, using chopsticks is a dying skill and getting
> kids to bother with them is a real problem.
>
> nb

Not sure how I feel about that. It is kinda sad, but times change. Here
is a video on using chopsticks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8mw8SWS5nM

My technique is closer to Emily and Chloe's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP2uGWXD7JY

Becca

On 2009-01-20, Becca > wrote:
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8mw8SWS5nM
>
> My technique is closer to Emily and Chloe's.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP2uGWXD7JY

Interesting. Shows different techniques, as I explained. Two finger (top
stick) vs the one finger the little girl exhibits. Here's a vid with
important etiquette rules, common to both Chinese and Japanese.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y9HO-c0dxU&NR=1

Both are all wrapped up in very strict and formal eating etiquette. I
remember eating at a Benihana and after the meal was mostly finished, I had
some plain rice left. I poured a bit of soy on it to finish it off and was
immediately admonished by cow orkers that had traveled to Japan, our company
being a Japanese partner. Apparently, it's ok to dip rice into soy, but the
epitome of bad manners to pour soy over your rice. I blew them all off,
stating we were in US and not subject to any formal Japanese etiquette. I
relate it only because I thought this episode might be instructional.


nb

notbob wrote:
> On 2009-01-20, jmcquown > wrote:
>
>> MCNL. I know how to use chopsticks but why bother?
>
> More practical application of hand/mind coordination than video games.
> Keeps the mind active. Easier than calculus.
>
> nb

Slows the shoveling of food in to a more pleasurable pace.

notbob wrote:

> On 2009-01-20, ChattyCathy > wrote:
>
> > Dunno. Maybe those 1.something billion
> > Chinese/Korean/Japanese/Thai/Vietnamese/Indonesian etc. folks who
> > use them every day might be able to tell you why they bother...
>
> OTOH, I've read that in Japan, using chopsticks is a dying skill and
> getting kids to bother with them is a real problem.

In the Japanese anime FLCL (great series, BTW), there's a scene where a
class is being taught chopstick use in elementary school. The kids
comment that they'd rather use sporks.




Brian

--
If televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who
won't shut up.
-- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com)

On Jan 20, 11:36*pm, notbob > wrote:
> On 2009-01-20, ChattyCathy > wrote:
>
> > Dunno. Maybe those 1.something billion
> > Chinese/Korean/Japanese/Thai/Vietnamese/Indonesian etc. folks who use
> > them every day might be able to tell you why they bother...
>
> OTOH, I've read that in Japan, using chopsticks is a dying skill and getting
> kids to bother with them is a real problem.
>
> nb

The MAJORITY of Thai do NOT use Chopsticks many Indonesians also
do not use them .

"ChattyCathy" > wrote in message
...
> jmcquown wrote:
>
>>
>> MCNL. I know how to use chopsticks but why bother?
>>
>> Jill
>
> Dunno. Maybe those 1.something billion
> Chinese/Korean/Japanese/Thai/Vietnamese/Indonesian etc. folks who use
> them every day might be able to tell you why they bother...
> --
> Cheers
> Chatty Cathy



Maybe the ones who eat nothing but rice and dim sum and
Chinese/Koren/Japanese/Thai,/Vietnames/Indondesian will tell you why they
bother If in the USA it's to impress. I don't know who they're trying
to impress.

Jill

notbob wrote on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:26:06 GMT:

> On 2009-01-20, Becca > wrote:
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8mw8SWS5nM
>>
..
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP2uGWXD7JY

>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y9HO-c0dxU&NR=1

Thanks, these are useful movies but I did not see any real evidence of
scissoring in any of them tho' a 3-d flexibility is desirable. The last
movie suggested taking food from a shared bowl with the broad non-eating
ends but the lady didn't as far as I could see.

As for automatically rubbing chopsticks to remove splinters, even in a
restaurant I was told it reflects on the quality of the sticks (hashi)
provided. That's not to say that low quality chopsticks are totally
unknown. At home of course and in most pho restaurants that I know,
chopsticks are washable and lacquered or solid.
--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

On Jan 19, 9:47�pm, Sqwertz > wrote:
> rosie > wrote:
> > Living in Hawaii, we all learned to use chopsticks quite well. Now of
> > course , in Texas, there is not the same need to be efficient with
> > them. I do remember once, when patting myself on the back for my
> > expert usage, a friend informed me until I could eat Tacos, with
> > chopsticks-- I really wasn't any good.
>
> We went to Pao's Mandarin restaurant (Lakeway, TX) a few weeks ago
> and the server assembled and rolled our mu-shu pork and shrimp with
> chopsticks at the table.
>
> I really prefer to do it myself, but this was worth watching even if
> as the hunger pangs were setting in while we waited patiently :-)
>
> You never said where you went to dinner last weekend in Austin,
> BTW ;-) �Or else I missed it.
>
> -sw

We went to Lamberts- uh oh, I thought more Bar B que.. But the menu
was more extensive than I had imagined. I was turned off by "Local
Rabbit Pate" Visualizing some of my critters. Finall decided on Rib
Eye. It turned out to be the best I have ever had. Sounds very
strange, at least to me, but was cooked perfectly, medium rare, and on
top was a mixture of brown sugar and mustard. it made a cruispy
coating. OMYGAWD

Have you eaten there? I would like to try some other things on the
menu, everything was a la carte, and the sides( only tasted) were
cooked perfectly.

Rosie

In article >,
"Cheryl" > wrote:

> "James Silverton" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Omelet wrote on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:13:47 -0600:
> >
> >>> On 19-Jan-2009, Andy > wrote:
> >>>
> >> >> Andy <--- The "Can I have a fork" all thumbs guy
> >> >> Voter #21
> >>>
> >>> I'm with you on the "Can I have a fork"; though, perhaps, I
> >>> have fewer thumbs. I've just never understood the "charm" of
> >>> chopsticks; sure, if I lived in a place and culture that had
> >>> only chopsticks, I'm sure I'd use them competently. But, I
> >>> have all kinds of better suited utensils available to me; why
> >>> would I choose choose chopsticks instead of a fork or spoon.
> >
> >> Because they are fun. :-)
> >
> >> YMMV as always...
> >
> > Just to stoke things up again :-) It's easier to eat spaghetti with
> > chopsticks than with a fork.
>
> I think it's only easier to eat a meatball with a chopstick.

Yeah. Just stab it with it! ;-d
--
Peace! Om

"Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once." -- Anonymous

In article >,
notbob > wrote:

> On 2009-01-20, Sqwertz > wrote:
>
> > What were they thinking?
>
> A spoon that doesn't dribble soup down your chin. I use nothing but a Asian
> spoon for soups.
>
>
> nb

Same here.
--
Peace! Om

"Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once." -- Anonymous

In article >,
notbob > wrote:

> On 2009-01-20, jmcquown > wrote:
>
> > MCNL. I know how to use chopsticks but why bother?
>
> More practical application of hand/mind coordination than video games.
> Keeps the mind active. Easier than calculus.
>
> nb

It also makes you eat more slowly... Usually anyway. <g>
--
Peace! Om

"Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once." -- Anonymous

On Jan 20, 12:28�pm, "jmcquown" > wrote:
> "ChattyCathy" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
> > jmcquown wrote:
>
> >> MCNL. �I know how to use chopsticks but why bother?
>
> >> Jill
>
> > Dunno. Maybe those 1.something billion
> > Chinese/Korean/Japanese/Thai/Vietnamese/Indonesian etc. folks who use
> > them every day might be able to tell you why they bother...
> > --
> > Cheers
> > Chatty Cathy
>
> Maybe the ones who eat nothing but rice and dim sum and
> Chinese/Koren/Japanese/Thai,/Vietnames/Indondesian will tell you why they
> bother �If in the USA it's to impress. �I don't know who they're trying
> to impress.
>
> Jill

I disagree, -trying to impress? Nah, simply when you are served , and
chopsticks are provided, why not? Who would you try to impress? If
in Fench rest. You eat french food,, it is simply part of the
dinner.

Rosie

ChattyCathy wrote:
> http://www.recfoodcooking.com
>
> Thanks go to Andy for this survey...

I remember the first time I ever used them.
My sister was making Mongolian hotpot and insisted
everyone use them. I nearly starved to death during
dinner as it took so long to get any food in my mouth. ;-)
However, after that I quickly learned how to eat with
chopsticks and became quite good.

One other thing that I tend to pass on, due to the
possibility of starving to death during the meal is
steamed crabs. It takes so long to get a sufficient
quantity of crab meat into your stomach you could well
starve. The answer to this, of course, is to have other
food first and then have the crab for dessert! ;-)

Kate

--
Kate Connally
“If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
Until you bite their heads off.”
What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?

ChattyCathy wrote:
> http://www.recfoodcooking.com
>
> Thanks go to Andy for this survey...

Another thing, I prefer to use chopsticks when eating
Asian food where is is proper to use them. I recently
ate a Vietnamese restaurant. I ordered Bun Thit Nuong,
a warm noodle salad with grilled pork. The chopsticks
the give you are plastic. It is very difficult to pick
stuff up with the plastic sticks as the food slides out.
I would just as soon have the cheap disposable wooden
chopstick for this sort of stuff.

I have some nice black enamel, decorated chopsticks.
The are the kind that come to a point. I carry them
in my glove compartment so I will have them on hand when
I eat Asian, however, I eat out so seldom these days I
forget I have them and don't take them into the restaurant
with me. :-( However, they wouldn't have been any better
for the noodles salad that the plastic ones were. But they
work find on food that's not so slippery. I love eating
with them as they are so beautiful.

Kate

--
Kate Connally
“If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
Until you bite their heads off.”
What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?

James Silverton wrote:
> Becca wrote on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:38:25 -0600:
>
>> Janet Wilder wrote:
>>> ChattyCathy wrote:
>>>> http://www.recfoodcooking.com
>>>>
>>>> Thanks go to Andy for this survey...
>>>
>>> Since I learned how to use chopsticks, I won't eat Asian food
>>> without them. Even when I make the stuff myself at home.
>
>> We use them when we eat Pho.
>
> Not to finish the soup surely :-)

Yeah, tried that once. I was there until the next day! ;-)

Kate


--
Kate Connally
“If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
Until you bite their heads off.”
What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?

Kate Connally wrote:

> ChattyCathy wrote:
>> http://www.recfoodcooking.com
>>
>> Thanks go to Andy for this survey...
>
> I remember the first time I ever used them.
> My sister was making Mongolian hotpot and insisted
> everyone use them. I nearly starved to death during
> dinner as it took so long to get any food in my mouth. ;-)
> However, after that I quickly learned how to eat with
> chopsticks and became quite good.

Good for you! I never even became quite bad - awful is more like it.

> One other thing that I tend to pass on, due to the
> possibility of starving to death during the meal is
> steamed crabs. It takes so long to get a sufficient
> quantity of crab meat into your stomach you could well
> starve. The answer to this, of course, is to have other
> food first and then have the crab for dessert! ;-)

Can't argue with that logic ;-)
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

jmcquown wrote:
>
>
> Maybe the ones who eat nothing but rice and dim sum

<lol> 'dim sum' covers a rather wide variety of foods... and it's not
just chicken feet... but you knew that, didn't you?

> and
> Chinese/Koren/Japanese/Thai,/Vietnames/Indondesian will tell you why
> they
> bother If in the USA it's to impress. I don't know who they're
> trying to impress.

I don't think they're trying to impress anyone. IMHO, folks of
Chinese/Asian decent (anywhere in the world) use chopsticks because
they find that it is the best and/or nicest way to eat the foods
they 'grew up with'. And IME, many folks who are not of Chinese/Asian
decent have also discovered that chopsticks can be pretty efficient
and/or nice to use too.
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

"Omelet" > wrote in message
news
> In article >,
> notbob > wrote:
>
>> On 2009-01-20, jmcquown > wrote:
>>
>> > MCNL. I know how to use chopsticks but why bother?
>>
>> More practical application of hand/mind coordination than video games.
>> Keeps the mind active. Easier than calculus.
>>
>> nb
>
Heh. I don't play video games. Haven't since I was in my 20's.

> It also makes you eat more slowly... Usually anyway. <g>
> --
> Peace! Om
>
Waiters and waitresses may care how fast you eat; they want to turn tables.
They don't care about chopsticks vs. forks

Jill

"ChattyCathy" > wrote in message
...
> jmcquown wrote:
>>
>>
>> Maybe the ones who eat nothing but rice and dim sum
>
> <lol> 'dim sum' covers a rather wide variety of foods... and it's not
> just chicken feet... but you knew that, didn't you?
>
>> and
>> Chinese/Koren/Japanese/Thai,/Vietnames/Indondesian will tell you why
>> they
>> bother If in the USA it's to impress. I don't know who they're
>> trying to impress.
>
> I don't think they're trying to impress anyone. IMHO, folks of
> Chinese/Asian decent (anywhere in the world) use chopsticks because
> they find that it is the best and/or nicest way to eat the foods
> they 'grew up with'. And IME, many folks who are not of Chinese/Asian
> decent have also discovered that chopsticks can be pretty efficient
> and/or nice to use too.
> --
> Cheers
> Chatty Cathy



Sorry, but I don't find them efficient and I know how to use them. But then
again I'm ****ed off at the entire world right now.

Jill

In article >,
"l, not -l" > wrote:

> On 20-Jan-2009, Omelet > wrote:
>
> > > >
> > > > Just to stoke things up again :-) It's easier to eat spaghetti with
> > > > chopsticks than with a fork.
> > >
> > > I think it's only easier to eat a meatball with a chopstick.
> >
> > Yeah. Just stab it with it! ;-d
> > --
> > Peace! Om
>
> So you prefer a single-tine fork??? 8-)

<snicker>
--
Peace! Om

"Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once." -- Anonymous

In article >,
"jmcquown" > wrote:

> "ChattyCathy" > wrote in message
> ...
> > jmcquown wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> Maybe the ones who eat nothing but rice and dim sum
> >
> > <lol> 'dim sum' covers a rather wide variety of foods... and it's not
> > just chicken feet... but you knew that, didn't you?
> >
> >> and
> >> Chinese/Koren/Japanese/Thai,/Vietnames/Indondesian will tell you why
> >> they
> >> bother If in the USA it's to impress. I don't know who they're
> >> trying to impress.
> >
> > I don't think they're trying to impress anyone. IMHO, folks of
> > Chinese/Asian decent (anywhere in the world) use chopsticks because
> > they find that it is the best and/or nicest way to eat the foods
> > they 'grew up with'. And IME, many folks who are not of Chinese/Asian
> > decent have also discovered that chopsticks can be pretty efficient
> > and/or nice to use too.
> > --
> > Cheers
> > Chatty Cathy
>
>
>
> Sorry, but I don't find them efficient and I know how to use them. But then
> again I'm ****ed off at the entire world right now.
>
> Jill

<hug>!!!
You could always just hate god... <g>
--
Peace! Om

"Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once." -- Anonymous

Many years ago, Jeff Smith was doing a show on Chinese
cooking; the show included an interview with a prominent
Chinese restauranteur. Jeff was informed that the CHinese
had discovered the fork many generations earlier, and
discarded it as an eating implement. However, chop-
sticks were much more civilized in the CHinese view, as they
did not like to butcher at the table.

BTW: I have a set of Japanese sticks somewhere, made of
brass. They are *pointed*. (Spear that meatball, or quail
egg)

Alex

On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:41:12 -0600, Omelet >
wrote:

>In article >,
> "l, not -l" > wrote:
>
>> On 20-Jan-2009, Omelet > wrote:
>>
>> > > >
>> > > > Just to stoke things up again :-) It's easier to eat spaghetti with
>> > > > chopsticks than with a fork.
>> > >
>> > > I think it's only easier to eat a meatball with a chopstick.
>> >
>> > Yeah. Just stab it with it! ;-d
>> > --
>> > Peace! Om
>>
>> So you prefer a single-tine fork??? 8-)
>
><snicker>

In article >, says...
>
> Andy said...
>
> > James Silverton said...
> >
> >> Omelet wrote on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:13:47 -0600:
> >>
> >>>> On 19-Jan-2009, Andy > wrote:
> >>>>
> >>> >> Andy <--- The "Can I have a fork" all thumbs guy
> >>> >> Voter #21
> >>>>
> >>>> I'm with you on the "Can I have a fork"; though, perhaps, I
> >>>> have fewer thumbs. I've just never understood the "charm" of
> >>>> chopsticks; sure, if I lived in a place and culture that had
> >>>> only chopsticks, I'm sure I'd use them competently. But, I
> >>>> have all kinds of better suited utensils available to me; why
> >>>> would I choose choose chopsticks instead of a fork or spoon.
> >>
> >>> Because they are fun. :-)
> >>
> >>> YMMV as always...
> >>
> >> Just to stoke things up again :-) It's easier to eat spaghetti with
> >> chopsticks than with a fork.
> >
> >
> > JAMES!!!
> >
> > When I tried my first bowl of pho, if the waiter hadn't kindly offered
> > me a fork, I might've been there for a month of Sundays finishing the
> > bowlful.
> >
> > Therefore I can safely declare your claim FALSE.
> >
> > Andy
>
>
> I DID use the Asian (? ceramic) soup spoon for the soup portion of the
> dish. Chopsticks would've been an evil joke in that respect in ANY
> population!!! Although I would be entirely capable of tipping the bowl and
> sipping it up! Maybe not in public!?
>
> Andy


I can handle chopsticks no problem. But I learned long ago that it isn't
impolite in Japanese and Asian cultures in general to lift a soup bowl
to your mouth, or to use chopsticks to scrape rice out of a bowl and
into your mouth.