Anna of bring your own convinced you to take your own mugs to the coffee shop (ahem, Lloyd) — but asks a growing movement in many Asian countries — What about chopsticks?
So reports Treehugger. Certainly something to consider, especially in Los Angeles, where yummy sushi shops abound.
And serendipitously, I dropped my my mom’s over the weekend and saw these cute things! (pictured)
Not only do these chopsticks come in a cute lil case, the “handle” ends sport a v. tiny fork and spoon — Perfect if you forego sushi for a liliputian Western restaurant ;)
My mom “gifted” them to me. After I, you know, begged.
Update, 3/22/06: China’s now imposed a tax on disposable chopsticks!
Those are awesome… yes, certainly something to consider. Especially in Los Angeles, where yummy -Thai- restaurants abound. ;)
Comment by trill42 — February 13, 2006 @ 4:44 pm
dude I need these for when I get to the bottom of my rice bowl….
Comment by mig — February 14, 2006 @ 12:03 am
Cool chopsticks! :-)
Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone here…I guess you guys are reading to head over to Siel’s party tonight? I can’t wait to see pix and hear the story…Lots of love and success for the party. Vive les chocolats commerce equitable!
A bientot
Comment by Maya — February 14, 2006 @ 2:31 am
I’m training as a yoga instructor and we have monthly weekend trainings – where breakfast and lunch are included, along with lots of disposable cups, plates, utensils, etc.
It’s always felt odd and incompatible with the yogi ideals to be so wasteful, so just this week I ordered a travel utensil set from Global Exchange.
It includes chopsticks, fork, spoon and napkin, all rolled up in a pretty cloth carrying case. (The fork and spoon aren’t quite as cute as the teeny ones on the end of your chopsticks, but they’re nice :)
Check out it here: http://store.gxonlinestore.org/utensilstogo.html
Comment by Melissa — February 14, 2006 @ 9:52 am
The problem with bring your own thermos flasks at coffee places like StarBx etc. is they charge you for a Venti cup (I can never drink that much coffee at one time). I take my PennState library approved thermos to them often before going to the library. I once asked if they would pour me a small cup and not charge for venti . The barista took a small paper cup, measured the coffee and poured it into the thermos, basically making the whole procedure useless! I wish there was an “engineering solution” where pressing a “small” button on the coffee machine would pour the right amount of coffee into any size cup.
Comment by Sameer — February 14, 2006 @ 11:05 am
Sameer – There are plenty of small travel mugs you can purchase. The ten cents you save every time you buy a coffee would eventually pay for one.
Also, if you don’t want them to waste a cup measuring, you can ask them just to estimate so as not to waste a cup, but I’m sure most baristas would anyway. We frequently have people ordering smaller sizes in larger cups, even in paper cups. Sometimes they want “walking room” and sometimes they want room for tons of cream, or like you they have a big thermos and don’t need that much coffee. I only waste a paper cup to measure if I think the customer is trying to jip me somehow, by ordering a tall when they actually want their 16 or 20 ounce personal cup filled to the top. Now really I guess those few extra ounces of coffee they are stealing are cheaper than wasting a cup, but I don’t like people to think they are getting one over on me if I can help it. You’d be surprised by how many people are not just thrifty, but thieves.
Really though, just ask them to estimate a tall size. I know it might feel weird being so specific in your ordering but it is the ony way we baristas can get you exactly what you want and we don’t mind. We are used to “Half caf triple venti 2 pump sugar free vanilla 1 pump sugar free hazelnut soy no whip mochas,” so your sort of request would be easy and even appreciated.
Comment by Claire — February 14, 2006 @ 7:53 pm
Thanks Claire. Smaller mug is a great idea. I guess it won’t work for my library though since they don’t allow anything but their specific mug (which they give away for free so I have not beef with them). But I will try your suggestion
Comment by Sameer — February 14, 2006 @ 8:13 pm
Where in the name of all that’s holy did your mom FIND these? I need them immediately! I can’t seem to find a carrying case for my chopsticks and I can’t take throwing away any more reusable ones…
Comment by MacroGal — June 9, 2006 @ 10:51 am
Prolly somewhere in K-town — I’ll try asking when I see her tomorrow :)
Comment by Siel — June 10, 2006 @ 2:00 pm