Knife and Fork "Etiquette"

Didn't read all the responses - but maybe someone told me this or I just made it up, but to keep both utensils in hand would be rude or consider being too impatient or something... or feeling like I needed to defend my food from attackers or something. Yeah silly, but part of me kinda sees it that way. To eat, I would cut some small pieces, set my knife down, and eat the pieces cut. I'd feel like I was doing something wrong if I did it differently.

maybe that's an odd way to look at it though.

I was raised to switch hands. I married DH who spent time in Europe and loved their style of eating....I switched to DH's way- except I don't shove food onto the back of my fork and put it in my mouth upside down. I like my fork right-side up. I don't go to places where how I eat is that important - other than keeping your mouth closed while you chew and the food on the plate.

I was taught the zig zag method. Vegetables that can be cut with the fork are cut that way. If there is meat or something else that needs to be cut one cuts three or four bites, puts down the knife and eats the cut portions before cutting more. When cutting with the fork upside down one holds the fork in the palm of the left hand, between thumb and middle finger, with the index finger on the back of the fork to guide and put pressure on it.

When cutting the fork may be turned over so that the food may be held securely, but to eat with the fork upside down is improper. One never grasps the fork with the fist (which I see often) but holds it as one does the spoon, somewhat as one holds a pencil.

The other thing I see often, and this is probably prevalent, is that people scoop food into their mouths with a spoon, pulling the food to them. When a spoon is used should be filled with an outward, pushing motion and then returned to the mouth. Scooping soup toward you will get you soup all down your front.

That said, at home I eat any danged way I please unless my wife suggests otherwise. Good manners, at table or otherwise, are to make those present comfortable in their surroundings. If one of my guests eats like a hog I may relax my standards a bit too.

Years ago, when Emily Post was the arbiter of social graces, I read her pronouncement to the effect that fried chicken was "finger food". Bless that lady; it has been so in my house forever.

I just use my fingers

__________________
If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, water your grass

Wat iz ziss fork an spoon you speek ov?

__________________
Flaming Xtian
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
Mahatma Gandhi


Libertarindependent

I'm left-handed, but I learned to play the guitar right-handed.
The Continental method is nothing compared to that.

Another on the list of things that puzzle me:

If not switching the fork back and forth is considered "continential," why is it that you rarely need a knife and fork to eat a continential breakfast?

__________________
.

Less barking! More wagging!

Had Bristish parents so I will at times find myself doing it the Brisitsh way..but was born and raised in the USA !! Guess you can say I can eat both ways..just to confuse others !!

They're too tired-They were dancing "The Continental" all night long!

Hmmmm.

Tomayto, tomahto.

__________________
"Crivens!"

Half Caper Farm - breeding Saanens, Boers and Nigerian Dwarfs

Spoon!

__________________
I am the daughter of Earth and Water,
And the nursling of the Sky;
I pass through the pores of the ocean and shores;
I change, but I cannot die.
The Cloud
Percy Bysshe Shelley

Oh,Oh!
I know the answer to this!!!

Dan Quayle!!!!

HAHAHAHA!!! omg, you owe me a new keyboard, I just spit milk all over this one!!

__________________
I am the daughter of Earth and Water,
And the nursling of the Sky;
I pass through the pores of the ocean and shores;
I change, but I cannot die.
The Cloud
Percy Bysshe Shelley

I thought that was "tomatoe"? I have a very hazy idea of who Dan Quayle is, I know he's one of your moronic politician types. We have 'em too!

__________________
"Crivens!"

Half Caper Farm - breeding Saanens, Boers and Nigerian Dwarfs