How to Eat Filipino Food With Your Hands

Chinese people use chopsticks, westerners use forks, Filipinos (traditionally, at least) use their hands.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Place a small amount of the main dish, called "ulam," on top of a little bit of rice, using your dominant hand.

2. Pinch your index finger and thumb together as if you are about to pick up a piece of cheese.

3. Include your other three fingers in the pinch.

4. Spread the pinch so that your fingers and thumb are shaped around the rice and "ulam."

5. Place your thumb behind the food.

6. Lean your head forward and lift your hand to your mouth.

7. Place fingers near your lower teeth and shove the food into your mouth with one big push of the thumb.

Tips & Warnings

• Soups are often mixed on a plate with a big helping of rice and can then be eaten by hand. Otherwise, soups are eaten with a spoon.

[rice]

on 2/21/2007 Mmm, good grub.

on 3/13/2006 Filipinos often dip their food into sauces like patis (that's fish sauce) and calamansi (our local lemon, soy sauce and vinegar). They also like to eat side salads like atchara (pickled grated unripe papaya).

on 1/5/2006 The Filipino egg roll, lumpia, is best eaten with the hands and dipped in the appropriate sauce.

on 11/22/2005 To eat with your hands is best done outdoors like for beach barbecues or 'inihaw.'

on 12/15/2005 Avoid grand gestures or pointing when eating with your hands. And please make sure your nails and hands are clean!