Silver chopsticks and spoons are used for
Korean meals because silver discolors in the presence of poison, so they
are considered the safe way to eat. A formal dinner setting will also have
silver bowls for rice and soup. Expensive, but the silverware is usually
part of a bride's dowry. Everyday settings are of brass or china. Nowadays
stainless steel is more popular than brass because it does not need the
polishing that brass does.
The food is served and eaten from bowls, not
plates. Everything is put on the table at once - rice, soup, fish,
chicken, beef, hot sauces, sweet and sour sauces, vegetables prepared in
several ways and kimchi of various kinds. There are numerous varieties of
kimchi, some prepared with the addition of dried shrimps or salted fish,
and elaborate versions including rare fruits and vegetables. Some are very
strong while others are quite mild.
The meal does not end with sweets. Sometimes
fresh fruits are served, but this is not the everyday pattern of eating.
Korean fruits include apples, Korean pears (different from the varieties
we know), oranges, grapes, cherries, plums and persimmons.