| The use of toothpicks at a table is another standard
practice. As in most Asian countries, the polite way to
deal with lodged fragments of food is to cover one's mouth
with one hand while the tooth pick is being used with
the other. Toothpicks are frequently used between courses
as it is believed that the tastes of one course should
not be allowed to mar one's enjoyment of the next course.
Toothpicks have another major value. They are ideal,
and socially acceptable, for picking up those meal items
which often defy the best chopstick approach - slippery
button mushrooms and jelly-fish slices (do not attempt
to eat peanuts unless you are a chopstick master!).
|
