Chopsticks - Part Deux
 

Yes, there has been a recent chopsticks posts, but this one is different.

I was at a Japanese steakhouse tonight. I can use chopsticks sufficiently. There is one exception - fried rice. I can pick up a single grain of rice, but not a fork-sized portion of rice. Am I doing it wrong, or am I trying to get too much? Please advise.

Re: Chopsticks - Part Deux
 

Is it in a bowl?

Re: Chopsticks - Part Deux
 

bowl --> shovel

Re: Chopsticks - Part Deux
 

Even I know the answer to this one. Pick up the bowl, bring it closer to your mouth.

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

Re: Chopsticks - Part Deux
 

Trying too hard. The spoon was a great invention. Use it.

Re: Chopsticks - Part Deux
 

Thank you all for not answering my question. "Bring the bowl closer to my mouth?" What does that mean. "Trying too hard?" C'mon!

Re: Chopsticks - Part Deux
 

Pick up the bowl with your fingers on the bottom and your thumb on the rim.
Shovel food into your mouth with the chopsticks.

The bottom of the bowls are designed so that you don't burn your fingers when you pick them up (rice, miso soup, donburi dishes...)

If rice is on a plate the use a 'tweezer technique'. Pinch a pile of rice (chopsticks parallel to the plate) to get a mound of rice on your chopsticks.
Sometimes it helps to mix the maindish ingredients/sauce to the rice to make the rice more sticky. Then it's easier to scoop up with chopsticks.

I'm Asian but have no problem asking for a fork/spoon/knife if a dish is prepared in a way that makes it difficult to eat with chopsticks.

Also, if eating ramen/saimin, leave the bowl on the table and move your head down to the bowl to make it easier to eat. Pick up the bowl with both hands to drink the dashi (broth).