"Andy" > wrote in message ...
> Mark Thorson > wrote:
>
>> Interesting article about the history of the fork.
>>
>> http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/d...tory_of_the_fo
>> rk_when_we_started_using_forks_and_how_their_desig n_changed_over_time_.
>> html
>>
>> The fork is much more recent than the spoon and
>> knife. It's hard to imagine eating without it.
>> I'm a bit surprised chopsticks didn't make their
>> way to Europe from Asia during the long pre-fork
>> period.
>
>
> Chopsticks? Heck! My hat's off to the inventor of the spork!!!
>
> Mark Thoron, ever the esoteric fringe contributor here on rfc, imho.
>
> Andy


I love the spork. Only thing I like anymore at Taco Bell.

Interesting article about the history of the fork.

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/d...ver_time_.html

The fork is much more recent than the spoon and
knife. It's hard to imagine eating without it.
I'm a bit surprised chopsticks didn't make their
way to Europe from Asia during the long pre-fork
period.

Mark Thorson wrote:
>
> Interesting article about the history of the fork.
>
> http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/d...ver_time_.html
>
> The fork is much more recent than the spoon and
> knife. It's hard to imagine eating without it.
> I'm a bit surprised chopsticks didn't make their
> way to Europe from Asia during the long pre-fork
> period.

Interesting article. I'm surprised that chopsticks are still popular since
the invention of forks and spoons. Normal people use them now.

Using chopsticks these days are stupid. (inviting flames here, Gary)
People these days only use them because it's the "cool kid" thing to do when
eating Chinese or Japanese cuisine.

Think I'm wrong? How often do you use chopsticks at home with everyday
meals? Nope...it's only when eating some rice stuff that's considered
oriental.

People ate their food with a pair of sticks when they didn't know any
better.
We have evolved way past that then. Eating with a pair of sticks now is only
traditional or
cool kid crap.

G.

Go ahead and yell at me now.

"Mark Thorson" > wrote in message
...
> Interesting article about the history of the fork.
>
> http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/d...ver_time_.html
>
> The fork is much more recent than the spoon and
> knife. It's hard to imagine eating without it.
> I'm a bit surprised chopsticks didn't make their
> way to Europe from Asia during the long pre-fork
> period.


Thanks, Mark! I love reading about things like this.

Jill

On 6/23/2012 1:39 PM, Gary wrote:
> Mark Thorson wrote:
>> Interesting article about the history of the fork.
>>
>> http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/d...ver_time_.html
>>
>> The fork is much more recent than the spoon and
>> knife. It's hard to imagine eating without it.
>> I'm a bit surprised chopsticks didn't make their
>> way to Europe from Asia during the long pre-fork
>> period.
> Interesting article. I'm surprised that chopsticks are still popular since
> the invention of forks and spoons. Normal people use them now.
>
> Using chopsticks these days are stupid. (inviting flames here, Gary)
> People these days only use them because it's the "cool kid" thing to do when
> eating Chinese or Japanese cuisine.
>
> Think I'm wrong? How often do you use chopsticks at home with everyday
> meals?
>
> Go ahead and yell at me now.

I don't drink sake at home with everyday meals either.
Does tradition mean nothing to you grasshopper?

Tomisan

On 6/23/2012 12:39 PM, Gary wrote:

> Interesting article. I'm surprised that chopsticks are still popular since
> the invention of forks and spoons. Normal people use them now.
<snip>
> We have evolved way past that then. Eating with a pair of sticks now is only
> traditional or
> cool kid crap.

I don't see anything wrong with eating Asian food with chopsticks. It
is traditional and helps make a meal "different" than eating the usual
meatloaf.

As far as being "cool"... most of my meals are eaten with Becca I don't
have to impress her because she already knows how cool I am. I could eat
with my fingers and wipe my mouth on my sleeve and she would still think
that I am cool.

Speaking of which, I am making Spring Rolls for dinner tonight... Becca
makes the sauce and we both eat with our fingers!

We are just too cool for school!

George L

"Gary" > wrote in message ...
> Mark Thorson wrote:
>>
>> Interesting article about the history of the fork.
>>
>> http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/d...ver_time_.html
>>
>> The fork is much more recent than the spoon and
>> knife. It's hard to imagine eating without it.
>> I'm a bit surprised chopsticks didn't make their
>> way to Europe from Asia during the long pre-fork
>> period.
>
> Interesting article. I'm surprised that chopsticks are still popular
> since
> the invention of forks and spoons. Normal people use them now.
>
> Using chopsticks these days are stupid. (inviting flames here, Gary)
> People these days only use them because it's the "cool kid" thing to do
> when
> eating Chinese or Japanese cuisine.
>
> Think I'm wrong? How often do you use chopsticks at home with everyday
> meals?

LOL! My father owned several pairs of chopsticks but I can't recall ever
seeing him use them. I certainly don't use them. I use knives, forks &
spoons. I do, however, use bamboo skewers for grilling meats & vegetables


Jill

Gary wrote:

> Using chopsticks these days are stupid. (inviting flames here, Gary)
> People these days only use them because it's the "cool kid" thing to do when
> eating Chinese or Japanese cuisine.

Did somebody forget to take his Grownup Pill again?

Tom Biasi wrote:
>
> On 6/23/2012 1:39 PM, Gary wrote:
> > Using chopsticks these days are stupid. (inviting flames here, Gary)
> > People these days only use them because it's the "cool kid" thing to do when
> > eating Chinese or Japanese cuisine.
> >
> > Think I'm wrong? How often do you use chopsticks at home with everyday
> > meals?
> >
> > Go ahead and yell at me now.
>
> I don't drink sake at home with everyday meals either.
> Does tradition mean nothing to you grasshopper?
>
> Tomisan

I have learned tradition, master, but chopsticks are only a pair of sticks.
They were good before anyone intelligent invented forks and spoons.

LOL! I don't drink sake at home ever either. I tried it once and, imo,
it's rotgut adult beverage. heheh

G.

George Leppla wrote:
>
> On 6/23/2012 12:39 PM, Gary wrote:
>
> > Interesting article. I'm surprised that chopsticks are still popular since
> > the invention of forks and spoons. Normal people use them now.
> <snip>
> > We have evolved way past that then. Eating with a pair of sticks now is only
> > traditional or
> > cool kid crap.
>
> I don't see anything wrong with eating Asian food with chopsticks. It
> is traditional and helps make a meal "different" than eating the usual
> meatloaf.

Your meatloaf meal would be "different" too if you used chopsticks but you
don't.

> Speaking of which, I am making Spring Rolls for dinner tonight... Becca
> makes the sauce and we both eat with our fingers!

Spring rolls. Oh man! Now you're talking my kind of meal.
Many recipes for the ingredients there. What do use for the filling?

Gary

On 6/23/2012 2:23 PM, Gary wrote:
> George Leppla wrote:
>>
>> On 6/23/2012 12:39 PM, Gary wrote:
>>
>>> Interesting article. I'm surprised that chopsticks are still popular since
>>> the invention of forks and spoons. Normal people use them now.
>> <snip>
>>> We have evolved way past that then. Eating with a pair of sticks now is only
>>> traditional or
>>> cool kid crap.
>>
>> I don't see anything wrong with eating Asian food with chopsticks. It
>> is traditional and helps make a meal "different" than eating the usual
>> meatloaf.
>
> Your meatloaf meal would be "different" too if you used chopsticks but you
> don't.
>
>> Speaking of which, I am making Spring Rolls for dinner tonight... Becca
>> makes the sauce and we both eat with our fingers!
>
> Spring rolls. Oh man! Now you're talking my kind of meal.
> Many recipes for the ingredients there. What do use for the filling?


Tonight it is chicken, lettuce, cucumber and rice noodles.

George L

"George M. Middius" wrote:
>
> Gary wrote:
>
> > Using chopsticks these days are stupid. (inviting flames here, Gary)
> > People these days only use them because it's the "cool kid" thing to do when
> > eating Chinese or Japanese cuisine.
>
> Did somebody forget to take his Grownup Pill again?

Heheh! So grownups use sticks to eat their food these days?
Let me know...I might be missing out on something.

Gary wrote:

> > > Using chopsticks these days are stupid. (inviting flames here, Gary)
> > > People these days only use them because it's the "cool kid" thing to do when
> > > eating Chinese or Japanese cuisine.
> >
> > Did somebody forget to take his Grownup Pill again?
>
> Heheh! So grownups use sticks to eat their food these days?
> Let me know...I might be missing out on something.

I personally know several who say they enjoy using sticks. Most of
them are women, so naturally I suspect the enjoyment comes from a
reduced rate of food intake. (Women are often obsessed with losing
weight even if they're not fat.) A couple of men like them because,
frankly, they're gadget geeks who like doing things that most people
don't do.

George Leppla wrote:
>
> On 6/23/2012 2:23 PM, Gary wrote:
> > Spring rolls. Oh man! Now you're talking my kind of meal.
> > Many recipes for the ingredients there. What do use for the filling?
>
> Tonight it is chicken, lettuce, cucumber and rice noodles.
>

Sounds good but not in spring rolls. (I don't think so!)
For tonight I'll be cooking....ummm...haven't decided yet.

G.

On 6/23/2012 3:18 PM, Gary wrote:
> Tom Biasi wrote:
>> On 6/23/2012 1:39 PM, Gary wrote:
>>> Using chopsticks these days are stupid. (inviting flames here, Gary)
>>> People these days only use them because it's the "cool kid" thing to do when
>>> eating Chinese or Japanese cuisine.
>>>
>>> Think I'm wrong? How often do you use chopsticks at home with everyday
>>> meals?
>>>
>>> Go ahead and yell at me now.
>> I don't drink sake at home with everyday meals either.
>> Does tradition mean nothing to you grasshopper?
>>
>> Tomisan
>
>
> LOL! I don't drink sake at home ever either. I tried it once and, imo,
> it's rotgut adult beverage. heheh
>
> G.

To each his own. How did you drink it?
It should be served on the hot side.

Tom

Gary wrote:
> Mark Thorson wrote:
>>
>> Interesting article about the history of the fork.
>>
>> http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/d...ver_time_.html
>>
>> The fork is much more recent than the spoon and
>> knife. It's hard to imagine eating without it.
>> I'm a bit surprised chopsticks didn't make their
>> way to Europe from Asia during the long pre-fork
>> period.

In school I remember being taught that Marco Polo brought them back from
China along with the design for noodles.

> Interesting article. I'm surprised that chopsticks are still popular since
> the invention of forks and spoons. Normal people use them now.

Once I learned how to use chopsticks certain foods became easier to eat
with them than with a fork. I eat noodles with chopsticks at home or
anywhere else Asian style or otherwise when available. Just another
physical skill. some folks have an easy time picking up physical skills
some don't.

On 6/23/2012 1:39 PM, Gary wrote:
> Mark Thorson wrote:
>>
>> Interesting article about the history of the fork.
>>
>> http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/d...ver_time_.html
>>
>> The fork is much more recent than the spoon and
>> knife. It's hard to imagine eating without it.
>> I'm a bit surprised chopsticks didn't make their
>> way to Europe from Asia during the long pre-fork
>> period.
>
> Interesting article. I'm surprised that chopsticks are still popular since
> the invention of forks and spoons. Normal people use them now.
>
> Using chopsticks these days are stupid. (inviting flames here, Gary)
> People these days only use them because it's the "cool kid" thing to do when
> eating Chinese or Japanese cuisine.
>
> Think I'm wrong? How often do you use chopsticks at home with everyday
> meals? Nope...it's only when eating some rice stuff that's considered
> oriental.

Does cooking with them count too?

>
> People ate their food with a pair of sticks when they didn't know any
> better.
> We have evolved way past that then. Eating with a pair of sticks now is only
> traditional or
> cool kid crap.
>
> G.
>
> Go ahead and yell at me now.
>

On 6/23/2012 4:07 PM, Tom Biasi wrote:
> On 6/23/2012 3:18 PM, Gary wrote:
>> Tom Biasi wrote:
>>> On 6/23/2012 1:39 PM, Gary wrote:
>>>> Using chopsticks these days are stupid. (inviting flames here, Gary)
>>>> People these days only use them because it's the "cool kid" thing to
>>>> do when
>>>> eating Chinese or Japanese cuisine.
>>>>
>>>> Think I'm wrong? How often do you use chopsticks at home with everyday
>>>> meals?
>>>>
>>>> Go ahead and yell at me now.
>>> I don't drink sake at home with everyday meals either.
>>> Does tradition mean nothing to you grasshopper?
>>>
>>> Tomisan
>>
>>
>> LOL! I don't drink sake at home ever either. I tried it once and, imo,
>> it's rotgut adult beverage. heheh
>>
>> G.
>
> To each his own. How did you drink it?
> It should be served on the hot side.
>
> Tom
>
>
That seems to be the usual comment you hear when someone buys a bottle
to see what it is like and doesn't warm it and wonders if they are
drinking paint thinner.

On 6/23/2012 4:17 PM, Doug Freyburger wrote:
> Gary wrote:
>> Mark Thorson wrote:
>>>
>>> Interesting article about the history of the fork.
>>>
>>> http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/d...ver_time_.html
>>>
>>> The fork is much more recent than the spoon and
>>> knife. It's hard to imagine eating without it.
>>> I'm a bit surprised chopsticks didn't make their
>>> way to Europe from Asia during the long pre-fork
>>> period.
>
> In school I remember being taught that Marco Polo brought them back from
> China along with the design for noodles.
>
>> Interesting article. I'm surprised that chopsticks are still popular since
>> the invention of forks and spoons. Normal people use them now.
>
> Once I learned how to use chopsticks certain foods became easier to eat
> with them than with a fork. I eat noodles with chopsticks at home or
> anywhere else Asian style or otherwise when available. Just another
> physical skill. some folks have an easy time picking up physical skills
> some don't.
>

Same here. Some things are just easier to eat using them. I also have
larger/longer versions used for cooking. A good friend of mine can
effortlessly peel an orange using them while say holding the book she is
reading in the other hand.

Tom Biasi wrote:
>
> On 6/23/2012 3:18 PM, Gary wrote:
> > LOL! I don't drink sake at home ever either. I tried it once and, imo,
> > it's rotgut adult beverage. heheh
> >
> > G.
>
> To each his own. How did you drink it?
> It should be served on the hot side.

To be honest, I probably didn't give sake a fair try.
I bought a cheap bottle of it once and just drank some like wine...no
heating or anything. It was pretty nasty and I've never been tempted to buy
any since.

G.

On Jun 23, 1:38*pm, Mark Thorson > wrote:
> Interesting article about the history of the fork.
>
> http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/d...istory_of_the_...
>
> The fork is much more recent than the spoon and
> knife. *It's hard to imagine eating without it.
> I'm a bit surprised chopsticks didn't make their
> way to Europe from Asia during the long pre-fork
> period.

How timely of you to post this. Just last night, I was re-reading
"Dear and Glorious Physician", the tale about gospel author St. Luke,
and in one scene, he's picking up his fork and spoon.. I stopped
right away and thought about Caldwell's goof. I was told at one of
those old time suppers that we had to make do with no forks as they
were not known in 16th century France.

George wrote:
>
> Same here. Some things are just easier to eat using them. I also have
> larger/longer versions used for cooking. A good friend of mine can
> effortlessly peel an orange using them while say holding the book she is
> reading in the other hand.

Sounds like good material for a youtube video.

Kalmia wrote:
>
> How timely of you to post this. Just last night, I was re-reading
> "Dear and Glorious Physician", the tale about gospel author St. Luke,
> and in one scene, he's picking up his fork and spoon.. I stopped
> right away and thought about Caldwell's goof. I was told at one of
> those old time suppers that we had to make do with no forks as they
> were not known in 16th century France.

The article has a picture of a French fork and knife
attributed to the late 1500's to early 1600's, so
somebody thinks late 16th century France had forks.

On Sat, 23 Jun 2012 09:38:24 -0800, Mark Thorson >
wrote:

>Interesting article about the history of the fork.
>
>http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/d...ver_time_.html
>
>The fork is much more recent than the spoon and
>knife. It's hard to imagine eating without it.
>I'm a bit surprised chopsticks didn't make their
>way to Europe from Asia during the long pre-fork
>period.

Up until relatively recently (like 200 yrs) most Europeans shoved food
into their maws with their fingers... most people on the planet still.
If you watch birds eat you'll understand where the concept of
chopsticks originated.

On Jun 23, 1:03*pm, George Leppla > wrote:
> On 6/23/2012 12:39 PM, Gary wrote:
>
>
>
> > Interesting article. *I'm surprised that chopsticks are still popular since
> > the invention of forks and spoons. Normal people use them now.
> <snip>
> > We have evolved way past that then. Eating with a pair of sticks now is only
> > traditional or
> > cool kid crap.
>
> I don't see anything wrong with eating Asian food with chopsticks. *It
> is traditional and helps make a meal "different" than eating the usual
> meatloaf.

That is the one legitimate reason for using them, because it's fun and
different.
>
> As far as being "cool"... most of my meals are eaten with Becca I don't
> have to impress her because she already knows how cool I am. I could eat
> with my fingers and wipe my mouth on my sleeve and she would still think
> that I am cool.

I do that sometimes, and my wife still thinks I'm "cool" in spite of
it.
>
> George L

--Bryan

"Somebody" > wrote in message
...
> "Andy" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Mark Thorson > wrote:
>>
>>> Interesting article about the history of the fork.
>>>
>>> http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/d...tory_of_the_fo
>>> rk_when_we_started_using_forks_and_how_their_desig n_changed_over_time_.
>>> html
>>>
>>> The fork is much more recent than the spoon and
>>> knife. It's hard to imagine eating without it.
>>> I'm a bit surprised chopsticks didn't make their
>>> way to Europe from Asia during the long pre-fork
>>> period.
>>
>>
>> Chopsticks? Heck! My hat's off to the inventor of the spork!!!
>>
>> Mark Thoron, ever the esoteric fringe contributor here on rfc, imho.
>>
>> Andy
>
>
> I love the spork. Only thing I like anymore at Taco Bell.

I love them so much that I bought a case of them. Came packaged with a
napkin, salt and pepper. Great for taking a meal to go.

jmcquown wrote:
>
> "Gary" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Mark Thorson wrote:
>>>
>>> Interesting article about the history of the fork.
>>>
>>> http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/d...ver_time_.html
>>>
>>>
>>> The fork is much more recent than the spoon and
>>> knife. It's hard to imagine eating without it.
>>> I'm a bit surprised chopsticks didn't make their
>>> way to Europe from Asia during the long pre-fork
>>> period.
>>
>> Interesting article. I'm surprised that chopsticks are still popular
>> since
>> the invention of forks and spoons. Normal people use them now.
>>
>> Using chopsticks these days are stupid. (inviting flames here, Gary)
>> People these days only use them because it's the "cool kid" thing to
>> do when
>> eating Chinese or Japanese cuisine.
>>
>> Think I'm wrong? How often do you use chopsticks at home with everyday
>> meals?
>
> LOL! My father owned several pairs of chopsticks but I can't recall
> ever seeing him use them. I certainly don't use them. I use knives,
> forks & spoons. I do, however, use bamboo skewers for grilling meats &
> vegetables
>
> Jill

I have some nice ebony and rosewood chopsticks, and my daughter
and I do use them. Some things just don't seem right when eaten
with a metal fork. And my daughter prefers chopsticks for long
noodles of any sort.

--
Jean B.

On Tue, 26 Jun 2012 22:30:45 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:

> And my daughter prefers chopsticks for long
> noodles of any sort.

I have the utmost respect for her if she knows how to twirl noodles
with chopsticks because apparently not many do it.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

sf wrote:
>"Jean B." wrote:
>
>> And my daughter prefers chopsticks for long
>> noodles of any sort.
>
>I have the utmost respect for her if she knows how to twirl noodles
>with chopsticks because apparently not many do it.

Only a billion Chinese. duh

Brooklyn1 wrote:
>
> sf wrote:
> >"Jean B." wrote:
> >
> >> And my daughter prefers chopsticks for long
> >> noodles of any sort.
> >
> >I have the utmost respect for her if she knows how to twirl noodles
> >with chopsticks because apparently not many do it.
>
> Only a billion Chinese. duh

Some animals have adapted to using sticks in order to collect and eat
insects. Scientists are amazed at their intelligence. I can just imagine all
those scientists doing backflips of joy to discover some animal that
progressed to using a fork and spoon.

Meanwhile, "a billion Chinese" (and Japanese) still eat with sticks.

G.

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

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/>

sf wrote:
> "Jean B." > wrote:
>
>> And my daughter prefers chopsticks for long
>> noodles of any sort.
>
> I have the utmost respect for her if she knows how to twirl noodles
> with chopsticks because apparently not many do it.

I consider noodles to be easier to eat with chopsticks than with a fork.
Long noodles or short. Twisting long noodles is a very similar move
with sticks or fork, swirl versus spin at the top, same circle at the
bottom. Short noodles seem to naturally fit chopsticks when I eat them.

On Thu, 28 Jun 2012 12:20:45 -0400, Gary > wrote:

> Brooklyn1 wrote:
> >
> > sf wrote:
> > >"Jean B." wrote:
> > >
> > >> And my daughter prefers chopsticks for long
> > >> noodles of any sort.
> > >
> > >I have the utmost respect for her if she knows how to twirl noodles
> > >with chopsticks because apparently not many do it.
> >
> > Only a billion Chinese. duh
>
> Some animals have adapted to using sticks in order to collect and eat
> insects. Scientists are amazed at their intelligence. I can just imagine all
> those scientists doing backflips of joy to discover some animal that
> progressed to using a fork and spoon.
>
> Meanwhile, "a billion Chinese" (and Japanese) still eat with sticks.
>
> G.
>
> That said.... I watched an "Iron Chef" show where Morimoto used chopsticks
> to prepare his meals. I was amazed at his proficiency.

He has reading comprehension problems. "Twirl" was the operative
word.... the concept is the same as twirling noodles around a fork.
I've seen many, many people use chopsticks IN and out of China - but
I've only seen two who twirled.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

sf wrote:
> On Tue, 26 Jun 2012 22:30:45 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:
>
>> And my daughter prefers chopsticks for long
>> noodles of any sort.
>
> I have the utmost respect for her if she knows how to twirl noodles
> with chopsticks because apparently not many do it.
>
You don't twirl them with chopsticks. You probably know that.

--
Jean B.

On Sat, 30 Jun 2012 23:32:15 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:

> sf wrote:
> > On Tue, 26 Jun 2012 22:30:45 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:
> >
> >> And my daughter prefers chopsticks for long
> >> noodles of any sort.
> >
> > I have the utmost respect for her if she knows how to twirl noodles
> > with chopsticks because apparently not many do it.
> >
> You don't twirl them with chopsticks. You probably know that.

But it is done and done well by some. I've decided it must be a class
thing. I saw one waitress do it when I was in china and one person on
my tour who had been brought up by an Asian nanny/house keeper (I
forget which) did it too. Other than that, I've never seen anyone
twirl.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Jun 23, 10:39*am, Gary > wrote:
> Mark Thorson wrote:
>
> > Interesting article about the history of the fork.
>
> >http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/d...istory_of_the_...
>
> > The fork is much more recent than the spoon and
> > knife. *It's hard to imagine eating without it.
> > I'm a bit surprised chopsticks didn't make their
> > way to Europe from Asia during the long pre-fork
> > period.
>
> Interesting article. *I'm surprised that chopsticks are still popular since
> the invention of forks and spoons. Normal people use them now.
>
> Using chopsticks these days are stupid. (inviting flames here, Gary)
> People these days only use them because it's the "cool kid" thing to do when
> eating Chinese or Japanese cuisine.

Forks are stupid. People naturally pick up food with chopsticks, as
they do with spoons, and as they do with their fingers. But, if you
try to pick up food with a fork, it will likely roll off, or fall off.
To use a fork to carry food to your mouth, you have to stab the food.
And who wants to stab every bite they will take?

>
> Think I'm wrong? *How often do you use chopsticks at home with everyday
> meals? *Nope...it's only when eating some rice stuff that's considered
> oriental.

Chopsticks work well when the food has been cut into bite sized
pieces: salads, vegetables, stews, etc. With larger pieces of food,
they are difficult to cut with and awkward to hold food that you must
take bites from.

>
> People ate their food with a pair of sticks when they didn't know any
> better.
> We have evolved way past that then. Eating with a pair of sticks now is only
> traditional or
> cool kid crap.

If you want to spend mealtimes sawing at your food, use knife and fork
by all means.

sf wrote:
> On Sat, 30 Jun 2012 23:32:15 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:
>
>> sf wrote:
>>> On Tue, 26 Jun 2012 22:30:45 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:
>>>
>>>> And my daughter prefers chopsticks for long
>>>> noodles of any sort.
>>> I have the utmost respect for her if she knows how to twirl noodles
>>> with chopsticks because apparently not many do it.
>>>
>> You don't twirl them with chopsticks. You probably know that.
>
> But it is done and done well by some. I've decided it must be a class
> thing. I saw one waitress do it when I was in china and one person on
> my tour who had been brought up by an Asian nanny/house keeper (I
> forget which) did it too. Other than that, I've never seen anyone
> twirl.
>
Okay, but it's done by so few people that it certainly isn't the
norm--which is probably why I have never seen it done.

--
Jean B.

sf wrote:
> "Jean B." > wrote:
>> sf wrote:
>> > "Jean B." > wrote:
>
>> >> And my daughter prefers chopsticks for long
>> >> noodles of any sort.
>
>> > I have the utmost respect for her if she knows how to twirl noodles
>> > with chopsticks because apparently not many do it.
>
>> You don't twirl them with chopsticks. You probably know that.
>
> But it is done and done well by some. I've decided it must be a class
> thing. I saw one waitress do it when I was in china and one person on
> my tour who had been brought up by an Asian nanny/house keeper (I
> forget which) did it too. Other than that, I've never seen anyone
> twirl.

The motion I use to wrap long noodles onto the end of my chopsticks is
from the wrist similar to using a spoon to stir a bowl of soup.

On Sun, 1 Jul 2012 08:58:46 -0700 (PDT), spamtrap1888
> wrote:

> And who wants to stab every bite they will take?

That's why I use a fork. If I didn't want to stab it, I'd use a
spoon.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Sun, 01 Jul 2012 21:10:21 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:

> sf wrote:
> > On Sat, 30 Jun 2012 23:32:15 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:
> >
> >> sf wrote:
> >>> On Tue, 26 Jun 2012 22:30:45 -0400, "Jean B." > wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> And my daughter prefers chopsticks for long
> >>>> noodles of any sort.
> >>> I have the utmost respect for her if she knows how to twirl noodles
> >>> with chopsticks because apparently not many do it.
> >>>
> >> You don't twirl them with chopsticks. You probably know that.
> >
> > But it is done and done well by some. I've decided it must be a class
> > thing. I saw one waitress do it when I was in china and one person on
> > my tour who had been brought up by an Asian nanny/house keeper (I
> > forget which) did it too. Other than that, I've never seen anyone
> > twirl.
> >
> Okay, but it's done by so few people that it certainly isn't the
> norm--which is probably why I have never seen it done.

See my original comment.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.