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.

[China Doll]

I'm currently eating a backed tattie with a fork - don't have my elbows on my desk though.

[woofgang]

diddlydo if you think its the height of bad manners, can i suggest that your experience of bad manners is amazingly limited?

[Zacs-Master]

Yep I'm a 'fork only' eater but only at home (or out and having a curry). I don't consider myself slovenly or bad mannered tho.

[Zeuhl]

/the height of bad manners/

ok

so what's worse?

not using a knife with a fork

or using one but holding it like a pen?


(steps back to a safe distance...)

[Prudie]

Holding it like a pen is pretty awful, licking it is the pits of manners

[tonyav]

Never mind dave it'll soon be Christmas.

[heathfield]

Prudie - Read my post timed at 12:25.

[The Builder]

Just remembered.. back in the day...

My housemates, on finishing eating, would launch the fork at the dartboard.
The object of the game was to get a double to start, a score, and a double to finish........... all with one dart.

I don't think anyone ever won though ;o)

[FredPuli43]

I do it when it is convenient. It is nothing to do with copying Americans, the last thing a true Briton like me would ever do, good heavens no ! ( I still say "SHedule" and don't use "I guess" for " I suppose").

If you want to cause real attention, eat peas the English way; crushing them on to the back of the fork; when in France !

[EcclesCake]

I think Dave and Diddly should go on a date!

Where would they go though.......not to a Noodle bar where people may be scooping noodles into their mouth with chopsticks and slurping, or a North African/Middle Eastern/Indian restaurant where diners may eat with their hands, Nandos is out too, as is Carluccio's and many other pasta/pizza places....

So it looks like it is a toss up between The Harvester and Beefeater!

[diddlydo]

Holding a knife like a pencil is almost as bad as eating with just a fork, but at least it stops people shovelling food into themselves and keeps their elbows off the table.

[FredPuli43]

Elbows on table ? What's wrong with that? Another way in we differ from the French; who are a lot more formal in their customs and what is deemed correct than we are. The French usually have elbows on table. I once asked the father of a French girlfriend about this and got the reply "We like to make absolutely sure that none of the arm is out of sight; you never know what might be going under the table otherwise!"

[Prudie]

@ heathfield - many thanks, hadn't spotted that.

[Georgiesmum]

When eating out, nowadays they so often give you only a spoon to eat it with.I always stop and ask for a fork as well as i hate having to try and chase it round the plate to get it on the spoon.

[diddlydo]

I've never eaten anywhere that only gives you a spoon! What is the world coming to?

[Old_Geezer]

It's the folk in the white coats. Even if they give you a fork it's a soft plastic one.

[emmie]

i dislike this, it is something that i saw in US and now it's here, not nice.

[petal54]

my step-son(35),doesn't know how to use a knife & fork properly

[gness]

Oh, Dave....I do worry about you. You never seem to be happy and I hate to think of anyone dying and never having been truly happy.

I don't shovel my food but I sometimes just use a fork....elbows on the table and wine glass in the knifeless hand.

I eat out often with friends and entertain here....It's always fun and sharing of food....I would feel flat if we all sat rigid...knife and fork held "properly" and elbows by our sides....

C'mon....let your hair down before it's too late.....Gx

[EcclesCake]

To be clear for all concerned could we clarify the correct use of cutlery and how it should be applied to cuisine from around the world?