Thursday, July 8, 2010

How to use chopsticks.

It might pop into your head that it would be fun to go into your favorite Chinese restaurant and eat with chopsticks. But you don't do it, because you have never tried chopsticks. You are frightned that people will be watching you as you fumble that yummy garlic chicken. It falls into your lap and everyone sees you. You blush and look down.

Hey, don't worry. I have a plan.

Now learn how to use a chopstick can be a lot easier and less scary if you learn it at home. Order take out, go and get take out or cook your own stir fry. Buy some chopsticks somewhere. Let that food fly all over the place. It can hit the floor, wall and ceiling. Just keep working at.

Hold one chopstick just like a pin or pencil. The second chopstick is held above the first one. They make a V shape. You have probably seen it in hundreds of Asian movies or anime shows. It takes a while, but just keep at it.

Try picking up food, small toys or whatever with it. Its fun!

One interesting thing about it is how do you eat rice. Well in China and Japan they put rice in a bowl and scoop it up with their chopstricks. They also hold the bowl close to their mouth when they do this. This can be a fun thing to try at home.

Chopsticks are made with a pointed end and wider end. Traditionally you should pick up food with the pointed end and put it in your mouth. Traditionally, when you are eating with other people, each of you will have a bowl of rice and maybe a plate for your own use. There will be various dishes on the table for everyone to sample. If there are no spoons or forks in the dishes then you use your chopsticks. Never use the pointed end to get the food. Use the wider end that has not been in your mouth. Using the pointed end is like sticking your cellery into the dip a second time. Very bad manners.

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