Whilst I’m on the subject of chopsticks, we should remember that the pendulum swings both ways.
Many people, when they visit China, have problems eating some of the more slippery food with chopsticks, sometimes giving in and reverting, where available, to a knife and fork.
In fact, one time I was having a meal with a colleague who’d only been in China about a week. We were chatting and eating, as you do, when a waitress came up, giggling slightly, and handed him a fork!
I’d not noticed, but my friend had been having trouble eating his food with the traditional Chinese impliments, and so she’d come to his rescue! This kind of initiative isn’t normal for wait staff in China! I laughed anyway.
When in a ‘western’ restaurant, the shoe is often on the other foot, and I’ve seen, on quite a few occasions, Chinese asking for chopsticks, as they can’t handle the knife and fork!
It’s all what you’re used to I guess.
Tip: Plastic chopsticks are about the hardest to use, usually being heavier and more slippery, so if you have those it may be worth asking for some wooden ones, which most places keep on hand as well.
Tags: Chopsticks
Hehe nice article, I tried eating with chopsticks once and failed hard!
Yes the wooden ones are the best and yes I also can’t understand why Chinese people get so impressed when they see me using chopsticks. It’s not that difficult even sure my skills aren’t as good as Chinese’s.