The thing about learning new things in old places is that it can make you feel silly and delighted at the same time. As an adult, it’s kind of like the childhood equivalent of “look ma, no hands!” But instead of daredevil bicycle tricks, you’re literally learning something like, how to manage your chopsticks more gracefully.
For one San Diego board-certified pediatrician, Doctor Leesa (@doctor.leesa), a recent meal became a lesson in ingenuity. Often, at upscale Asian restaurants, chopstick rests are provided to guests. This way, they can place utensils down when they’re not actively using them, without touching the surface of the table. It’s elegant and civilized, which makes a nice change up for most of us. It’s also a detail you don’t typically see at casual restaurants.
Knowing Is Half The Battle
But Doctor Leesa’s server at the Beach House Grill showed her table a neat trick when using disposable chopsticks. In her TikTok, which has been watched 15.9 million times, the camera zooms in close on the server’s hands. He’s got the disposable chopsticks pushed out of their paper sleeve.
The block-like end—you know, the part that never splits evenly—is visible. And instead of trying to break that cleanly in half, he bends it off. Basically, instead of treating that part like an extension of the chopsticks, he snaps it off. Now Doctor Leesa (and everyone at her table), has their own chopstick rest. No more setting implements down into a slurry of wasabi paste and shrimp sauce.
In the background, someone says, “Life hack: That’s what they’re for.”
And on-screen text reads, “Was today years old when I actually learned how to use chopsticks.”
If You Know, You Know
The internet is reacting with regret, embarrassment, and the immediate need for sushi—as an assessment exercise of course.
“I’ve been chewin on these the whole time,” exclaimed Jesse (@letsgomez23). Accompanying this confession is an image of a man literally smacking his face.
One user offered this “rest” hack, saying, “I just break it normally and then use the wrapper to make a chopsticks stand or fold origami.”
But there’s another aspect to this, as Lilak (@lilak081) pointed out, “They don’t come with instructionssssssssss how was i supposed to knoooooooow!!!????”
While the top comment from Aaronjoseph300 (@aaronjoseph3008) is totally relatable: “My chopsticks do not have time to rest.”
Confucius, Champion Of Chopsticks
Chopsticks are one of the most ancient tool-styles in the world. The oldest ones ever found were uncovered in the Henan province of China. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Chinese have been using them since about 1,200 B.C.E. Though it wasn’t until about 400 C.E. that they’d began being used to eat and not just cook.
About this time, there was a population boom in China, and it was so impactful that cooking oil became a precious resource. In order to cook food more cost-effectively, it was cut up into smaller pieces—perfect for the “tweezers-like” grip of chopsticks. Concurrently, one of the world’s most famous vegetarians was impacting the population of China with his views on table manners. Confucius thought that “knives’ sharp points evoked violence and warfare, killing the happy, contented mood that should reign during meals.”
So in addition to promoting resourceful eating, they’re good for happy vibes at dinner. Not bad for implements that started life as glorified tongs.
Of course, not every set of disposable chopsticks is engineered with its own set of rests. But for those that are, and if you know, congratulations, you just became the most insufferable person at the table. Pair that with a little Confucian wisdom, and you’ll either get toasted or roasted.
BroBible reached out to Doctor Leesa via TikTok direct message and with a comment on the post. We will update this if she responds.