Almost Canadian

When eating in Chinese/Thai restaurants in the UK chopsticks were invariably supplied, but rarely used. In Calgary, it is the exception for chopsticks not to be used. It would appear that everyone, except me and those under 18 months of age, can use chopsticks.

Is this a Canada wide phenomenon, or just a Calgary one?

Lorna at Vicenza

If all the films and TV programmes I've watched portray anything at all of real life then it would seem that Americans too are pretty dexterous with chopsticks ...... poking around in what look to be like little cardboard boxes and pulling out noodles.

dbd33

I can use chopsticks but only do so when in the company of people who want to display cultural sensitivity to the staff. If I'm with Asians I use a fork. That said, most Chinese food in the GTA is eaten from polystyrene containers with plastic implements.

Souvy

Why would you feel the need to use chopsticks? They are nothing more than a delivery system. People using them that were not brought up using them are, frankly, a bit silly.

Souvy

You just said what I was thinking but didn't write. I too can use chopsticks. The last time I did was years ago in Japan, when eating with locals that did use them. I deferred.

The soup course took a while.

Jingsamichty

As a family, we became skilled in the use of chopsticks while living in Korea. Most Koreans use chopsticks at home and in restaurants. We routinely eat noodle-y dishes with chopsticks, even at home.

I think North Americans feel comfortable with chopsticks because they prefer eating with one hand, as we table-manners-obsessed Brits constantly observe.

Chookie

I can use chopsticks.

If I am given them when eating out, I tend to use them, but when eating a takeaway at home I don't usually bother.

Lorna at Vicenza

Have you been reading this thread?

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=663560

Jingsamichty

No I haven't, but it is a very common observation of Brits on the filthy North American slob pig-dog savages.

ireland2canada

I am rubbish at chopsticks. I find that the food gets cold because it takes so long to eat. Quite frankly, the best tool for eating a bowl of rice seems to me to be a spoon, but I am sure that is a bit uncouth. I make concessions and use a fork.

Alan2005

Thai people don't use chopsticks unless it's for certain dishes. If you go to a thai resto that supplies them by default then it aint thai.

I'm ok with them, but there is no shame in asking for western cuttlery; the food is going to taste the same regardless. Only tossers make negative judgements about people that can't use them.

Almost Canadian

I never use them and am always happy to ask for a fork. I am just amazed at how many Calgarians use them, it was not something that I noticed when eating in such restaurants in the UK.

Jingsamichty

I read somewhere that in China alone, disposable wooden chopsticks have a devastating impact on deforestation. They use over 1 billion pairs every day.

Alan2005

Yeah, but those are the easiest to use.

snoopster

We always use chopsticks. In the UK I always had to ask for a pair if we ate at a Chinese restaurant. My parents taught me to use them when I was very young I think, because whenever we had Chinese takeaways as kids, we all used them.

Call me strange, but I think Chinese/Thai food always tastes nicer when I use chopsticks, I don't like eating it with a fork. A bit like proper chip shop chips taste best when I eat them out the paper.....