When, what, and HOW did you feed your baby his/her first solids?

Okay, my baby is now 5 months old and i just gave him his first taste of rice baby cereal liquidated with formula with a spoon yesturday. he nearly choked on it he hated it so much. same happened today. i just don't remember this happening with my first. am i trying too early? what did you try first, food or cereal? did you use cereal in a bottle? gerber.com says do not feed him in a bottle. and how did you go about it? am i doing something wrong or am i just being silly?