What are the eating utensils of choice in India/ Asia?
Proper table manners vary from culture to culture, although there are always a few basic rules. This holds true for dining in an Indian household or restaurant. Indians traditionally don’t use cutlery for eating, as many foods – such as Indian breads and curry – are best enjoyed when eating with the hand. There is a story that the Shah of Iran, on a visit to India, was so impressed by the custom that he remarked that to eat with a spoon and fork is like making love through an interpreter. However, spoons (occasionally two used in a clasping motion) and forks are commonly used to distribute foods from a communal dish, as it is considered rude to touch the foods of others. Indians usually give the following explanation for the practice of eating with hands: “Food is divine and needs to be enjoyed with touch, smell and taste. There is no joy in using a knife and thorns to eat it.” Eating with your hands is a technique that is not messy if done correctly. First, the hands must be thoroughl
