| Indian Cooking and Cuisine - From Domino's Pizza to Hyderabad Biryani. Where and What to eat in India. |
![]() |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
|
#1 |
|
Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Posts: 46
|
How do you manage to eat with your fingers without looking like a 2-year-old who's messing with his food?
I'm trying to practise before that wedding we go to, so I don't look like a complete fool, but right now I'm thinking of bringing a personal spoon... |
|
|
|
|
|
#2 |
|
Account Closed by User's Request
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: the Netherlands
Posts: 6,012
|
Spoon Spoons and more Spoons
Pretty much everywhere seems to have spoons these days so no big problem there.
Looking like a 2 year old is just one of the things we all have go through when learning how to eat with our fingers, it's a msssy affair and takes a lot of practise to master it. I gave up, preffering to use a spoon instead!! |
|
|
|
|
|
#3 |
|
back to my old ways
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 1,464
|
if you want to watch great masters in action, go to kerala and attend some wedding feast where they serve food in banana leaves. See how they eat payasam ( which runs across the leaf as fast as lightning ) with their hands, stopping the flow at strategic points, rolling their fingers to pick up the liquid, and transfer them quickly to their mouths...
it is an art that is not easy to master but nowadays you get spoons, plates, payasam in cups etc so people generally dont get a chance to hone their skills. so dont worry. and - dont eat with your left hand! those sitting across you may choke on their food... ![]() |
|
|
|
|
|
#4 | |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 1,459
|
Quote:
Use your chapati/other flat bread to pick up food (meat, fish, dahl, rice, sauce) from your plate. ![]()
__________________
Tibetan Orphanage School in China My other favourite place is Pakistan Travel Forum |
|
|
|
|
|
|
#5 |
|
Account Closed by User's Request
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: the Netherlands
Posts: 6,012
|
True VV but three clean T-shirts a day was little too much.
I can eat using my fingers when the situation calls for it, but prefer a spoon, less messy! |
|
|
|
|
|
#6 |
|
Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Posts: 46
|
The last time I visited my Indian friend's family, we were not offered spoons when we were sitting together with the extended family. We could have probably asked for one, but were a bit too intimidated by the large get-together.
I somehow manage with Chapati (not gracefully, but he), but what about the rice??? |
|
|
|
|
|
#7 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 1,459
|
Oh cyber... last time i was eating with my hands i was wearing a veil
no damage to clothing (it covers most of it) but try eating and at the same time keeping your face and neck from public exposure ![]() But a must do when you decide to eat with your hands is to clean them with an anticeptic (like "dry soap" or something) beforehand. I wonder, however, if the anticeptic stuff that is left on your skin can be poisonous? may be better to find a soap and water... |
|
|
|
|
|
#8 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 1,459
|
AND it's not just a family/roadside dhaba thing!!
(1) in our Delhi office I used to take lunch with our finance director (Indian) in his office - he used hands (2) in Bukhara resto, Delhi (apparently one of the best Indian restos in the world, or at least they pretend) you are not served cutlery unless you ask. pls stop mentioning chapatis I want one right now!! |
|
|
|
|
|
#9 |
|
back to my old ways
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 1,464
|
The standard practice is to wash your hands with soap and water before and after the meal...
about rice, the trick is to use only tips ( or the top sections )of your fingers, and all of them together. you can scoop the rice in your fingers - rice will rest on your four fingers held close together on the way up. avoid using the palm of your hand. that is when things get messy. |
|
|
|
|
|
#10 |
|
Lost in translation
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: India !
Posts: 2,234
|
All I can say is lick all the five fingers thoroughly well after the meals. The real taste lies there
North Indian food is a bit easier with finger as the food is relatively thick. The story is slightly different with south Indian meals. Has anyone tried to eat Tanduri chicken with fork & knife??. If I try I’m sure the chicken will land in neighbor’s plate or lap . Sorry...if you are seeing this picture in the wrong time. This is one of the tastiest meals I ever had. I could not help but to take this photo. Unfortunately my camera doesn’t have a smell and taste recorder. If people shout that this is a shameless & naked gastronomical imperialism, I’ll take this down. ![]() ![]() Last edited by beach : Dec 15th, 2004 at 20:08. |
|
|
|
|
|
#11 |
|
Maha Guru Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New York
Posts: 2,096
|
There actually is some technique, worth mastering: scoop the food with the three fingers of your right hand, then use your thumb to push it into your mouth.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#12 | |
|
Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Yangon, MYANMAR
Posts: 4,125
|
Quote:
Also, Tandoori Chicken is best enjoyed by using BOTH hands with the fork and spoon nowhere near !! ![]()
__________________
Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop ! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
#13 | |
|
Maha Guru Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 2,127
|
Quote:
And 'beach', yeah wrong time, You're making me so hungry but my foods going to taste so good tonight ![]() |
|
|
|
|
|
|
#14 |
|
Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Chennai, India
Posts: 27,763
|
Northern Indian style: eay with your finger tips.
Southern Indian style: eat with your whole hand. So I guess that if you try8ing for the Southern style then if you are looking like a 3-year old you are probably not far off ![]() The rice is always well mixed with other food before eating, this brings out he flavour and makes the liquids more easy to handle. A spoon is not much good for this: ask for a fork! But, except for dosa or food served with breads, I prefer a fork...
__________________
. Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team
|
|
|
|
|
|
#15 | |
|
Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: u.s.
Posts: 69
|
Quote:
where'd you have that? |
|
|
|
|
![]() |
| Thread Tools | |
| Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads
|
||||
| Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
| Eating Chicken??? | ElNina | Health and Well Being in India | 15 | Nov 5th, 2005 18:58 |
| Eating out inconspicuously!! | fea | Mumbai (Bombay) | 24 | May 4th, 2005 00:32 |
| So what are you people eating? | seraph | Chai and Chat | 32 | Apr 28th, 2005 17:44 |
| Eating in India | mish-vs | Health and Well Being in India | 22 | Apr 2nd, 2005 01:10 |
| eating in mumbai and north goa | margo | Indian Cooking and Cuisine | 13 | Mar 29th, 2005 09:04 |