Some foods just call for hand-use. Have you ever seen someone stick a fork in a potato wedge? It’s completely unnatural. Spinach borani tastes better when directly scooped from the bowl with a torn-off bit of barbari bread.
To be fair, I’m pretty blase about germs. In a pre-COVID world, I was the friend who finished your half-eaten lollipop or didn’t care who else drank from my water bottle. The number of co-workers who have proudly presented me with their janky leftovers, knowing I would eat them without question, is somewhere in the double digits.
But if you’re a separate-dish person, I implore you to at least test the waters. Experience the joy of not having to flag down a server for a small plate. Take a walk on the saucy side and dunk your spring roll straight into the soy sauce ramekin (trust me, it’s so much better than swirling it around on your shallow dish). See what it’s like to grab life — with your hands — by the squid ring.
— Aditi Shrikant
Aditi Shrikant is a Brooklyn-based reporter. She reports on consumer trends.
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