<p>You’re welcome!</p>
<p>As for disposable chopsticks and de-forestation, I’ve heard that the Japanese are aware of this, and it has become trendy to carrry around your own portable set of chopsticks.</p>
<p>We are a family who are serious about our chopstick use. </p>
<p>In cheaper restaurants, D is fond of building us each very cute chopstick rests from the paper coverings.</p>
<p>chopsticks.
A fork cools the too food quickly.</p>
<p>I’d like to see the science behind that.</p>
<p>^Its related to Global Climate Change, which some don’t believe is science. :)</p>
<p>Its really simple. Metal conducts heat faster than bamboo or wood. A fork has more surface area, absorbs the heat and conducts the heat to the colder handle. The Chinese are really smart people and have known this for thousands of years. They could have used metal cooking and eating utensils but they discovered rather quickly that bamboo is the better tool. </p>
<p>The Western Cultures never discovered that difference between the utensils because they could never find two sticks that were straight enough. They could only use one stick, thus they are left with swords, daggers. shish kabob and marshmellow sticks.</p>
<p>There’s more but this is not the place for history or science lessons.</p>
<p>But you are holding the fork in your hand which is quite warm assuming you are eating indoors. I never sensed any food cooling with a fork. That sounds like a crock. I can eat much faster with a fork and knife so the food stays hotter as I think sitting out in the air cools food much more than a fork will. When I stick a spoon in hot soup the spoon is instantly hot and stays that way.
IMHO it’s much more important to use warmed plates and bowls for hot foods.</p>
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<p>Have you ever seen a hungry Chinese or Japanese man with a bowl of food and a set of chopsticks? I bet you didn’t know “chopstick” was synonymous with “shovel”.</p>
<p>So now we are introducing a knife (post 46) into the thermodynamics and eating utensils-tools.</p>
<p>Western cultures use a knife at the meal table to cut/slice/make smaller food. A knife has two flat surfaces to absorb heat and metal that transfers the cooked food heat to the heat sink of the handle of the knife. Notice that the Chinese/Japanese cut the meat/fish/vegetables prior to cooking whereby the heat differential is relatively small as compared to western styled food being made into individual serving size. Less heat is used and wasted in C/J food, thus saving resources and lessening global climate change impact.</p>
<p>Stick to the fork argument.</p>
<p>I think, I believe, I will, go after the Ig-Nobel Prize. You see and read it here first. Copyright Dec 6, 2009.</p>
<p>Barons, if you don’t believe me, try this experiment yourself.</p>
<p>abstract: This experimental proof is a example of thermodynamics and efficiency in maintaining food temperature using cold food being eaten with a fork, spoon, knife eating utensil vs chopsticks. </p>
<p>experimental procedure: Scope out a big helping of ice cream. Proceed to eat and enjoy frozen food using a fork, spoon, or knife. Pay particular attention to the amount of food that thaws from the dish to your palate. </p>
<p>Now do the same experiment but use chopsticks as the utensil. Again notice what melts between the time you touch the ice cream and inserting into eating orifice. We assume and insist that the experimenter has the same proficiency in using chopsticks as using fork/spoon/knife. </p>
<p>Results: 1) Enjoy the ice cream. 2) Your conclusions here</p>
<p>copyright Dec 06, 2009 to Longprime.</p>
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<p>This may be true for Chinese cooking, but not for Japanese. They have taken the idea of the unnecessary, complicated step (all involving blanching and parboiling food items individually, even for stews and casseroles) to a high art.</p>
<p>only familiar with sushi. I will rely on your expertise.</p>
<p>I’ll submit it to Myth Busters. And I prefer my ice cream slightly softened. If it’s too hard you can’t taste the flavors. I let it sit out a few minutes after taking it from the freezer. Easier to scoop and better taste.</p>
<p>Please do. Any Prior discovery will negate the possibility of vying for the IG-Nobel or getting published in their publication of Improbable Research.</p>
<p>Maybe I can try in the Hitchhiker’s Guide. Chopsticks otta be as useful as a towel :).</p>