Knife and fork: Euro-style or American-style?

[Robin Garr]

Do you handle your knife and fork Euro-style or American style? I think the old norms are disappearing on both sides of the Atlantic. This rather stuffy Brit is outraged, but I'm curious how most of us - wherever we are - handle our utensils in the 21st century.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink ... t-sin.html

[Robin Garr]

My own odd personal story: I picked up on the Euro-style of fork and knife as a child, probably from the movies. It made sense to my grade-schooler's brain, so I adopted it. This horrified my parents, so I continued doing it with delight. This has served me well during frequent trips to Europe

I picked up the Euro-style while a student in 1960, and kept it.

It's a little hard for me to remember because it was long ago and didn't last long. But I changed my table manners drastically when I was at Phillips Andover, with tutelage from a couple of fellow students, and I think that may have included switching fork hands. I also learned to eat fried chicken with a knife and fork, as well as eating watermelon with a knife and fork.

When I went home, and then to college, absolutely nobody was impressed and I went back to my rustic ways.

I will occasionally eat a chicken drumstick with a knife and fork just to prove I still can but that is kind of rare.

Sometimes one, sometimes the other. Depends on what I'm eating more than where I am. I guess I'm just a something-glot.

I also learned to eat fried chicken with a knife and fork, as well as eating watermelon with a knife and fork.

That is what Pumpkin does, too. He can lick a plate clean using only knife and fork. I don't understand how he can do this.

I think there are a number of social and class undercurrents in the article that aren't apparent on the other side of the pond..

We obvioulsy eat with fork in left and knife in right, cutting when necessary immediately before forking that piece into the mouth.

My son eats in the American way, cutting each piece into bite size pieces immediately the plate arrives in front of him, then not using knife again. A habit he adopted when at uni in US and which he persists in probably at first to annoy us and now because it's enthrenched. It reminds me of when he was a toddler and when we had to cut up his food for him.

We are all going to a formal London restaurant tonight and I'll be cringing...

[Jenise]

My son eats in the American way, cutting each piece into bite size pieces immediately the plate arrives in front of him, then not using knife again.

I'm not sure if you meant to imply that the American way includes cutting EVERYTHING on your plate at the outset--but it doesn't. Rather, you cut as you go. Even to us this is a lot like cutting up a child's food.

I feel your pain!

I'm not sure if you meant to imply that the American way includes cutting EVERYTHING on your plate at the outset--but it doesn't. Rather, you cut as you go.

He used to do that but I guess over time he found it a more efficient way than keep swapping fork and knife throughout the meal.

Anyway, at the posh restuarant the table decorations, decanter meant I couldn't see how he handled his cutlery.

And, I found a bargain bottle on the wine list, Klein Constantia 'Vin de Constance' 2007, 97 Wine Advocate points, at £44 -- only £7.65 more expensive than retail!!

[Jenise]

I'm not sure if you meant to imply that the American way includes cutting EVERYTHING on your plate at the outset--but it doesn't. Rather, you cut as you go.

He used to do that but I guess over time he found it a more efficient way than keep swapping fork and knife throughout the meal.

Anyway, at the posh restuarant the table decorations, decanter meant I couldn't see how he handled his cutlery.

And, I found a bargain bottle on the wine list, Klein Constantia 'Vin de Constance' 2007, 97 Wine Advocate points, at £44 -- only £7.65 more expensive than retail!!

Can't argue with the efficiency argument, but freshly cut tastes better in part because it stays hotter longer. But you can't argue that to someone who doesn't discern that.

What a deal on the Klein. Fantastic wine.