Comments on: The History of Chopsticks http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/food/2009/08/the-history-of-chopsticks/ A Heaping Helping of Food News, Science and Culture Sat, 18 May 2013 18:34:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Daphne Chin http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/food/2009/08/the-history-of-chopsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-872 Daphne Chin Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:41:19 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/food/?p=2659#comment-872 I enjoyed this history lesson! I am 100% Chinese, born in the U.S. My mom was born in Shanghai, and my dad was born in Columbus, Ohio. (His parents immigrated from China.) A gift I received as a baby was a thin pair of silver chopsticks joined at the top with a chain, that had my Chinese name engraved on them. I remember being told about the superstition that silver chopsticks would reveal if food was poisoned. I also remember being told that royalty had food tasters who would eat before the royalty to see if the food had been poisoned. We ate with chopsticks on occasion as I was growing up, and Mom and Dad usually cooked with them. I scrambled eggs with chopsticks long before I used a fork. I still make sure the chopsticks are the same length before I use them. In 1991, my sister and I went to China to visit our relatives (Mom's six siblings and our grandmother) for the first time. I was amused that their biggest concern was whether or not we knew how to use chopsticks – not whether we could speak their language! I enjoyed this history lesson! I am 100% Chinese, born in the U.S. My mom was born in Shanghai, and my dad was born in Columbus, Ohio. (His parents immigrated from China.)

A gift I received as a baby was a thin pair of silver chopsticks joined at the top with a chain, that had my Chinese name engraved on them. I remember being told about the superstition that silver chopsticks would reveal if food was poisoned. I also remember being told that royalty had food tasters who would eat before the royalty to see if the food had been poisoned.

We ate with chopsticks on occasion as I was growing up, and Mom and Dad usually cooked with them. I scrambled eggs with chopsticks long before I used a fork. I still make sure the chopsticks are the same length before I use them.

In 1991, my sister and I went to China to visit our relatives (Mom’s six siblings and our grandmother) for the first time. I was amused that their biggest concern was whether or not we knew how to use chopsticks – not whether we could speak their language!

]]> By: Carol Traxler http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/food/2009/08/the-history-of-chopsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-870 Carol Traxler Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:52:59 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/food/?p=2659#comment-870 Yesterday 8.6.09, my partner and I were enjoying a meal at my favorite Asian restaurant,Jacky's Galaxy(The original in Cranston RI not the copycats!)when I read of the history of chopsticks on the paper sleeve which held bamboo sticks. When I was in Taiwan in 86, I surprised my hosts with my ability to use chopsticks. I had practised for hours by picking up wet ball bearings! I learned while in Taiwan that what my mother had used for years as a spoon rest while cooking was actually a spoon for eating soup. Will wonders never cease! Yesterday 8.6.09, my partner and I were enjoying a meal at my favorite Asian restaurant,Jacky’s Galaxy(The original in Cranston RI not the copycats!)when I read of the history of chopsticks on the paper sleeve which held bamboo sticks.
When I was in Taiwan in 86, I surprised my hosts with my ability to use chopsticks. I had practised for hours by picking up wet ball bearings!
I learned while in Taiwan that what my mother had used for years as a spoon rest while cooking was actually a spoon for eating soup. Will wonders never cease!

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