No fork, no problem: Take your chopsticks to the next level

I eat more than half my meals with chopsticks. But recently, at a Korean restaurant with some friends, I watched as my buddy, face red and teeth clenched, struggled to clench a dangling bit of sparerib between a pair of chopsticks crossed in an awkward, shaking X. It was then that I realized that chopsticks are not as ubiquitous in everyone's life as they are in mine. A crying shame, I say! Though you can go to any Asian market and, for a couple of bucks, take home a zillion plastic and lacquered chopsticks, you might want to consider splurging a little on the stylish picks below.

Twist Chopsticks
These classic bamboo chopsticks don't stray far outside the box at first glance, but that's what I like about them: They aren't gimmicky. Lightweight and squared for easy handling, they look and act the way chopsticks are supposed to. Check out the signature "twist" up top. The grain of the bamboo actually follows the spiral, as if someone twisted the top like a rope. $4.95 for five pairs at Sur La Table.

Restless Chopsticks
This pair from Japanese designer Mikiya Kobayashi addresses a common issue when eating with chopsticks -- keeping the tips off of the table when taking a break. The chopsticks are tapered in such a way that you can leave them flat on the table and the tips won't touch. The elegant sticks come in red, yellow, green and charcoal. $48 for a set of four at Click! Design That Fits.

Snow Peak Compact Chopsticks
Camping enthusiasts will love these take-apart, stainless steel and recycled birch travel chopsticks, which consist of a tip and a handle connected by a threaded brass fitting. The hollow metal handles serve as storage compartments for the wood tips when the chopsticks aren't in use. The chopsticks are more eco-friendly than plastic utensils, which can melt if used to handle too-hot grilled food or prepare freeze-dried meals, and they come with a nylon carrying case. $29.95 per pair at REI.

Copyright © The Seattle Times Company