Cutlery manners ?

katex · 18-10-2008, 13:07

I am guilty of this, and noticed two separate scenes on 'Corrie' last night where everyone was eating just with their forks, and not sliding onto the back of your fork with a knife as I have always been taught. I think far more sensible anyway ... this is the American way, and looks like we are being influenced.

Like using your soup spoon away from you to scoop up the contents; doesn't make sense, has further to travel to yer gob, and tipping the plate towards the centre of the table to grab those last remaining drops. Of course, would do this when out dining, but never at home now ... probably tip the plate directly into my mouth anyway ..

Loved the bit where 'Kevin' was making a stew butty.

AccyLass · 18-10-2008, 13:12

Elbows off the table and all that
My girl tells me about that (cos of Nanna)

I tell her this is OUR house! Not ya Nanna's lol

I don't mind how things get eaten as long as they use a knife and fork and don't chew with their mouth open!

emzy · 18-10-2008, 13:25

I am bad for eating off my knee when eating alone (well, using a plate but on my knee not at the table) but I got confused when eating out when there was more than one knife and fork lol

jaysay · 18-10-2008, 13:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by katex

I am guilty of this, and noticed two separate scenes on 'Corrie' last night where everyone was eating just with their forks, and not sliding onto the back of your fork with a knife as I have always been taught. I think far more sensible anyway ... this is the American way, and looks like we are being influenced.

Like using your soup spoon away from you to scoop up the contents; doesn't make sense, has further to travel to yer gob, and tipping the plate towards the centre of the table to grab those last remaining drops. Of course, would do this when out dining, but never at home now ... probably tip the plate directly into my mouth anyway ..

Loved the bit where 'Kevin' was making a stew butty.

Knife kate, whats one of those

katex · 18-10-2008, 14:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

Knife kate, whats one of those

Well would need one to cut yer steak Jaysay, but the trend is now to cut, disperse with knife and just use fork to spear and enter into your jaws.

Know we have had threads like this before, but wonder if it is time to assess our cutlery etiquette for more sensible guidelines .. I mean, teaching a child how to use a knife and fork 'properly' takes hours of practice.

Know what you mean Accylass re. mouth open .. my son was regularly getting chastised off daughter for this when he was little. Mind you, even now, eats food far too quick so reckon never gets time to shut his mouth. Daughter once had to give him the Heimlich Manoeuvre .. due to not chewing long enough ... not like there is any pack competition...

jaysay · 18-10-2008, 14:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by katex

Well would need one to cut yer steak Jaysay, but the trend is now to cut, disperse with knife and just use fork to spear and enter into your jaws.

Know we have had threads like this before, but wonder if it is time to assess our cutlery etiquette for more sensible guidelines .. I mean, teaching a child how to use a knife and fork 'properly' takes hours of practice.

Know what you mean Accylass re. mouth open .. my son was regularly getting chastised off daughter for this when he was little. Mind you, even now, eats food far too quick so reckon never gets time to shut his mouth. Daughter once had to give him the Heimlich Manoeuvre .. due to not chewing long enough ... not like there is any pack competition...

Good heavens kate you mean you can afford steak

. but seriously know exactly what you mean, its a while snce I went out to dine, but many a time you would see youngsters just using there fork, infact I was looking through a catalogue only this week and there was an item in it call forknife, it was a fork with one edge sharpened like a knife, and hats the gospel truth, so where is it going to end

BERNADETTE · 18-10-2008, 14:34

I always use a knife and fork when eating

Don't like the sound of that forknife think it could be dangerous

Morecambe Ex Pat · 18-10-2008, 14:38

Cavemen used to rip their food apart and then eat it. Since we became 'civilised' it has become customary to use tools to eat food. I was always taught, cut with your knife and eat with your fork and continue to do just that.
When it comes to table manners though, the incorrect use of tools is insignificant when you are seated with people who are unable to eat anything without slurping, sniffing and sloshing food round their mouth as they carry on a conversation.

West Ender · 18-10-2008, 14:47

I use a knife and fork - the English way - most of the time but if I'm eating pasta, at home or in a restaurant, I don't use a knife. That would be pointless (no pun meant). We always sit at the table for meals and I'm a bit particular about table manners but that doesn't mean mealtimes aren't relaxed and sociable occasions. Oh, and I've eaten a stew buttie before now.

garinda · 18-10-2008, 14:51

It's only the middle classes in Victorian society that became so uptight about table manners. The aristocracy and the peasants didn't care how their food got to their bellies, just as long as it did get there.

Nancy Mitford was most scathing about fish knives, and they are still classed in the same catagory as saying 'serviette' instead of napkin, by most modern day society Nancies.

Because my dominant hand is more or less useless, a friend bought me a Knork. A good idea in theory, but it's very heavy, and I can manage just as well with an ordinary fork.

Knork Flatware » Home

katex · 18-10-2008, 14:58

Do put my elbows on the table when out ... good to have them slightly apart, hands together to give a bridge for your chin to rest on to look seductively at your escort (not that I have had the opportunity for some time like

)

Caz · 18-10-2008, 15:08

Remember these?

combination of all three, very popular in the 70s

MargaretR · 18-10-2008, 15:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

It's only the middle classes in Victorian society that became so uptight about table manners. The aristocracy and the peasants didn't care how their food got to their bellies, just as long as it did get there.

Nancy Mitford was most scathing about fish knives, and they are still classed in the same catagory as saying 'serviette' instead of napkin, by most modern day society Nancies.

Because my dominant hand is more or less useless, a friend bought me a Knork. A good idea in theory, but it's very heavy, and I can manage just as well with an ordinary fork.

Knork Flatware » Home

I am glad you posted that link - I am going to get one.
I have hardly any grip in my left hand and am prone to fork dropping

garinda · 18-10-2008, 15:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by MargaretR

I am glad you posted that link - I am going to get one.
I have hardly any grip in my left hand and am prone to fork dropping

It's worth a try Margaret. You're supposed to rock them to cut, which I can't do with my left hand.

Let us know how you get on with it.

West Ender · 18-10-2008, 15:19

I don't think elbows on the table is so bad at all, as long as they're not right across it or spreading close to your neighbour's plate - or in his soup. I don't get in a stew (

) if you eat with just your fork, at my table, as long as you don't wave it around and/or splatter your food around.

Table manners, to me, involve not reaching across people for salt and pepper etc., not leaving the table while others are still eating, not carrying on a conversation with a mouth stuffed with food and, most definitely, not chewing so that anyone else can either see or hear what you're eating. If you're eating with me - button your lip.