Nagkakamay (Hand)

[Subsistence]

Do you use food utensils like spoon and fork while eating? Or are you the old type of Filipino who loves eating with just their hands? Me? I chose when not and when to use utensils and I would love eating a galunggong with my bare CLEAN hands ^_^

[purpleaf]

Of course most of the times I use utensils. I just use my hands when it's fish (like tuyo) at home. Sometimes when we would go to the province and there's grilled fish, it's irresistable to use the hands, too! Just don't forget to wash before and after!

[Hisbenz]

There are times that i feel like using my hands to eat, esp when im eating fish. Well, its a primitive way of eating and its also a culture esp the northern part of Luzon

[jbrayos]

Ilocanos are expert in pagkakamay.

[MissLee]

I use my bare hands when eating alimango or "crabs" and hipon or "shrimp. That's the best way to enjoy these foods. But you need to wash carefully afterwards because it leaves a certain smell in your hand. Have you experienced that before?:D

[anj_fire]

I was used to eating with my hands and I think it's already a part of our culture. But I also choose the occasion when to use a spoon and fork. It depends on the food too. If I'll be eating with my family in a beach outing, I will definitely not use a spoon or fork. If it's inihaw, it's kamayan of course.

[Subsistence]

Grats guys. You are never a Filipino if you didn't experience using your bare hands and fingers when eating food. As in in a complete meal. :) Hehe! It's very much Tagalog you know. Remember to always wash your hands before and after.

[taga-udyong]

Hi guys! My first thread post. Share ko lang....
Filipinos are not the only ones using the hands for eating. The Saudis do it as part of their culture. With foreigners, they adapt the Western way using fork and knife. With intimate friends, they have beautiful way of eating using the hands, and expressing fondness for their friends with the way they share the choice food in front of them.

[Subsistence]

Hmm yes, I've heard of races other than Filipinos use hands for eating. Well that's okay, but I still love eating fish with bare hands. Haha!

[kookay]

I love eating with my bare hands whenever my family arranges a boodle fight.

I think the word boodle fight is a military word and it means having all the stuff in one's cupboard or pantry laid out in the middle of a table and everyone just digs in.

When my family has a boodle fight, it always means a spread of banana leaves as the table mat, inihaw na fish, liempo, litson manok, or adobo, rice, tomatoes, green mangoes, bagoong, and salted egg in the middle for everyone to eat. And of course, with that kind of fare, who would need spoons and forks?!?

[moohlan]

Some food are best eaten with bare hands than with spoon and fork. Yeah, we just have to make sure that are hands are clean before and after.:)

[esembrano]

i love it when you eat with your bare hands and you use a banana leaf instead of a plate while eating. especially when you eat inihaw and buro with tomatoes,mango,onion..

[esembrano]

I love eating with my bare hands whenever my family arranges a boodle fight.

I think the word boodle fight is a military word and it means having all the stuff in one's cupboard or pantry laid out in the middle of a table and everyone just digs in.

When my family has a boodle fight, it always means a spread of banana leaves as the table mat, inihaw na fish, liempo, litson manok, or adobo, rice, tomatoes, green mangoes, bagoong, and salted egg in the middle for everyone to eat. And of course, with that kind of fare, who would need spoons and forks?!?

thanks for the new term "boodle fight" its my first time to hear that term :)

[Subsistence]

Boodle fights are popular among the AFP, they also have a 1 time celebration and it is done by eating all together in a boodle fight.

[kookay]

Boodle fights are popular among the AFP, they also have a 1 time celebration and it is done by eating all together in a boodle fight.

Boodle fights are a great way to celebrate bonding time! And I really have to stress that it should be done "nagkakamay" style.

[SARAWI]

who needs forks & spoons anyways? hahha

[kookay]

It's in my opinion that seafoods are best eaten with hands because they give a more intense experience. Crabs, lobsters, shrimps, oysters, and even fish are no fun when eaten with spoons and forks.

It's when one gets to shell the shrimp and suck the head juices using one's hands or cracks the crab's claws and scoop the meat out with one's fingers that a really great eating sensation ensues. :p

Although I know some people prefer eating seafood with spoons and forks because of the strong smell they leave on the hands, my tip to avoid the smelly hands is ask for calamansi (philippine lemon) and rub the juices and the rind onto the hands. the juice and the oil from the calamansi are great deodorizers and can definitely lessen the odor. :)

[asprv]

heheh... when I have a big appetite to eat a lot I use my right hand to eat. Of course, I don't use both

[Subsistence]

I use both :) Well just for picking out the bones and picking out the parts I don't want to eat.

[esembrano]

nagkakamay is very messy but eating with bare hands enhance the taste hehe

[anj_fire]

I love eating with my bare hands whenever my family arranges a boodle fight.

I think the word boodle fight is a military word and it means having all the stuff in one's cupboard or pantry laid out in the middle of a table and everyone just digs in.

When my family has a boodle fight, it always means a spread of banana leaves as the table mat, inihaw na fish, liempo, litson manok, or adobo, rice, tomatoes, green mangoes, bagoong, and salted egg in the middle for everyone to eat. And of course, with that kind of fare, who would need spoons and forks?!?

I agree. I will not be able to eat well with a spoon and fork. And you'll definitely miss the fun part when you use one.

[smd928]

Boodle fights are a great way to celebrate bonding time! And I really have to stress that it should be done "nagkakamay" style.

We also hold boodle fights in our family. But we use spoons and forks so maybe we'll try to do it "kamayan" style next time!

[kookay]

We also hold boodle fights in our family. But we use spoons and forks so maybe we'll try to do it "kamayan" style next time!

Yep, you should try eating it "nagkakamay" style. The experience is definitely worth it.

[kookay]

Come to think of it, how come Kamayan the restaurant has spoons and forks? They should require their guests to do it "Kamayan" style!

[lakwatsera]

When you eat in Larsian in Cebu you have to eat without spoon as in magkamay ka :D

[Subsistence]

I've seen people in Bacolod Chicken Inasal use hands to eat their meals. Is that Okay? I mean is there any faucet for cleaning your hands before and after a meal? Do they encourage their customers? It is because if they do then I have to try and eat there as soon as possible. Ha ha!

[revx]

Worse case, I eat with my hands at the office if I forget to bring my utensils (too lazy to go back down)

BTW I bring my own food at the office to save :D (Baon)

[Subsistence]

Ha ha! On our Educational Trip during my 4th grade in elementary, I forgot to bring my spoon and fork. It was lunch time and I was forced to use my hands! Good thing was my food was a fried chicken haha. If it was soupy then I would be in trouble haha!

[kookay]

I've seen people in Bacolod Chicken Inasal use hands to eat their meals. Is that Okay? I mean is there any faucet for cleaning your hands before and after a meal? Do they encourage their customers? It is because if they do then I have to try and eat there as soon as possible. Ha ha!

I think there is a faucet. Although I do suggest you bring your own set of handy wipes or alcohol for a more thorough rub down. :)

[kookay]

Considering our topic and the viral scares all around, let us all make sure that when we use our hands to eat, they are thoroughly clean.

1) One tip I got was in washing hands, sing the "Happy Birthday" song while washing. The amount of time to sing "Happy Birthday" is exactly the same amount of time you should be washing your hands.

2) Try to scrub even the fingers. I think we've seen how the doctors in the TV series' "Grey's Anatomy" and "House" wash their hands. It's the same procedure we should use.

3) If you feel there are a lot more germs inside the hand dryer, try toweling off with the tissue paper. But of course, try to conserve the paper. One or two sheets is enough to dry off your hands. :)