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19 December 2007
Knife and Fork How do you hold your cutlery? →[More:] I noticed that my 'zig-zag' table manners marked me out as a foreigner and I switched: fork in the left hand, turned over so the tines point downward; knife in the right hand. NO SWITCHING.
Switching is indeed a US thing. Furthermore, i was taught at a fancy ettiquette training thing in college that "one must never stab their food with the tines of the fork, but should instead scoop." When challenged by a Romanian friend of mine, the lady acknowledged that the "European" way (fork in left hand, tines down, copious stabbing) is also acceptable.
I prefer the European way - much easier and I think it looks a little classier than juggling the fork back and forth. Strangely enough, a few people have commented on it (most notably MuddDude's little sister - that was an odd conversation).
I switch. I don't know if that's a US thing or not. I always hold a knife with my index finger on the very top, though, which is apparently "kinda strange."
I'm a switcher! I can't actually tell you what people here do, generally, because I've never noticed. My husband switches, but who knows - it may just be something he picked up in the U.S. I'll start observing.
But I'm way over fear of being identified as American. First of all, hardly anyone ever guesses I'm American (unless they've lived there for some years), and I'm constantly being guessed as British or German, and I have no idea why. I feel like I stick out a mile long as American. But I definitely didn't feel that way when I lived in the U.S. Funny. And, secondly, among the people who know me or are introduced to me, it's always a part of the whole story of me... my husband met me when he was living in the U.S., blah, blah. I can't escape from it among people who know me, and I can't imagine why it isn't totally obvious to the people who don't.
when cutting - knife in right hand, fork in left. I usually hold the fork upside-down, my index finger running along the length of it for strength, and the middle, ring and pinky wrap around in order to grip it, although not too securely. The thumb is a mere stabilizer. The knife I hold by basically making a fist around the handle of the knife, the thumb on the left side, the other fingers on the right. Most of the grip here is done with the thumb and forefinger, and the other three fingers are most loosely gripped.
when eating - fork in right hand, knife in left. The fork is held much like a pencil, in between the fore and middle fingers, the thumb again a stabilizer. The knife is utilized as more of a wall, allowing food to be placed on the fork rather than off the plate. Now, I'll often break food apart with the ah screw this.
Being an unwashed American who didn't have the foresight to emigrate, I of course hold food down with my left hand and gnaw at it directly from the platter, fighting off interlopers with the knife in my right hand.
I'm really, really proud of the way I eat. It marks me, to those in the know, as a sophisticated intergalactic voyager. But I'm not going to tell you what it is because then all you posers could fake it.
I have never seen anyone hold their knife like a pen.
It's pretty common amongst working class people here.
Anyway, you're posh, gaspode.
And, if we're on the subject of giving the finger, chuckdarwin, in Britain 'fuck off' is TWO fingers, whilst 'fuck you' is the middle one, but we've only really copied that from the Yanks.
chuckdarwin - it wasn't meant as an FU, it was just a joke, not as a comment/dig on your post. Really. No offense intended AT ALL. Just me here bored at work. Feel free to take a look in my profile at any one of my many retarded posts and you'll see I'm in no position to judge anyone's. I once asked if people lean on stuff. I'd have emailed, but it's not in your profile.
It's just occurred to me that I rarely eat anything that requires a knife. And if anything does need cutting, I usually use the side of my fork. Is that gauche?
oh, right. I see who it was directed at now.
Because I ate with a butter knife instead of a fork until the age of 7, I didn't get a lot of the nutrients I should've gotten on account of the food always falling off the knife. Long story short - I miss stuff.
Next time, feel free to drag out the drama for awhile.
Carry on...
It's just occurred to me that I rarely eat anything that requires a knife. And if anything does need cutting, I usually use the side of my fork. Is that gauche?
At that dumb ettiquette dinner I had to go to, the ettiquette lady actually pointed out how disgusting it was that I was cutting up my lobster with my fork. How gauche was that?
Because I ate with a butter knife instead of a fork until the age of 7, I didn't get a lot of the nutrients I should've gotten on account of the food always falling off the knife.
Don't get me started. Apparently, putting the knife in your mouth is a no-no.
Next time, feel free to drag out the drama for awhile.
Been there, done that. Got the tattoo. Nowadays, I take my drama short and sweet. As I said to you a few minutes ago... someone on the internet doesn't like me. Shock. Horror.
I'm left handed so I hold the fork with my left and the knife with my right. No switching, I'm clumsy enough without trying a maneuver like that at the dinner table. I'd probably end up stabbing someone or cutting my thumb off by accident.
hm, interesting. I'd guessed my style would be a weird mix, but I guess Grandmother's boarding-school manners were drilled into me early. I adhere strictly to the style in essexjan's link. People have mentioned it, I never really realised there was that much distinction.
I'm a switcher as is the mister (he's Canadian so it's not just a US thing). I know how to eat correctly (no cutting with fork, spoon away from you, etc.) and do so when in a fancy restaurant. At home - screw it, I'm using my sweatpants for a serviette if I want and you can't do anything about it.
It's either the American cut and switch, or the european left-fork right-knife, don't stab-it style, and it really depends on who I'm eating with (and where) what I'll end up doing.
If I'm alone I'm all fork-and-shovel fuck the uglyness of it all *burp*. Also, I don't care about slicing pizzas when alone, I just roll them up into one giant burrito and down the hatch it goes!
Don't be silly Jon - it's those plastic things inside the little cellophane bag. There's also a napkin in there; you should place it in your lap when you sit down, and when you are finished with your meal, place it on top of your head to signal your server that he/she may take the plates away.
Don't be silly Jon - it's those plastic things inside the little cellophane bag. There's also a napkin in there; you should place it in your lap when you sit down, and when you are finished with your meal, place it on top of your head to signal your server that he/she may take the plates away.
Taz, I'd bet you five euros that Jon follows your advice the next time he's out at a restaurant.
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