JumpStart by Robb Armstrong for September 29, 2014

It will take me longer to eat with chopsticks because I right differently

Using chopsticks to eat cereal with milk is certainly a wobbly experience. Especially if the cereal gets soft and soaked with milk. I’m sure the children will prefer take out. Or sushi (even though many of your comic fans dislike sushi). Just thinking of sushi makes me want to return to Japan!

If they are eating anything then they are probably doing it wrong. Every time I see natives eat with chopsticks it looks like they are shoveling the food in.

Kind of like how my sons don’t care for Mexican food but like Taco Bell

Living in DE, everything gets “Americanized” so people think it is how the food should taste. Personally, I love the authentic, which is what I am used to coming from NYC. I hate seeing peas and small carrot cubes in my vegetable fried rice. I’m like, “where’s the snow peas, chestnuts, sprouts!!!!” Where the …. is the Chinese, Indian, Thai, German in my Chinese, Indian, Thai food.??!! It ticks me off.

@lavubua mcginty: I know that feeling. The “citrus flavored” bottled green tea I see in stores makes me ill. On the other hand, I prefer Japan’s mild derivation of “Indian” curry to the genuine article.

Oddly, one of the things I miss most about Japan is Makudonarudo (McDonald’s) and Hokka Hokka Tei (a bento restaurant chain). McD’s teritama burger (McMuffin egg on a burger with teriyaki sauce) might be lethal, but totally worth it.

While stationed in Misawa I attended a little get-together in which the host put everyone in groups of five and gave each group chopsticks and bowls, one holding marbles. The game was to pick up the marbles with the ’sticks. OH HOW THAT LITTLE OLD LADY SCHOOLED ME

You want to eat authentic ethnic food from any cuisine in the world? Come to New Orleans. Everything is faithfully represented, if you know where to look.

Now to catch some flies