Using A Knife And Fork Correctly

[dave50]

Has anyone else noticed how a lot of young people these days don't know how to hold a knife and fork correctly? Especially the fork, they have some strange ways of holding it.

[snags]

^ I'm also left handed but don't do that. I'm not saying either is right or wrong.

[dave50]

To those of you who think it doesn't matter, of course it does! I suppose you think it's ok to eat with your mouth open, curl your legs under you while you are sat down eating and generally be a total slob but hey it doesn't matter, as long as the food is getting into your mouth who cares?

[AlwaysConfused]

There is a time and place for table etiquette - it's called 'When others are looking'. Home alone, I am guilty of using a fork like a shovel, placing my elbows on the table, picking up peas with my fingers and licking my plate clean! Shh, don't tell anyone.

[EcclesCake]

What does eating with you mouth open and curling you legs under have to do with how you use a knife and fork.

For the record though I agree eating with you mouth open is unpleasant.

[AlwaysConfused]

I couldn't eat with my mouth open, that is disgusting. I do not like people that make unnecessary noises whilst eating, too (crunching, chewing sounds)

[sandyRoe]

And ladies don't seem to cock their little finger any more when having tea.

[bert_h]

I remember an old movie set during World War 2 where an American spy in Europe gives himself away by cutting up his food with his knife and fork, then putting the knife down and eating with just the fork. There was no dialogue - just the camera panning between him and the watching military guy, and the expressions in the eyes. An absolute classic.

[BlackadderV]

There were provisos. It was acceptable to dip bread in soup and dunk biscuits in tea in the privacy of one's own home, but unthinkable outside. I remember staying with a French family when I was 13 and was amazed at how they dunked their bread and jam into their coffee bowls and mopped up the gravy from their plates with bread.

[mazie]

I do sandy ;o)

[The Builder]

Pedant's Corner:

Actually, you do have to eat with your mouth open.

Otherwise it all goes up your nose ;o)

[Mamyalynne]

I am very strict with certain things, catapults only for firing garden peas as missile, NOT spoons.


All food fights must follow Queensbury Rules.

[douglas9401]

It's actually very difficult to teach shaved chimps to use tools. Who has the time these days?

[Retrochic]

I have eaten regularly at North American Tables, French Tables and UK tables and each has slight differences at to the correct and polite use of flatware. In North America it is polite to cut the food into a bit-sized morsel,transfer the fork to your left hand and use the fork to put the item into your mouth. In France it is correct to scoop up peas, puree etc with your fork in your right hand -in fact when I have eaten peas the British way (with upturned fork) it has caused great interest and jollity. We can't get away from the fact that the way someone acts at the dining table denotes their upbringing. I could not lick my plate or shovel my food in even in Private, and you would have to pay me a substantial amount to be seen scoffing anything while walking down a street.

[DTCwordfan]

To the left-handers here - if you get invites to have dinner with a Chinese family, you should apologise for being left-handed and would they excuse use you in using your chopsticks from your left. They don't appear to have many manners when you here them slurping, food falling about and the state of the table but a Chinese Mum will whack the hands of her offspring if they try to eat with the left hand.

The reason: Just as in the Middle East, the right hand is for eating and your left for cleaning the butt. Such an apology is oft appreciated as it shows that you know something of the culture.

[DTCwordfan]

Belgian protocol to show that the food is really good:

1st level - burp

But if it is so good, worthy of a one star Michelin, you can move to level 2 - you fart.

However, there is a 3rd level for that once in a life time meal, that 3 star Michelin meal, the memorable gastronomic, food-in-the mouth orgasmic experience. You can barf - 'the food was so good you could eat it twice.'

[The Builder]

I'm left-handed as well, so I shall remember that, DTC ;o)

[douglas9401]

"...the right hand is for eating and your left for cleaning the butt,"

And to think they invented paper. :-P

[whiskeryron]

Use chopsticks.....

How do cope with soup ?

[BlackadderV]

The ancient Romans deliberately made themselves sick so they could have seconds.

[Cloverjo]

I agree with Deskdiary about holding a knife like a pen. I'm very snobby about that.
I've seen a couple of young people hold their fork in their fist and stick it in their food like a stake while they saw away with their knife.