The Chopsticks Poll

[zassou]

what kind of chopsticks you like? disposable not included

[minibois]

As long as one of the sticks got 4 pointy bits and the other has a sharp edge, they're fine with me

Oh wait.. That's just a knife and a fork , because I'm a filthy casual who never tried chopsticks.

 

So I'll keep an eye on the results, so I know what to pick up 

Chopsticks just always made me wonder why they are still in use, when a knife, fork and spoon exists. But I am probably just too casual to understand.

[zassou]

1 minute ago, minibois said:

As long as one of the sticks got 4 pointy bits and the other has a sharp edge, they're fine with me

Oh wait.. That's just a knife and a fork , because I'm a filthy casual who never tried chopsticks.

 

So I'll keep an eye on the results, so I know what to pick up 

Chopsticks just always made me wonder why they are still in use, when a knife, fork and spoon exists. But I am probably just too casual to understand.

do you know how to ride a bicycle, if so, do you understand how it works? me neither, but i do know how to ride it.

same as chopsticks, once you know how to use it, you just know.

[Eschew]

6 minutes ago, minibois said:

Chopsticks just always made me wonder why they are still in use, when a knife, fork and spoon exists. But I am probably just too casual to understand.

 

Please don't spear sushi with a fork... 

I'd say chopsticks work better than forks for delicate/smaller morsels?

Spoiler

Actually sushi is traditionally eaten with bare hands, but eh... 

Culinary experts would probably also go on about materials affecting the taste of certain foods? Not a culinary expert, I wouldn't know, but sounds plausible.

 

Also, sometimes traditions and societal standards matter more than efficiency, no? Especially in social gatherings like dinners and such. 

[SansVarnic]

Just now, minibois said:

As long as one of the sticks got 4 pointy bits and the other has a sharp edge, they're fine with me

Oh wait.. That's just a knife and a fork , because I'm a filthy casual who never tried chopsticks.

 

So I'll keep an eye on the results, so I know what to pick up 

Chopsticks just always made me wonder why they are still in use, when a knife, fork and spoon exists. But I am probably just too casual to understand.

Apparently I'm in the same boat.

 

Just now, zassou said:

do you know how to ride a bicycle, if so, do you understand how it works? me neither, but i do know how to ride it.

same as chopsticks, once you know how to use it, you just know.

To me it is an inefficient form of eating food. Even using my fingers is more efficient.

[sub68]

2 minutes ago, Eschew said:

 

 

Please don't spear sushi with a fork... 

I'd say chopsticks work better than forks for delicate/smaller morsels?

 

I hate when I see that and I feel like chopsticks where meant for small morsels

[sub68]

2 minutes ago, SansVarnic said:

 

To me it is an inefficient form of eating food. Even using my fingers is more efficient.

some people are pretty efficient at eating with chopsticks

I am pretty good with chopsticks ( this is probably because I use them daily )

[sub68]

15 minutes ago, zassou said:

what kind of chopsticks you like?

I have a pair of metal chopsticks that my family got on amazon

[zassou]

6 minutes ago, Eschew said:

Culinary experts would probably also go on about materials affecting the taste of certain foods? Not a culinary expert, I wouldn't know, but sounds plausible.

it's more of personal preference, me for example, i find korean's stainless steel sticks sacrilegious

[Eschew]

5 minutes ago, zassou said:

it's more of personal preference, me for example, i find korean's stainless steel sticks sacrilegious

Ahhh... Korean chopsticks are... interesting.

Always need a few minutes to adjust to the weight and flat shape before I can pick things up properly with 'em. And then I continue adjusting my grip on them during the meal... 

[minibois]

13 minutes ago, zassou said:

do you know how to ride a bicycle, if so, do you understand how it works? me neither, but i do know how to ride it.

same as chopsticks, once you know how to use it, you just know.

Well actually I know how a bicycle works and I can ride it.. But I think I understand where you're coming from.

I don't think I expressed my misunderstanding with chopsticks well enough though. What I meant is; why use chopsticks for rice, when a spoon works too? Or why not use a fork for noodles.. etc.

 

I probably shouldn't say that and I definitely will lurk this thread from now one, but I felt like I had to voice my misunderstanding with chopsticks (as I feel like many people wouldn't see the point in chopsticks, although the use @Eschew showed does make sense).

 

P.S. I have tried chopsticks at an Asian friend's house in the past (like.. long ago past), but I am thankful they politely handed me utensils I am used to a little later  

[Lord Vile]

Thought the flat vs pointy chopsticks depended on whether they’re Japanese or Chinese...

[Eschew]

9 minutes ago, Lord Vile said:

Thought the flat vs pointy chopsticks depended on whether they’re Japanese or Chinese...

Helpful graphic:

 

 

Exceptions and more varieties exist, of course, but generally speaking:

• Chinese: Rounded/Squared base, rounded flat tip.
• Korean: Thin flat base, thin flat tip.
• Japanese: Rounded base, rounded pointy tip.

[Lord Vile]

Just now, Eschew said:

Helpful graphic:

 

 

Exceptions exist, of course, but generally speaking, the above stays true.

That’s about what I thought, didn’t know about Vietnamese or Korean because I’ve never eaten at a place that does it  

[PlayStation 2]

I'm gonna be completely honest, I'm probably the one weirdo who's never eaten food that requires chopsticks.

That or I've probably eaten it with a fork, like the heathen I am.

[TempestCatto]

I don't like chopsticks. Makes eating impossible.

 

Spoiler

 

[Gegger]

at my house, we have like 5 different types of chopsticks which i randomly grab a pair when i need to eat something

 

usually i like the metal ones that are roughly squared at the top(where my hand goes) but round at the bottom, which i like cos they dont hurt but dont roll off the table, but picking up food is still pretty easy

 

yay random eating utensils off taobao 5 years ago!

[captain_to_fire]

I only eat using chopsticks when I’m in a restaurant. At home, I use spoon and fork. 

[greenhorn]

I like to use chopsticks for those types of food they are meant for. Watching someone eat sushi with a fork or a spoon would look awkward, almost as bad as seeing people who are chopping up spaghetti into little pieces before eating them.

[sub68]

13 hours ago, Eschew said:

Ahhh... Korean chopsticks are... interesting.

Always need a few minutes to adjust to the weight and flat shape before I can pick things up properly with 'em. And then I continue adjusting my grip on them during the meal... 

I am technically Korean and I hate this e kind of chopsticks 

[Peterwoo802]

I'm Korean but I have been through a lot of exposure to Chinese Culture so I tend to switch around between both styles of chopsticks. My family is not so nationalistic so everyone would just use random chopsticks available but we seem to prefer our country's style better.  

[Peterwoo802]

On 6/2/2020 at 6:27 PM, Eschew said:

Ahhh... Korean chopsticks are... interesting.

Always need a few minutes to adjust to the weight and flat shape before I can pick things up properly with 'em. And then I continue adjusting my grip on them during the meal...

Yeah, I have realized that many people don't know how to use Korean chopsticks properly, they would use it as any other chopstick. When I learnt the proper way to hold one, I was woke by how comfortable it was. 

[divito]

Based on that graphic, the sushi set I have has a Japanese-style (I guess that's obvious), in what appears to be melamine. So I'm more partial to that type vs the more typically seen Chinese version. I typically only use chopsticks when the restaurant / food calls for it.

[sub68]

Here is my chopsticks 

[porina]

Due to my background I'm most used to the square plastic chopsticks widely used by the Chinese community. Less often I see the wood versions, but plastic is mostly used as it is more durable.

 

I've travelled through the Far East at various times, covering Hong Kong, Shenzen, Tokyo and Seoul. I hadn't consciously noticed the Japanese chopsticks were more pointy. I just used them the same regardless. I don't recall what they were like in Korea. 

 

I do know I hold chopsticks wrong. I can't use them if I hold them as they're supposed to. It reduces my gripping power but I get more control. At home, I only use chopsticks when eating noodles with soup (e.g. ramen). Otherwise I'd pick a fork (with or without knife), or even spoon, depending on the food itself.