Try it, over a billion people like it! You may think that eating with sticks is an odd thing to do, but consider this. Chopsticks have been around thousands of years while the fork  and spoon were not introduced to North America until the early 1700’s and not common used until around the time of the American revolution. Before then people or all economic condition would eat with their hands or drink from their bowls. Chopstick is an efficient way to get food to from the plate to your month. No hands necessary.

Celebrating February 6 :

Exploring  Chopsticks 

Also: African Heritage & Health Week

Daily Facts: 

A. In old Chinese chopsticks are called kuaizi roughly meaning “quick little bamboo fellows”

B. Over a quarter of the world’s population uses chopsticks as their primary utensil for eating.

C. The first chopsticks were probably used for cooking, stirring the fire, serving or grabbing bits of food, and not as eating utensils.

D. Chopsticks shapes and lengths very from region to region. Generally Chinese versions are tapered with blunt ends while Japanese are shorted and more pointed.

Chopsticks in music: Who HASN’T played chopsticks on the piano? It’s original name is” The Celebrated Chop Waltz.”  Composed by Arthor de Lulli(pseudonym of Euphemia Allen.) in 1877. In Russia it is known as the “Cuplet Polka”

Daily Quote: “You do not sew with a fork, and I see no reason why you should eat with knitting needles.” ~Miss Piggy

Today’s Food History

on this day in…

• 1617 RIP Prospero Alpini, An Italian physician and botanist; said to have introduced coffee and bananas to Europe.

• 1685 RIP Charles II, king of England,  Tea was introduced to England during his reign. On December 23, 1675, he issued a proclamation suppressing Coffee Houses.

• 1865 A horse meat banquet is held at the Grand Hotel in Paris. Horse meat was considered a common man’s food of the time.

• 1985 Perrier introduced Perrier with ‘a twist of lemon’ – its first new product in 125 years.