TCH-Thomas Posted October 11, 2006 Posted October 11, 2006 I had Chinese for dinner today and once again trying to eat with chopsticks, but it didn´t work. I then tried to view some tutorials about it including images, but no, no matter how I try to hold the sticks, it fails (or I should say, I drop the food). So, what is the secret? Quote
TCH-Bruce Posted October 11, 2006 Posted October 11, 2006 Thomas, the simplest way (I've been told) to learn to use chopsticks is to use a rubber band to secure the two together at the opposite end you will be picking up food. Then you control opening and closing them to capture the food. Quote
TCH-Thomas Posted October 11, 2006 Author Posted October 11, 2006 Yeah, I have heard that too, but it would be cheating to do that. Quote
TCH-Bruce Posted October 11, 2006 Posted October 11, 2006 But it would teach you the correct positioning of the sticks. Consider the band training wheels. Quote
TCH-Andy Posted October 11, 2006 Posted October 11, 2006 Just get a nice pretty Chinese lady to teach you The secret for me was in getting the position of the first one fixed, then you hold the second one almost like a pen. Don't try and make the first one movable Quote
bellringr Posted October 11, 2006 Posted October 11, 2006 Ken can eat with chopsticks no problem. I, on the other hand, cannot. I try every time, and then give up when my fingers start cramping. Quote
TCH-Bruce Posted October 11, 2006 Posted October 11, 2006 It's too hard to eat soup with chopsticks anyway! Quote
stevevan Posted October 11, 2006 Posted October 11, 2006 After spending a year living in Korea, and 8 more travelling the Far East, it's a little bit of all the responses above. It helps if you have an asian friend show you. After that, it just takes practice, practice, practice. I will admit that I'm not as good as I used to be, but it due to lack of using chopsticks on a regular basis. (I used to be able to pick up individual grains of rice using the metal chopsticks...MUCH thinner than the wooden ones you commonly see!) And regarding soup...you eat the contents with the chopsticks and slurp the rest! Slurping is acceptable in public! Quote
makaveli Posted October 11, 2006 Posted October 11, 2006 i have to say i just ended up stabbing the food to pck it up and having a lollipop of food, if that fails i ask for a knife and fork, i just get embaraased fiddling with sticks looks like an idoiot! Quote
stevevan Posted October 11, 2006 Posted October 11, 2006 Yeah...there's quite a bit of that at first! The overall impression I got while being in those asian countries is that the local people appreciated the fact that I was at least WILLING to learn it! They had no problem giving me a fork and/or spoon when I asked for it! (It was easier to eat the soup then!) Quote
Just_Rob Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 Heck, I eat with them as often as I can. I am not real adept with them so it takes me longer to eat all of my food. Slower eating means less overeating for me as I feel full with less food. Quote
bellringr Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 Good point, Rob! Maybe I should try that... Quote
Just_Rob Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 Hey, somewhere between eating right and using chopsticks I have removed almost 60 pounds so it has worked for me. Quote
TCH-Don Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 I hear chopsticks are good fiber and low in calories Quote
stevevan Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 Only the wooden ones Don! The metal or plastic ones might be a bit difficult in getting down! Quote
Just_Rob Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 It isn't the getting them down that is the problem. It is the chewing them that is the hard part. Quote
TCH-Bruce Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 It isn't the getting them down that is the problem. It is the chewing them that is the hard part. I would have thought it was passing them that was the hard part! Quote
MikeJ Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 I got pretty good at them probably because of the Japanese Steakhouse we used to eat at a lot when I was a kid. Anyway, I learned to use chopsticks one way, but I've noticed that even the Chinese use them various different ways, so find a way that works for you and practice it. I'll tell you this much though, when eating rice with chopsticks, you start to appreciate the "sticky" nature of sticky rice. Quote
TCH-Bruce Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 I'll tell you this much though, when eating rice with chopsticks, you start to appreciate the "sticky" nature of sticky rice. I'll agree with that one. We went to Sake the other night and I had no problems with the sticks and I have every where else I've tried using them. Quote
Just_Rob Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 (edited) I can agree with that Mike, no stickey, no chopsitckey. Bruce, Sake the name of the place? I cant see drinking sake with chopsticks. Edited October 12, 2006 by Just_Rob Quote
TCH-Bruce Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 Yes, it is Sake Japansese Steak House, hibachi style with sushi bar. No sushi for me! Quote
stevevan Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 I agree with Bruce...no thank you! I did my fair share of exotic taste-testing when I was younger and more brave. Now that I'm older and set in my ways, I'll leave the sushi to someone else! Chopsticks require more practice than most Americans give them. How long did it take your kids (or yourself if you're not old enough for kids) to learn to eat with a spoon and/or fork? (And if you break them down into itty bitty pieces Rob, they'll go down and right through just fine! ) Quote
Just_Rob Posted October 13, 2006 Posted October 13, 2006 I suppose Steve but I will still use them for eating and not eat them. Sushi is ok, just depends on your tastes, I prefer tuna over salmon though. Quote
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