Chinese Takeout in the Movies and on Television

[Chinon00]

Have you ever noticed that when Chinese takeout is being consumed in a movie or on a television program that the characters:
1) invariably are using chopsticks to eat it with (and not the "giveaway", cheap, and difficult to cleanly separate kind of chopsticks but the really nice kind of chopsticks with decorations on them).
2) are eating directly from the white paper container pail (even the quart size).
In my life I've always eaten and have noticed others eating Chinese takeout with a fork. How many chowhounds (forget the general public) own a very nice pair of chopsticks? And generally it's also eaten on a plate (having been transferred from the container pail) in real life. Is there any reason why in this case tv and the movies are so far from reality?

[strawberryfields]

Im from Toronto, and here the chinese food we get comes in aluminum pie tins (almost) with styrofoam lids. It's realyl hard to find a take out place that gives you the containers. When I went to Florida a number of years ago on vacation, we ordered chinese take out and got the food in the movie-like white containers. I was so enamoured by them that I asked for extras, brought them home and ate out of those containers for months until I ran out (literally put food into the containers to eat with chopsticks). It was such a novelty to me!

However when I was in Florida, we transferred them all to plates, seeing as there were a bunch of containers containing one dish each, who really wants a whole dish of lemon chicken or chow mein when you can have a little of everything!

[boltnut55]

I'm an ABC as well in case that makes a difference... or not. I've never eaten out of the carton, even when eating alone (unless it's cold out of the refrigerator) and never with chopsticks of any kind. If eating with others, we will get individual plates and put the food on our plates to eat off of. And because I'm getting plates, I eat with forks, because to me, it doesn't make sense to use chopsticks with plates. Chopsticks go with bowls, and I hardly use bowls at home.

I'm always struck that they order kung pao chicken and moo shoo gai pan. I really am Chinese, but I don't know what moo shoo gai pan is! I just found out about three years ago what Crab Rangoon was (I didn't know they had cream cheese in China!)! When my parents opened a Chinese restaurant in 1979, I saw egg foo young on the menu. It was the first time I ever heard of that! Who makes up this stuff?!

Regarding the movies, I think eating out of the box with chopsticks establishes that they are eating Chinese food. Getting plates and using forks would kill the scene.

[justagthing]

OK, I own many types of chopsticks, but then again, I am an ABC (as someone else mentioned). Also, most Chinese places, that cater to the Chinese customer do not use the paper cartons, but styrofoam boxes nowadays. Often we cut off the lid and use that as a plate, if needed, but usually we use a bowl or plate, but we do not plate, we eat family style with the food in the middle of the table or in the kitchen with people going back to help themselves for seconds, thirds, etc...

On another note, my girlfriend had her engagement party catered. All items where in the traditional aluminum trays. We transferred to nicer trays for an awesome arrangement in the middle of their terrace. For 'plates' she bought the red boxes and had chopsticks for all to use. So everyone grabbed a box and walked around the buffet setting to pick up the rice and all other assortment of Chinese foods. It was quite fun and yummy! Made for a very memorable experience. She did not have forks on the buffet table, but I don't recall anyone asking for one either.

[NewSushiFiend]

I have a set of 6 pairs of nice bamboo chopsticks. I love chopsticks.

If I get a noodle dish or fried rice, I love to eat straight out of the container. Maybe because I saw it on tv so much and maybe because my mother didn't allow it. With a dish accompanied by rice, it just doesn'T work.

[adventuresinbaking]

I think this just might be a practical thing. On a set, they may not have plates or running water to wash the dishes. It may just be easier for the cast to eat right out of the box.

[kitchenknife]

it's actually one of my favorite dinner party tricks: make a giant bowl of peanut noodles and fill chinese take-out boxes with them, offering a variety of add-ins like tofu, carrot, cucumber, peanuts, hot sauce, soy sauce, etc. everyone sits/stands around eating dinner out of the take-out box with their choice of chopsticks from my VAST collection. most are those melamine ones, which i'm not sure you would classify as nice, but i do have some nicer wooden ones and that set of multi-colored ones that moma used to sell. i usually don't even offer forks, as i have some of those kid-friendly kind that are joined at the top by some sort of cute sea or farm animal for the unititated. clean up is super easy!

[JSexton]

I actually do own some cheesy plastic chopsticks, just like you get in the restaurants. They come in a pack of 16 or 20, go right in the DW and cost about $2. And no--I don't eat out of the container because it's impossible to get the rice/entree in the same bite! I like to place single bites of the protein next to/over the rice so I can get a bit of both at once--but I don't pour the entree over the rice, making a soup. That's gross, plus impossible to eat with sticks.

[serious]

I have Hungarian born friends living in NYC, (they do have a cook), who asked me once if anyone I know has ever ordered from those Chinese (food) menus that are slipped under the door. My family might have starved without them. The menu slipped under the door? Is that a NYC only thing?
Those white containers often leak. I agree with earlier post that eating from container on film is to create 'atmosphere.' Guessing most people plate. Not so practical, however, if you are ordering in at work. What's sadder than a grease soaked paper plate?
How about the sight of saved plastic packets of duck sauce - a single man thing? Ditto on saving unused red wrapped cheap chopsticks.

[TexasToast]

Nope, those menus appear everywhere!

TT

[SunnysideUp]

A long time ago I decided to start throwing away all the packets and extra stuff from every order. It was difficult at first but then you get used to it. I suggested this to a friend of mine but her frugal nature couldn't handle it so she tried to explain, when placing an order, that she didn't want packets and then she tried to give them back to the delivery guy - neither worked and now her fridge is stocked with packets she will never use.

If there are enough menus under your door when you get home from work, you can wipe your shoes on them.

[Das Ubergeek]

In Los Angeles they get stuck in the screen on your door (if you live in a house), in the gate (if you live in a gated building) or just, sometimes, left on top of the mailboxes (if you live in an apartment building with the mailboxes outside).

The same with tree-trimming, home-repair, home-construction, gardening and gym membership trial advertisements.

[linlinchan]

Strangely, that's EXACTLY the way we used to eat Chinese food when I was living in the dorms in college. Invariably out of the box, and using my favorite pair of chopsticks.

To answer your question though, we own more than 12 pairs of chopsticks, probably.

[Fydeaux]

Just for the sake of mentioning it, there is a Chinese food scene in MY FAVORITE YEAR. Mark Linn-Baker explains the proper technique for the use of chopsticks to Jessica Harper, with some detail as to how to place the stick along the line of the forefinger, etc. He then concludes by tossing them over his shoulder and says something to the effect of, "Forget the chopsticks. They'll make you crazy."

[applehome]

When I first saw that years ago, I was struck by his saying that they were eating dim sum - take out dim sum - wow, New Yorkers had take out dim sum in the 1950's! I still can't get take out dim sum in the burbs of Boston...

[potbelliedkiln]

Well, being a native New Yorker, I really hated to see most of the chinese restaurants going away from the cardboard box. It just didn't seem authentic to me. I guess it's what you're used to. Whenever I order a pint of shrimp fried rice just for myself, it usually does come in the box and yes I do eat it right out of the box with my cheap chopsticks when out. When home I use my beautiful painted ones I have had for over 15 years. I actually use chopsticks very often in my everyday life to eat other food as well. I love eating my fruit salads with it, I like grabbing the cut up bite-size pieces of cantaloupe, melon, and pineapple, instead of stabbing them with a fork. Somehow to me it seems almost barbaric. I also love Vietnamese Pho noodle soup and I eat it with the chopsticks and asian soup spoon.

Okay, that's a question, how many of you use the asian soup spoon in your everyday home life. My husband and I do, it's bigger and we enjoy that a lot. I love soup.

[SunnysideUp]

Good idea with the fruit salad. Chopsticks are also great to cook with, especially on non-stick surfaces.

[SunnysideUp]

I also prefer the wooden disposable chopsticks to the nicer ones I own. They provide better stability and friction in the hand and with handling the food.

[SunnysideUp]

I'm not an authority on my fellow New Yorkers' eating habits, but I eat out of a carton, on the couch, in the front of the tv with my Chinese-American boyfriend all the time. In addition, we lean over the pizza box instead of using plates. While we can afford it, we also don't own a dining room or kitchen table and are pretty messy. Therefore, maybe we're not a representative sampling of New Yorkers, gay men or Chinese food eaters.

[serious]

What do you do if you want to put food over the rice?

[SunnysideUp]

That's when the bowls come out, never a plate.

[Fleur]

This life long NYer eating Chinese Food since the age of 4 has never known anyone in real life who eats out of cartons.

It's a Seinfeld thing!

[mclaugh]

This life-long ABC has been eating Chinese food since before I can remember, and my three siblings and I ALL eat Chinese take-out—with chopsticks—directly out of the carton/container.

[Scott D]

My favorite pair of chopsticks is a nice rosewood set given to me as a gift many years ago... and we've many pairs in the kitchen, not to mention a thousand of the cheapies left over from the carryout boxes. And we usually don't eat out of the cartons until they come out of the refrigerator the next day as leftovers.

[Porkchop Express]

I'm with a and w. With the exception of rice, Chinese has been coming in black plastic containers with clear lids, which I can't stand(I feel like the flavor is changed from some type of osmosis from the plastic)I guess that would not be glamorous enough for TV or Film.

I guess the white box and chopsticks are sexier, like when someone goes shopping on TV they always come back with a baguette or some kind of loaf of bread sticking out of their grocery bag.

[SunnysideUp]

Sadly, that is increasingly the case with containers. Some people seem to like the plastic for its microwavable ease. Eating cold, leftover lo mein by the light of an open refrigerator door will never be the same...

[Porkchop Express]

Sad but true.

[ClairfiedButter]

My guess is that it's a ploy to say something about the characters. Such as, "hey, look how casual and laid back we are."

[SunnysideUp]

I agree and have always found it to be an appealing visual. It's also economical film making by overstating the obvious. Also, notice how many times the actors will use the chopsticks to point or emphasize while in conversation. This would normally be considered rude (utensil or chopstick jabbing) in real life. However, it works as a tried and true, if hackneyed, directorial device.

[SunnysideUp]

That was a great link. Now I'd like to see a page devoted to pink bakery boxes on screen. Here in New York our pastry boxes, like our chinese food containers, are white.

[Das Ubergeek]

Pink bakery boxes -- properly pink doughnut boxes -- are the rule rather than the exception in Los Angeles, where most films and television are made.

And in LA, fan (rice, noodles, etc.) comes in the little white Chinese-takeout boxes, but tsai (the garnishes/entree) comes in hinged white Styrofoam boxes.

[SunnysideUp]

I'm aware of both points, thanks, but it bothers me a little when I see films and shows set in NY, not filmed on location, using pink boxes. They sure are pretty looking, just not authentic. But I'm also aware that there are many details and art department choices that are inauthentic or inaccurate, irrespective of setting.

[Gary Soup]

Here's a whole web page devoted to the subject:

http://www.featheredback.com/containe...

[Wiley]

Don't know about the chopsticks, but what always got me was the containers are always white on TV or movies! Usually, and as far back as I can remember, Chinese takeout or delivery came in colored cardboard containers(most often red with white characters).

[SomeRandomIdiot]

It seems like I get the plain white containers mostly from the Chinese Chinese places and the colored ones/foam ones from the Chinese American places.

[justagthing]

We only used the white containers in our take-out restaurant in S. CA. for 50 years.

[a_and_w]

Forget the chopsticks for a moment -- I can't recall the last time my chinese food came in carton!

[Striver]

Rice (whether white, fried, or brown) still gets carton-packed in my nabe (and spareribs come in the "traditional" foil-lined paper bags), but most items arrive in aluminum dishes with foil-backed cardboard covers or in styrofoam dishes with plastic covers (or some combination of dish and cover). That goes for Indian, Mexican, Italian, Thai, and BBQ delivery, as well as Chinese.

We have several pairs of nice chopsticks, BTW, and always plate the food, usually using large bowls we bought at an Asian supermarket for that purpose (eating delivery meals).

[Chinon00]

After giving this some thought I have a suggestion. Maybe if in a film or movie you must show a character eating (for whatever reason) the chinese container pail provides a way of doing it without having to have actual food (or something that resembles food) in the shot. Obviously a plate but even a soild white hinged styrofoam container wouldn't conceal what's being eaten as well as the chinese container making it then necessary to provide actual food (or something that resembles food) for the shot. As for the chopsticks maybe it just looks more attractive?

[MuppetGrrl]

One of my pet peeves up there with how they always hold the phone on the outside of their hair, and how, when watching a videotape or DVD, they only turn off the TV to turn off the video.

And, yes, we own nice chopsticks, but we always plate our food.

[andlulu]

I own quite the collection of nice chopsticks and I find myself eating much more than chinese or the like. I find that I eat slower and more intricate - enjoying & contemplating my food, instead of stuffing food in, with a fork full ready right behind it.

[SomeRandomIdiot]

Spoon, fork, chopsticks, it doesn't matter what I use, the food still gets shoveled in at the same speed. It might actually be faster with the chopsticks.

[andlulu]

Why so fast?

[JMF]

Funny that I was thinking the same thing because I saw it twice on TV shows in the past week and I thought that it was weird that they do this on TV. I have very nice fancy chop sticks and holders, both pointed Japanese and blunt Chinese style for a formal dinner. I also have bundles of decent Chinese bamboo ones and packages of the cheap Japanese disposable ones. I'm a NY'er and never saw anyone eat out of the containers except on TV or when you get a lunch combo and all the items are in one container for each person. The only time I have ever done it is with leftovers when there isn't enough left to plate.

[Sharuf]

Diving right in with a fork comes across as a guy thing. To show someone carefully dividing up the goodies onto two or four plates would probably slow down the plot action, even though that's how well-behaved folks would do it.

[Divamac]

I have lots of nice chopsticks, but I have been collecting various oriental dishes and things since I was a child (Shogun influence). As for eating from the takeout container, when I lived alone, I did it all the time. I'd hit the local Chinese to bring dinner home and dig right in. I usually don't eat rice, so that wasn't an issue. Now that I am married and have to share my food, we eat our Chinese takeout from dishes; me with chopsticks, him with a fork.

[jfood]

Wow and to think I was excited when the local chinese put the food in a plastic bag so the oil and sauce did not get on my car carpet.

First meal. I always ask for extra chopsticks, you the cheap wooden ones you pull aprat. What's the big deal. It gets take out from plate to mouth. We NEVER eat directly from the white containers or the horizontal tin pans. Spoons on the table, take what you want, NO DOUBLE DIPPING WITH YOUR CHOPSTICK.

The next morning after exercise or walk with the dog and I am staring into the fridge for breakfast. Yes I will absolutely grab a fork and eat straight from the container.

[TexasToast]

Mine have always done that. Even if it's all brown-bagged up, they'll still put it in a plastic bag.

TT

[lvecch]

I have a set of good chopsticks because I once went out with a guy who was Chinese American (and a professional cook!). I never use them, though, because I've never been able to learn how. I don't hold a pencil correctly, either.

[Midlife]

My opinion? They are shown eating from the take-out boxes so there will be no question that they are eating Chinese take-out. Most often that fact is somewhat relevant to the story line or character development. I only eat that way when I am eating alone. Seems more sanitary, anyway, in a group. I have to add, though, that I am addicted to using a small rice bowl, so I often transfer some of the dish to top off that bowl as well. No quirky habits here ;o)

As to the chopsticks: For take-out, there are the really cheap wooden ones and the better quality, rounded, wooden ones. Most often I notice people on film shown eating with the better, rounded ones, not the lacquered, expensive kind.

[Glencora]

I think I remember an episode of Sex in the City with Carrie and Big eating Chinese takeout in Big's gleaming (and unused) kitchen. They're using chopsticks and eating out of the boxes. Maybe it's to show their intimacy or maybe a kind of reverse snobbery. No plates for them! Or maybe it's just a TV/movie cliche.

[Michele4466]

But, when they showed the four girlfriends eating in Carrie's living room, they passed around the containers and used plates...thoguh they did use the paper wrapped wooden chopsticks...

I agree with a few posters that, perhaps it is to illustrate that they ARE eating chinese food and in some cases for timing and plot purposes...

[TexasToast]

I still think it's a "movie in NY" thing. It was said to be as much by Hector Elizondo's character in "Runaway Bride."

How else can you explain why you never see anyone eating Chinese out of a carton in Minnesota?

TT

[Michele4466]

LOL

True, I guess it is a supposed depiction of NYC life... though modified for effect.

[Pincho]

Just finished watching the movie Manhattan, and there is a scene where Woody and his 17-year-old girlfriend (life imitates art...) are eating Chinese takeout out in bed with chopsticks. It struck me as very unrealistic and impractical, and its funny to see this post right afterward. It also struck me that in 1979 when the movie was made, Chinese takeout wasn't as common outside of New York as it is today, and this was part of the feel of a move so titled.

I do agree that in the movies it seems everyone is always eating out of the box, which I never do, but I don't agree on the chopsticks. It does in fact usually seem to me that they are using the disposable wooden chopsticks that often come with takeout. It never seems apparent that they are higher quality sticks "with decorations" (??)

Personally though I do eat taekout from a plate not a carton, I usually do use chopsticks (the disposable ones that come with). I guess it's just habit and nostalgia - my Dad traveled a lot in Asia and taught us to eat with chopsticks when I was a kid, so part of getting takeout for me has always been eating with chopsticks. I don't imagine I'm alone, why else would they include the disposable sticks with every order?

[justagthing]

Whoa! Chinese takeout wasn't as common outside of NY????
I wonder how my family's take-out only restaurant made it then. In CA, Chinese take-out was very common. BTW...we never gave out chopsticks unless they asked for them or if they asked for any utensils at all. Most of the time, they just took the food. We also did not deliver. We just closed our doors last year, after 50 years in the same building/city.

[John Manzo]

Totally agree- I grew up near Chicago and we got Chinese take-out all the time, way before 1979. How would a New Yorker know what was popular outside NY anyway?

What WAS uncommon was to see white (or non-Asian) people using chopsticks- now that was exotic.

Of course now we're so burdened with the idea that NOT to use chopsticks is de classe that people insist on using them for sushi (not necessary) and for things like Thai and Malaysian rice-based dishes for which chopsticks aren't even appropriate.

[Sarah]

I always feel sorry for the guy/gal who has to start off with the box of steamed rice -- while others are gorging on the s/s pork, broccoli/beef, cashew chicken, etc.

[brooklynmasala]

OK now that's funny!

[BostonZest]

On my kitchen counter is a mason jar full of chopsticks. Some very nice, some plastic that I buy by the dozen at an Asian market, some nicer wooden ones and some still in their paper wrappers.

We spread our food out buffet style complete with serving spoons and eat from plates. We normally buy for more than one meal when we order take-out. I expect to have leftovers for lunch the next day or dinner the next night. I prefer clean food in the containers.

[ML8000]

It's a cliche and a sort of dumb one at that. Unless the dish is noodles, it's non practical. As for eating out of a box, it's sort of like eating in your car. On occasion sure, as a preference or habit nada.

[TexasToast]

I own no good chopsticks.

Eating out of the container must be a "New York" thing!

TT

[Michele4466]

Not this NY'er... LOL

Way too messy and then you would end up eating one item at a time and not enjoying the buffet like opportunity...

[TexasToast]

But it's always couples or "good friends" so they share boxes and sticks. Saves on washing up, as no-one can afford plates and dishwashers (because their rent is too high).

TT

[Michele4466]

LOL

As much as I love my friends and family, I find the sharing thing (not the food but eating out of the same carton) unappealing, except with my husband... especially if it is more than just two...

As for the no plates, a lot of takeout places can and do provide eating utensils ;-) There goes that theory...

As to the OP, there HAS to be a reason for this... is it usually NY based movies and the preception thing? Any ideas?

[LNG212]

"is it usually NY based movies" ... lol. well, actually, it's what *hollywood/ca* thinks is how it's done in ny. in my neighborhood, none of the takeout places even use those kind of containers anymore and haven't in a long time. they use these tupperware type plastic reusable/recyclable containers with snap on lids. very convenient.

as for the "eating directly out of the container" part, never. we always use plates -- how else do you get a portion of rice with it? and how else would you share? and yes, we have our own "nice" chopsticks to use instead of the stuck-together-wooden ones that you get with delivery.

[eatfood]

I agree, most places serve cooked dishes in nice "glad" type boxes / containers. They are very sturdy and definitely reusable.

White rice, however, still comes in those white containers.

[geg5150]

I own several pairs of nice chopsticks.

As for eating out of the container, I'd say that half the time I do. The other half, I manage to get it on a plate before attacking it.

[fryrose]

Talk about timely. I was asking myself that as I watched Ghost Whisperer on Friday night. I know, my taste in chow is better than my taste in media.