dining etiquette

Food & Drink, Events and Entertainment
1
longbyt made some interesting comments on fork etiquette. I am fascinated by all dining manners/etiquette.

so as not to derail the other thread, (so non-brits can also contribute...)

can we discuss our own dining quirks, habits etc?

i have to admit i do place my eating knife in my mouth (faux pas) and i use the fork tines pointing up...

but then again i am more comfortable using chopsticks!

2
when eating pizza i turn the plate and not the pizza itself on it to cut a bit off.

and an anecdote that happened to me

......when i held the every first english speaking mummy meeting at my place about 8-9 years ago, I cooked a yummy meal and then was sooooooooooo upset when the american peeps cut it to tiny pieces,placed their one hand in their lap and ate like that............. to a swissie,brought up with count knigges knowledge in the background this was the ultimate offence I didn't know that this was common practice in the US of A

3
When I first allowed Americans into my house, and ate with them, I was totally fascinated with how they use a knife and fork. As were they over the European method.

I didn't realise how different our colonial cousins are.

4
Keeping the inactive hand above the table gave me fits during my visit. It's sooo... unnatural!

5
Gentlemen should not smoke until after the Queen has been toasted.

6
yes, i never got the cross over thing, why? takes so much longer when you are hungry too!

7
If I have a steak, pizza etc.. I have to sit there and cut the entire thing into small, bite-size pieces before I can begin eating. Its a bit childish and I'm trying to get away from that habit

8
pizza eating habits, this could easily take up another thread....

i am a mess when cutting up pizza...a bit random, my swiss friends are very organised, it's cut in half, then in quarters, then start from the tip up to the crust. i just hack away.

also i never use my hands to eat pizza, not sure, maybe it's an asian thing?

don't change! quirks are what make us interesting :-)

9
Eating pizza with your hands is an American thing. It comes from being in a fast food culture.

Things Americans eat with their hands: pizza, hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, chicken wings, chicken fingers, chicken drumsticks, fried chicken, ribs, corn on the cob, burritos, jeez, the list goes on and on. We've got to be able to eat on the run, i.e. at our desks, in the car, etc. because we are so busy and trying to multitask, etc.

The whole one or two hour lunch thing is mind-boggling to Americans.

10
I think that is somewhat testicular. Have you ever eaten pizza in Italy?

11
Is Ethiopia a fast food culture as well? Many people in different cultures eat with their hands.

That list of food items that you listed wouldn't be considered gourmet so why would one want to pretend it is and eat it on a white table cloth and worry if one is holding the fork the proper way? That food is best eaten standing, either outside or over a sink.

12
Might I suggest a puree? Our baby prefers it this way.

13
i hate to sound like a pedant, but ... chopsticks aren't drumsticks and cannot be separated and used as improvised fork or spoon

also, soya sauce don't go on rice and blowing one's nose at the dinner table... very unhygienic

i find ranting embaressing...

14
The various etiquettes are elementary training. After mastered, you can develop your own style and grace. The point is to do it well and gracefully.

Chopsticks are very hygenic inventions. The only part that touches the food are the contact points. If I can get away without cutting with a knife, I will eat with a single fork in my right hand. I think I developed this habit from chopstick style eating.

When eating sushi, I use my fingers. My sushi zen master instructed me on this proper way to eat it.

I have trouble eating with my bare hands, per Indian style. I keep wanting to wipe my hands, and end up dirtying a ton of napkins.

15
As long as you don't eat with the same hand that you wipe your bum with, where's the problem?

Cheers,

Nick

16
Yes, but in Europe I eat everything with a knife and fork. I think people would look at me funny if I picked up my slice of pizza off a plate and ate it with my hands, wouldn't they?

Here's my general rule. If it's served on an actual plate, i.e. Europe, then I use cutlery. If it's served in a box, a basket or a paper cone, i.e. America, then it's OK to use your fingers.

Here's another little clue while in America. If your food is served with disposable, prepackaged Wet Wipes, you should be eating it with your fingers!

17

not at all... specially regarding pizza...

18
Great thread -- mom always taught me that you keep your hand in your lap when not using it -- otherwise it was considered rude -- I have always done that until here when I noticed I was the only one -- -- so I've tried to pay more attention and done my best to kick that habit -- but then again is using a knife and fork for everything -- I guess we do eat with our hands a lot in the US -- I never noticed it until now.

19

Pizzas are supposed to be folded over by hand, and bitten with the dough on both sides.

20
Pizza eaten with a fork and a knife? I never knew I was supposed to eat it that way in Europe. But it would taste all wrong....