The Chopstick Topic

[SobaAddict70]

Yes, unbelievable, isn't it? An Asian-born Asian-American who doesn't know how to use chopsticks!

(You wouldn't believe the looks I get when I ask for a fork instead of a pair of hashi.)

I used to know how to use them....they were practically de rigeur at home in the Philippines, but then that was before we moved to the States, and over time, I forgot how to use them, much the same as I now know not a single Chinese character, much less 90% of spoken and written Tagalog. Sad, huh?

Anyway, not sure where to post this question, either here or in General Foods (so please feel free to move the thread if inappropriately posted).

I dunno how to use chopsticks without dropping things, so help would be GREATLY appreciated. Any time is as good a time to learn as now, eh?

Soba

[FoodZealot]

I think I might be getting suckered here, but I'll attempt to answer earnestly. [grin]

This seems to be the standard technique, and the site has some animation. It took me a long time to get fluent, but eating is good motivation... I find it's best to think of the top chopstick as if it were a pencil. Bottom one doesn't move at all.

My sister is a lefty and can't use this style for some reason. She just figured out her own way. Looks odd, but it works.

~Tad

Edited August 14, 2003 by FoodZealot (log)

[soyamiso]

FoodZealot's link shows a pretty decent animation, although the disappearing chopstick might be a little confusing. It's exactly the same instructions as those appearing on the red chopstick wrappers from my local Chinese restaurants.

The trick for me is to only move the top chopstick, the one supported by the index and middle finger. The pad of the thumb holds the chopstick lightly against the middle and index finger, and only those two fingers move.

Also, your chopsticks should be held at a 45 degree angle to the food, not perpendicular to it.

Hope that helps.

[creacha]

any tips on how to fold those disposable chopstick wrappers?

the coolest thing i have seen is a chopstick rest made from a folded wrapper. i was truly impressed by those folks innovation, and will probably do it at every restaurant i visit from now on!

[megaira]

Dragon

Or, get really good at folding teensy tiny squares?

www.origami.com

I tend to tear mine into squares and make teensy tiny cranes. It's figit control. I'm sure it drives people around me crazy.

This is kind of sad:

Origami for depraved people who haven't had any sex in a long, long time

[Schneier]

For years I've been making chopstick rests with my wrappers. I'd love to learn some other tricks.

[Carolyn Tillie]

This is kind of sad:

Origami for depraved people who haven't had any sex in a long, long time   

[torakris]

My husband always makes this swan like chopstick rest that has a fan-like tail, I am absolutely skill-less when it comes to origami.

Now my husband and 7 year old make these things ( I have forgotten both the English and Japanese names! ) they are like a 4 bladed weapon maybe used by ninjas? Well anyway they flick them across the table at each other and I always get hit in the eye!

My 7 year old (Mia) is incredible with origami, she can actually create her own.

[specialteach]

For those of us who are oragami challenged......

I just tie mine in a knot and flatten it down.

That is if I haven't ripped it to shreds. I have made many less than great first impressions on dates where I tore the wrapper to shreds!

Do Japanese restaurants in countries other than the US offer chopstick holders so that you don't have to create your own?

[megaira]

I have forgotten both the English and Japanese names!

Shuriken?

[torakris]

I have forgotten both the English and Japanese names!

Shuriken?

shuriken! that is it.

Thank you!

what a website

[torakris]

and this is what the origami version looks like:

http://homepage3.nifty.com/yuuyuu-sya/sele...ct/syuriken.htm

[megaira]

what a website

Made me paranoid there for a second, thought I'd inadvertantly linked to crazy asian knife throwing porn or something.

Not that I'd know about that.

I couldn't make those when dining out - maybe at home. The temptation to make sound effects would be too strong.

ETA - come to think of it, the dragon would probably create the same problem.

Edited October 27, 2003 by megaira (log)

[torakris]

here is a dog and a boat:

http://www.geocities.jp/btnk/origami/hasi/.../hasibukuro.htm

[creacha]

i'm impressed.

i can make the shuriken, but nothing else yet.

i'm going to the supermarket now, to buy a 100 pack.

[col klink]

and this is what the origami version looks like:

http://homepage3.nifty.com/yuuyuu-sya/sele...ct/syuriken.htm

Ha! When I was a little kid I used to make these all of the time. My buddies and I would have battles! Talk about stupid kids, once we put needles in the points.

Oddly enough, nobody lost an eye.

[bleachboy]

I'd love to learn to make the dragon chopstick rest, but where do I find a glossary of origami terms used on that page?

[jhlurie]

I feel so much like a simpleton, since all I usually do is fold the wrapper into kind of a bent "M" shape, with the legs of the M tucked in a bit to give the middle some elevation.

[bleachboy]

I feel so much like a simpleton, since all I usually do is fold the wrapper into kind of a bent "M" shape, with the legs of the M tucked in a bit to give the middle some elevation.

Heck, you're downright advanced compared with my wife and I - we just make a V, and lay it down flat.

But man, that dragon looks cool! So far I can make the head. However, the instructions for getting from step 4 to step 5 may as well be written in Japanese, and the illustration isn't helping me much.

[torakris]

Hey you guys are better than me, I don't even do anything with my wrapper.

I am useless at origami, I can only make the cup which you only fold like 3 times my 3 year old can make it too.....

My 7 year old actually creates her own origami, she has come up with some incredible stuff and she can make anything in any book.

you might want to try to find just a general origami site and see if they have a glossary of terms.

[mh1]

I'd love to learn to make the dragon chopstick rest, but where do I find a glossary of origami terms used on that page?

Ask your wife to bring an origami book home from the library, of course!

[bleachboy]

Ask your wife to bring an origami book home from the library, of course!

Hi honey!

[KattyKid]

Is eating with chopsticks in Japan as the way they are held the same or do some people use different ways. And are lefties allowed ? Thanks

[torakris]

though there is the "proper" way to hold them, it seems to be as individual as holding a pencil.

I have seen many variations.

No problems with lefties, both my husband and one daughter do it every day!!

[Hiroyuki]

Just as Trakris wrote, hold one stick, the upper one in the figure below, like a pencil.

http://www.sakuragaoka.ac.jp/wakoudo4/shir...hi/shirabe3.htm

The most important thing is not to move the other stick, the lower one, when picking up food.

Some bad examples:

http://www.feetoh.co.jp/hasi/kouza/

This is a national problem: There are many Japanese children who cannot hold chopsticks properly, and their parents cannot teach them how to do that simply because they cannot hold them properly either.