According to the paper wrapper on some disposable chopsticks, Confucius, himself, endorsed the use of chopsticks. Knives, he said, were objects of aggression and therefore had no place at the dining table.

I'm very fond of eating with chopsticks. They're terrible for scooping up rice, which makes one wonder how they became popular in eastern Asia, but they're fun to use and make one look a bit more trendy and continental.

It was kind of neat -- the other day I ate at a Chinese restaurant and the little, Chinese man who owned the place commented that I must eat a lot of oriental food (his words, not mine) because I use chopsticks very skillfully.

at least you have a skill

As a guy always on the prowl for new chopstick technique...I really appreciate this topic!

Key to rice, I find...1)don't order rice 2)pack each bite of rice down a little with the chopstick, as to get it to stick together & make a morstel - which you CAN pick up with the sticks! Overseas - they tend to just use their fingers for the rice.

Was gonna say rice is a finger food in most Asian countries.Stone there's got skills he know's what he talking about there.

Thanks Brain! - Asian...not very filling...I had a Chinese girlfriend once...30 minute after we made love...I was horny AGAIN!!!

(get it)

I tend to just use a spoon to scoop up the rice when I'm done. I like saucy dishes over a bed of rice. The rice gets soaked in the sauce and then it won't stick together at all and it would be very messy to eat it with my fingers.

I'd never think of getting Asian food without getting rice, though. Even if it's cliche or not actually authentic to the meal, I like rice far too much not to get it.

Used them all my life and have taught my kids to use them...

It depends on how you make your rice...if you have enough stick to it, you can get a good bite...but use a bowl for rice and pick up the bowl to eat off the table, so you are closer to your mouth, but the bowl is off the table... it ain't rocket science lol , it would be different of course for a formal situation and in another country where tradition and customs you would want to adhere to...

Interesting though different countries have different sizes of chop sticks too.... and for home invest in a nice set of chopsticks if that is something you will use alot.

great compliment to have been given....
kewl...

ehh, it's hard to eat long grain rice with chopsticks but short grain sticky rice is what's served so you just kinda scoop with the chopsticks.

Different asian countries have different ettiquettes regarding chopstick use. In chinese culture you should pick up common food (food for everyone to consume) with the blunt end and transfer to your dish then eat with other end. Families or close friends who don't mind this usually don't do it.

Don't stick your chopsticks upright into your rice and leave it there, it ressembles incense sticks used in funerals and prayers for the dead. Goes for japanese and koreans as well.

You generally hold the rice bowl in the left and bring it up to your mouth and scoop the rice into your mouth. Japanese usually do the same. Koreans do not pick the bowl off the table. This is why you don't put the rice in the flat dish but rather eat it from the bowl.

Also if you're eating with asians, always pour or top off their tea/drinks before filling your own. Best to start with the eldest members first.

lastly asian groups who go out to eat never split the check. People just fight over who gets to pay. So if you're eating with an asian girl and her family, you'll probably get points for swiping that check first and paying. (I usually get up to go to the bathroom before the check comes and find the waiter to tell him to give me the check)

Another key...

don't be afraid, in an Asian restaurant, to pick up your bowl & use your sticks to scrape food to your mouth! VERY common and VERY utilitive! also...VERY BAD for a date!

(I'm telling you, you hit on a GREAT topic here...)

With curry dishes, it is allowed to use your fingers to eat rice dishes,but depending on your nobility ranking to pheasant depended on how knuckles you dirtied and your fingers don't actually go in your mouth. Small dabs up to first knuckle means you are royal and those 1-2 knuckle midle class and lower class would almost use palms to eat....

and never use you left hand.

ever.

Isn't rice as finger food usually in south east asian countries? I've never seen chinese, japanese or koreans do that other than with sushi?

Jeez!!! Geek & Yohoke are shoveling in the data!!!

(I'm just sayin'...great topic!)

Classy

I actually did that on a date this past summer, before he got there I asked her no matter what he said or did it was separate checks and she did so....AND OMG he went off....

mmmmmmm......Honjozo.

I don't know of the countries themselves where it would be a finger food, just years ago out in LA at a small chinese restaurant, he was Chinese and his wife was Hindu... and honestly I don't know what I was eating but it was the best shyt ever, but she was showing me, actually putting her hand over mine and showing me how to pick it up to eat. My cousin & I had the best time that night... again my life B.C.

yeah you learn tricks after your 2 uncles, dad, aunt, mom, numerous cousins have nearly overturned a table, sprayed hot tea on the customers next to you, are screaming like they were all raised in a barn and have basically started the Royal Rumble of Chinese eateries. It's chaos I tell you, cousin Tsai's on one table ready to elbow drop Uncle Yin, Uncle Yin has Auntie Tsai in a sleeperhold, cousin Tsai is trying to superkick Uncle Yin into next week.

It's more for my sanity than anything else. Then again I'm born in the US, splitting checks is fine for me....fine I'm cheap and poor.

I think it was cause she's Hindu. I believe in India people use their hands more.

Never been there... but the food they made was awesome....

I use a fork. I'm very good at eating with a fork.

I've also been known to use my fingers. And just my tongue.

Actually, nobody tell ephraimglass but it's all just a joke we asians play on other races. We're all in on it and as soon as yall aren't looking we all just use spoons for rice. Then we laugh and laugh "ohhh rook at roundeye, he eat with sticks ha ha ha why he no use spoon ha-so ha-so"

I'm gonna get my asian ethnicity card revoked for this one.

ROFLMAOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
ancient Chinese secret