Fun With Chopsticks

Introduction

You might wonder why I chose Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London" for this story, just listen to the very first line. I suppose I could have included a version of "Chopsticks" to accompany this so I will put that in the conclusion.

Although I shared a picture of the Sizzling Vegan Chicken With Black Bean Sauce that I had at Umai Mi today, and there's a picture of the empty dish with chopsticks and a spoon in it, this is about the fun I have using chopsticks to eat out.

They always leave a spoon and a fork on the table. You have to ask for chopsticks, and I didn't see anyone else using them apart from Fiona, who had suggested the place and paid for my meal.

Chopsticks are shaped pairs of equal-length sticks that have been used as kitchen and eating utensils in most of East Asia for over three millennia. They are held in the dominant hand, secured by fingers, and wielded as extensions of the hand, to pick up food.

Originating in China, chopsticks later spread to other parts of continental Asia. Chopsticks have become more accepted in connection with East Asian food in the West, especially in cities with significant East Asian diaspora communities. The use of chopsticks has also spread to the rest of Southeast Asia either via the Chinese diaspora or through some dishes such as noodles that may require chopsticks.[citation needed]

Chopsticks are smoothed, and frequently tapered. They are traditionally made of wood, bamboo, metal, ivory, and ceramics, and in modern days, increasingly available in non-traditional materials such as plastic, stainless steel, and even titanium. Chopsticks are often seen as requiring practice and skill to master to be used as an eating utensil. In some countries, failing to follow etiquette in their use is frowned upon, though such feelings are generally lesser than they once were.

Fun Eating With Chopsticks.

I can't remember when I first tried to use chopsticks, but it was not successful. I saw Mr Miyagi kill a fly with chopsticks, and I could hardly even hold them, let alone pick up anything. Chopsticks were definitely not for me.

Then I was with friends in a Chinese restaurant, and chopsticks were the only option. Apparently, the rice was sticky, so with a lot of effort, I could use the two chopsticks like a spoon to scoop up the rice and whatever sauce and extras that I was eating. I could finally use chopsticks. That was when and where it started.

You cannot use chopsticks for everything, like you cannot use a fork to eat most soup, so it is almost entirely Chinese where I use chopsticks, although other ethnic restaurants serve their meals with rice.

When you get the hang of the method, and I don't know if I am doing it right, then you start to have fun eating like that.

The thing is that using chopsticks means you take longer to eat your food, and therefore you can enjoy it for a lot longer.

There are two restaurants that I visit in Newcastle where I always use chopsticks Umai Mi is one, and the other is "Infusion", which has excellent service, and I love their Hot'n'Sour soup as well as their sizzling hotplate meals.

This is one meal at "Infusion":

As I say, eating with chopsticks is fun and I hope this has made you ungry.

Chopsticks Conclusion

If you have never tried chopsticks, you should give it a go, and if you do use them, then you don't need me telling you anything.

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed it.

Apparently, Liberace is the only person to play "Chopsticks" at Carnegie Hall!