Do you know how to use chopsticks

[GotGarlic]

When I was a teenager, my mom had a friend who was married to a Korean man; he taught me how to use chopsticks. I don't use them often, so I'm not as adept as I could be. A friend of mine in the Navy brought me a pair from Singapore - I need to get them out more

[buckytom]

is it me, or do koreans use especially large chop sticks?

has anyone ever used metal chopsticks, as used in a korean bbq joint? the extra weight takes some getting used to. the waitstaff graciously offers us gringos wooden chopsticks, but i wasn't gonna be outdone. not after a half dozen o.b.s and sojus.

[GotGarlic]

Originally Posted by buckytom

is it me, or do koreans use especially large chop sticks?

has anyone ever used metal chopsticks, as used in a korean bbq joint? the extra weight takes some getting used to. the waitstaff graciously offers us gringos wooden chopsticks, but i wasn't gonna be outdone. not after a half dozen o.b.s and sojus.

There is a Korean bbq place not far from where I live. We went there once, some time ago - I don't remember being surprised at the chopsticks, but it's been a while.

[GB]

Originally Posted by buckytom

is it me, or do koreans use especially large chop sticks?

has anyone ever used metal chopsticks, as used in a korean bbq joint? the extra weight takes some getting used to. the waitstaff graciously offers us gringos wooden chopsticks, but i wasn't gonna be outdone. not after a half dozen o.b.s and sojus.

The Korean places I go to use the same style chopticks as I see at Chinese and Japanese places. They are wood and the same size, not bigger. I have never seen metal ones and the larger ones I have seen were cooking chopsticks, not eating ones. I think they were playing a practical joke on you bucky. Next time they are going to give you two wet noodles to use

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by Dove

using chop sticks is the best diet I can think of..

Wow!! Thanks Miss Marge!!! Ya just solved my problem!!

[buckytom]

lol, gb.

no really, all of the korean bbq places use the metal ones around here.

the larger ones are more for serving and cooking. but they are all metal.

here's a pic, from wikipedia. the korean ones are the stainless steel chopsticks in the middle, next to the spoon.



i saw a pbs show once about how a pair of big, silver chopsticks was a standard wedding gift from one of the parents in a traditional korean ceremony.

[keltin]

Well, I’ve learned something today. I didn’t know there were different styles of chopsticks, and I’d certainly never heard of metal chopsticks. I also read and interesting abstract from a neurologist that explained the effects of an accident he says is peculiar to Asian culture which is craniofacial injuries in children with chopsticks. The neurologist stated that the metal chopstick injuries are the least serious and rarely require surgery since the wound is smaller and there are no wooden fragments left in the wound.

I won’t post the link to the neurologist findings, but here is a link to a Wiki article on chopsticks.

Styles of chopstick used in different cultures

Chinese: longer sticks that are square in cross section at one end (where they are held) and round in cross section at the other (where they contact the food), ending in a blunt tip.

Japanese: short to medium length sticks that taper to a pointed end. This may be attributed to the fact that the Japanese diet consists of large amounts of whole bony fish. Japanese chopsticks are traditionally made of wood and are lacquered. Some chopstick sets include two lengths of chopsticks: shorter ones for women and longer ones for men. Child-sized chopsticks are widely sold.

Korean: medium-length stainless-steel tapered rods, with a flat rectangular cross section. (Traditionally, they were made of brass or silver.) Many Korean metal chopsticks are ornately decorated at the grip.

Vietnamese: long sticks that taper to a blunt point; traditionally wooden, but now made of plastic as well. A đũa cả is a large pair of flat chopsticks that is used to serve rice from a pot.

[keltin]

Originally Posted by buckytom

here's a pic, from wikipedia. the korean ones are the stainless steel chopsticks in the middle, next to the spoon.

Looks like we just read the same article!

[YT2095]

yes I can and do use them, and even cook with them, right or left handed also.

[buckytom]

lol, keltin. wiki is a great resource, when you're trying to 'splain yourself.

like i said (gb... ), the korean metal chopsticks take a bit of getting used to, but now i prefer them. natural bamboo, chinese style is my second choice.

i don't like lacquered wooden chopsticks. i fell like i'm gonna scrape off and eat the lacquer, and they're too slippery. and i don't like the very pointy japanese style, used for boney fish.