Chopsticks

[bec_87rb]

On Sunday, my sister, her busted foot, my husband and I were at House of Dynasty eating Chinese food. I had the bowl of rice up near my mouth and was using chopsticks instead of a fork, because I was instructed at an early age that if you're gonna eat Chinese food, doing it right includes chopsticks

Comments

[chhinnamasta]

I had heard that crossing your chopsticks was considered rude, but I hadn't heard it was unlucky.

[bec_87rb]

Maybe she couldn't tell me it was rude, so she said it was unlucky?

[chhinnamasta]

Could be. I first got curious about crossed chopsticks when I saw the phrase used in a local restaurant name. I already knew that crossing them wasn't good form. Probably learned that by osmosis growing up in Vancouver. Anyway, I asked a Chinese friend of mine about it, and she was the one who told me crossing them was considered rude. She never mentioned anything about disrespecting The Buddha, though. It's kind of a weird restaurant name choice if it's a sign of religious irreverence, though. Perhaps the restaurant owners were rabid anti-Buddhists?

[bec_87rb]

I have no idea. I had been to the restaurant often, and I had never heard this Buddha thing before, although the lady in question I didn't recognize. Live and learn, eh? I will keep those chopsticks uncrossed, though.

[onesto_hotel]

I don't think I've ever actually crossed them, so I haven't heard anything about that being bad or not. I just know that you do NOT, under any circumstances, stick them vertically into food. I've been to enough uncomfortable dinners that basically consisted of all of the Asians yelling at and embarrassing some old white guy who had never used chopsticks before.

[bec_87rb]

What does sticking them vertically into food mean or do? You mean, don't use them to spear your food?

[onesto_hotel]

You don't leave them sticking upright in, say, a bowl of rice. It's how chopsticks are positioned for the dead at funerals. There's a pretty good summary of things not to do here: http://justhungry.com/your-guide-better-chopstick-etiquette-mostly-japanese

[bec_87rb]

Who knew so much chopstick action was related to funeral rites! I will be especially careful if I am eating in a Japanese restaurants. Thanks for the link!