Do you know how to use chopsticks? You’re perfectly welcome to use a fork at our Seattle Korean restaurant, but if you want to really dive into the Asian dining experience, you should try to develop a mastery of Korea’s favorite utensils.
To hold the chopsticks, pick up one like a pencil and place the second one beneath it, resting on your middle finger and thumb. Try to hold them at an angle; if you try to grip food with the sticks parallel to each other, it is more likely to slip before it reaches your mouth. It may be frustrating at first, but it only takes a little practice before you develop the proper dexterity to eat like a pro.
If you ever find yourself dining in Asia, be sure to exercise proper chopstick etiquette. Do not spear food with your sticks. When putting your sticks down, do not leave them standing up in your rice; this is a tradition reserved for funeral celebrations, and could be considered rude in other occasions. Instead, place your sticks back where you found them when you’re finished eating.