Both items are used for the consumption of food whilst keeping the food off the hands and fingers, but both do so in extremely different ways.Asian culture found one of the most practical solutions to this conundrum in what we know refer to as chopsticks. Today, chopsticks can be made from virtually every material ranging from various metals, wood, bamboo, and plastic. Western utensils often call for the use of both hands when eating, since each utensil commands the use of an entire hand to operate it. Western rules of etiquette demonstrate the proper hands with which each utensil should be used and often times during several course, multiple sets of utensils will be used. Western cuisine uses three utensils together for eating: the spoon, fork and knife. Most of these utensils are made in metal, although the prevalence of fast food has increased the amount of utensils made in plastic as well. The function of both sets of utensils is the same: to aid in the eating of food however it is interesting to note how two different cultures came up with two drastically different solutions. A spoon consist of a small, shallow bowl at the end of a China plastic plate Manufacturers handle used for liquids, the fork is a handle where several narrow tines lie at the end, useful for either pricking food or scooping it and the knife is a handle wherein one end has a blade, used for cutting meats or other food stuffs into smaller pieces. Chopsticks consist of two, equal-length tapered sticks, held in one hand.

They come in different colors and various lengths as well, accommodating for children and adults alike. Because the food only comes into contact with the tips and only the tips touch the mouth, they are also considered hygienic. Although chopsticks do not account for food items such as soups or items needing cutting, Asian cuisine has adopted its dishes and made them so food items come in bite size pieces and can be eaten with little cutting at the table. Chopsticks are extremely versatile and easy to clean. These three utensils, when used together, are able to aid in the eating of almost all foodstuffs. The functions of both sets of utensils is the same, yet two separate cultures found unique ways to solve the crisis of eating and keeping one’s hands clean.Aside from eating with one’s hands, two types of eating utensils emerged across the continents: typical Western utensils consisting of a spoon, fork and knife and the chopsticks, two identical, narrow sticks, used primarily in Asian countries. Chopsticks and Western utensils may seem awkward utensils to those of the other culture, but both remain highly practical solutions to eating without staining one’s fingers.. Together, they act as an extension of the thumb and forefinger, picking up morsels of food from noodles and rice, to tofu and sushi