Using A Fork On It's Own Instead Of A Knife And Fork Together

[dave50]

I have seen more and more people eating in this way, especially young people, elbow on table, shoveling food in using only their fork instead using a knife and fork together. I think it looks slovenly and is bad manners.

[The Builder]

Well I've done it a few times on site. The remains of last nights tuna-pasta, and I'd forgotten to bring a fork...........

Had to whittle one out of a piece of batten............ :o(

[jno]

knives are for cutting things. Fine if you have an ox on your plate but not needed for a lot of food (and often the side of a fork will cut soft pasta etc for you anyway).

Odd that the fork was invented long after the knife and spon, as it's probably the most useful.

[woofgang]

It amazes me the things that people find to be grumpy about....

[jno]

elbows on tables is like elbows on armrests in planes, they can invade your neighbour's space if you're tightly packed. It must be said the table is really there to support the food, not the diners.

[jno]

also, I was brought up to believe that if the fork was curved side down on your plate, alongside your knife, you'd finished (and the waiter could take your plate away); if curved side up, you weren't. I have no idea if this is still true or if it ever was.

[daffy654]

I use a knife if the food requires cutting, if not then just a fork, for example, last night we had spaghetti bolognese so only needed a fork. :)

[heathfield]

The Leslie French film where the American gave himself away to the Germans by dining 'US style' was "Orders to Kill", (1958).

[The Builder]

I wonder about chips. A fork for spearing is all you need.

Burning question of the day ...... have you ever seen anyone cutting up chips?

Except in Essex of course, where they're eaten straight out of the handbag.

[EcclesCake]

Stop going out. Problem sorted.

[jno]

you need a fork for chips? In your stately home, maybe...

[Zeuhl]

Surely it's more a matter of selecting the correct knife and the correct fork for each course

;-)

[paddywak]

I've eaten this way since 2000 when I lost the use of my right arm for several months and got into the habit even though I've now got most of the use of my right arm back. I had to learn to use my left hand for loads of things as when Trish went to work there wasn't always somebody to help me and some things were still beyond me,I mean have you ever tried opening a can of beans one handed with an ordinary can opener?

[mccfluff]

i've cut chips up :-) when they are those big fat ones, doesn't everyone?

[The Builder]

Chip etiquette I guess, Fluff. For the bigger chip, I fork one end and nibble at the other ............. ;o)

[Prudie]

Polly, yes you are right. I remember this too from an old war film, late 50s maybe (weren't they on a train?) but don't recall the title.

[Sipowicz]

Ah......hence the term chippie!

[The Builder]

.......... so that's where it came from Sips ;o)

[diddlydo]

I totally agree with you Dave - it's the height of bad manners. I don't care if it's the american way - a case of when in Rome etc. It has been customary for years in this country to eat holding the knife and fork at all times and keeping the elbows off the table.

[Prudie]

Big chips is fingers or fork in one end and then repeated dipping in mayo or tom sauce.

[mccfluff]

only if i'm eating the chips as part of a meal, if its a bag of chips from the chippy then just a fork will do :-) (and some mayo)