Whenever we cruise and are seated at a table with other people, I always know if we are sitting with Europeans. Mostly they are British. It is not the accent that first tips me off; it is how the others use their knives and forks. We Americans are rather stupid with it comes to forks and knives.
If you are not sure of the difference, watch this youtube.
Also, Europeans may keep their fork tines down and use their knives to push a bit more food on their forks.
When my parents taught me how to use a fork and knife, I wanted to eat European style. My folks were aghast and said that style was rude.
However, our style seems stupid. By the time I lay down my knife and switch my fork over to my right hand, my meat gets cold, or I could have eaten another bite. (That sounds a bit gluttonous.)
To me the Europeans use silverware correctly. Anyone know why we Americans changed our method of using forks and knives when many of our original descendants were from Europe?
I think we Americans ought to drop our method of eating, but it is a tough habit to break.
(I know this isn’t a profound topic, but it is kind of fun.)
I've always had my fork in my right hand and knife in left, but was chided as a kid cos my folks said it was the wrong way! Thankfully, they let me develop naturally and that's how I wield them
I was always told that Europeans ate like we do until around the beginning of the 19th century. Thus, what is now the European (or Continental) style of eating began after America was settled, and Americans have simply continued eating the "old" way.
I used to live in France and soon learned that it's not polite to keep a hand in your lap during the meal. The French always have both hands visible at the table.
There is no such homogenous group as "Europeans", really, although I'm aware Americans often see it that way. I'm guessing eating styles vary a bit from country to country in Europe. I certainly know for a fact that the cuisine is night and day between, say, Italy and Norway. How one uses knives and forks differently, however, I cannot say. I've never paid much attention to it (I assumed it was more or less the same all over the world).
My Canadian mates seem mostly just to use a fork for cutting and shovelling. Obviously not for steaks, but seemingly for everything else. They always point out "you'll be wanting a knife" to me. Or they cut everything up first then eat it. We all use spoons for soup.
I'm a stacker. i like bits of everything on muh fork, everyone has a go at me for that an' all.
I'm right-dominant (throwing, kicking, etc. more assuredly with my right arm and leg) but have always wielded both pen and fork in my left hand (and knife in my right, so no switching necessary), so although "American" by birth and culture, I apparently eat the "European" way by freak happenstance of natural design. I'd like to think that makes me special.
Well at home I just use a spoon. You can use a spoon for everything, if you can't cut meat with the edge of a spoon then you haven't cooked it enough (a spoon cuts through chicken no problem). You just need a tool to get small bits of food from the plate & into your mouth...a spoon! Eating out I use a knife & fork, but then I hardly ever eat out these days (never really enjoyed it much), it's usually just a coffee & a cake out now.
If you're using a fork, make sure you take the cork (from a wine bottle) off the ends.
That's posh, not a lot of wine bottles have corks these days (even the good stuff, for me that's wine over £10 a bottle) the Spanish still use them, & I do love a good Rioja.
Solium, that gorging video is too true around my area. Some of us want small and unique boutique restaurants established, but too often, they fail and close. People here don't care for international cuisines or ambiance. They want All You Can Eat buffets for less than ten dollars.
Obviously, we have an obesity problem in America. Predictions are that obesity will only increase. Sad. However, I don't think obesity is related to how we use our forks and knives.
Solium, that gorging video is too true around my area. Some of us want small and unique boutique restaurants established, but too often, they fail and close. People here don't care for international cuisines or ambiance. They want All You Can Eat buffets for less than ten dollars.
Obviously, we have an obesity problem in America. Predictions are that obesity will only increase. Sad. However, I don't think obesity is related to how we use our forks and knives.
My co-workers range in age from 22 to mid 60's. I'm shocked how many young people are obese. Virtually all of them, especially females. And I don't mean that as body shaming. I remember how healthier most of my female classmates were in high school.
