A discreet solution
Every time you go to an oriental restaurant, do you end up asking for a fork because you can’t handle the chopsticks? Also, does this make you feel a little embarrassed and frustrated that you seem to be the only person who can’t eat with classic chopsticks? Read on and you can cross a new challenge off your list.
The secret tricks for eating with chopsticks
Some types of rubbers have been marketed for some time to help the little ones in the house learn to be smart. The problem with this invention is that it tends to be a bit flashy. Between the animal shapes they usually come in and the flashy colors they choose, it’s hard to go unnoticed when you pull one of these out of your bag and start using it. No matter how discreet you are.
But here is the solution. A trick inspired by these artifacts, but adapted to adult life, that is to say, much more discreet. All you need is a paper napkin. If you’re in a more elegant restaurant and you have a cloth napkin, don’t worry, you can always replace it with a tissue.
Spread it horizontally on the table and place the chopsticks on top also horizontally and with the upper ends about a finger apart. Roll up the napkin as if you were wrapping them and make sure they are securely fastened. Bend the chopsticks and you’ll notice how they’re held together by the napkin, just like the kid’s invention, but much less shrill.
Second level
When you’ve been handling the chopsticks for a while and managed not to fill the whole thing with rice or let the gyoza fly, it’s time to move on to the next level. The main trick and the basis for achieving this is to take them by the broad side. We tend to take them down because we think that way we have more control over what we take, but that’s not the case.
Another tip is to place the lower one in the space between the thumb and index finger and not move it. This stick is always fixed and you can rely on your little finger to lock it down. For his part, it will be the superior who does all the work. This must be located at the ends of the index finger and thumb, always parallel to the lower toothpick. Start with dishes that are composed of medium pieces so that it is easier to pinch them and bring them to the mouth. And remember, it’s all practice.
Why the sticks?
You will ask yourself this question every time you drop a bit of food and it has an answer. Or some, depending on the sources. But the most widespread is that chopsticks were invented long before the fork and when our traditional cutlery arrived in ancient China, they were so used to their furgados that they decided to follow suit.
Also, the Asian way of cooking does not conflict with chopsticks, as they serve everything in small pieces. This would not be possible with our recipe, in which spoon stews abound or the meat is served in a fillet that the diner cuts as he eats. Our luck today is to be able to give ourselves the luxury of eating a good stew with a spoon and eating some sushi with chopsticks. The best of every house.
