[Sca-cooks] Chop, chop, Master A, was: New topics for discussion...

[Finnebhir Littlecreek]

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Laura C. Minnick" <lcm at efn.org>
Reply-To: sca-cooks at ansteorra.org
Date: Mon, 05 Aug 2002 15:53:08 -0700

>At 04:19 PM 8/5/02 -0400, you wrote:
>>[Although, not to leave topic or anything, has anyone else noticed
>>that the prep work in Chinese take-out (and in restaurants) is simply
>>not what it was 10 or 20 years ago? Everything is in much larger
>>hunks, either because it's faster and less skilled a task, or because
>>it takes up more space in a quart container, or for some more
>>esoteric reason, but the days of the 1/16 inch uniform shred seem to
>>be dying out, except in the really high-quality restaurants (seems
>>like Shanghainese and Taiwanese places go in for this, at least in my
>>area). Is this a personal peeve for anyone but me?]
>
>My guess- lack of skilled workers, and lazy western fingers that can't pick
>up anything smaller than bricks with chopsticks.
>
>James and I took my younger daughter and her boyfriend out to our favorite
>Chinese restaurant recently- the poor kid. Young Henry was not familiar
>with chopsticks, and he's left handed so I really couldn't help him. He
>gave it a good try though, and it was some time before he gave up and went
>to a fork and spoon. Have to say- I'm rather proud that all three of my
>kids can use chopsticks adequately. Maybe not elegantly, but the food gets
>where it belongs.
>
>'Lainie
>-jonesing for some of their Garlic Chicken... oooohh...


Noope Master A. I have to agree that is a problem, but it seems(to me) to stem from the fact that most Amuricans can't use chopsticks proficiently enough to pickup a single grain of rice, which is ISTR the proper gauge of good etiquette. However, it's also that most people are used to simply shoveling food into their mouth without taking the time to chew and appreciate the nuiances of good cooking and seasoning. The finer the pieces, the longer it should take to eat. Doesn't quite fit with the fast paced modern lifestyle...

As for using sticks left or right- handed, it just takes practice. I know it took me quite a long time to get food to my mouth with my left hand, but with TONS of practice I can do it, though sometimes messily...

Finn, who's only here until Wed night then off to PENNSIC!! Hooray!