# Hotline Feature – Chef Paul Smith: Chopsticks Proficiency, West Virginia's Greatest Food Debate, and Splitting the Check

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/metronews-hotline-633757/hotline-feature-chef-paul-smith-chopsticks-proficiency-west-virginia-s-greatest-food-debate-and-splitting-the-check
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/metronews-hotline-633757/hotline-feature-chef-paul-smith-chopsticks-proficiency-west-virginia-s-greatest-food-debate-and-splitting-the-check.md
Podcast: [MetroNews Hotline](https://stenobird.com/podcast/metronews-hotline-633757)
Published: 2026-08-24T21:08:24+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/hotline-feature-chef-paul-smith-chopsticks-proficiency-west-virginia-s-greatest-food-debate-and-splitting-the-check--74662837
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74662837/082426_hotline_feature_chef_paul.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/metronews-hotline-633757/episodes/hotline-feature-chef-paul-smith-chopsticks-proficiency-west-virginia-s-greatest-food-debate-and-splitting-the-check
Duration seconds: 642

## Resource

Chef Jeff Paul Smith joins Dave Weekley for the weekly food segment with a conversation that ranges from chopstick etiquette to West Virginia comfort food. The discussion opens with a listener survey showing only 15 percent of Americans consider themselves proficient with chopsticks, prompting Paul to weigh in on whether chopstick skills are a prerequisite for a serious food lover — and to confirm that sushi is traditionally eaten by hand. A listener request for Barcadas' old Island Breakfast leads Paul to describe the Spam, rice, and egg dish fondly. He then answers the West Virginia food question of beans and cornbread versus pepperoni rolls with a genuinely moving tribute to his late father, who made brown beans and cornbread a monthly family ritual. The segment closes with a practical discussion on the restaurant's responsibility when customers want to split a check, including whether a fast, smooth split translates to better tips.

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## Transcript

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