Eating with only a fork instead of knife and fork. Cutting the food into pieces first, then shifting the fork to the right hand and eating the pieces like a toddler.
I also loathed when they tried to teach me that custom, especially the whole utensils switching hands deal: it’s frustrating for a young child who will fumble and drop utensils to the floor trying pointlessly unnecessary maneuvers.
I loathe the European convention just as much: bring pointy, sharp thing to mouth in less coordinated hand?
Fuck no.
I don’t follow either convention.
Instead
utensil that approaches mouth (fork or spoon) in dominant hand: least chance of fumbling, dropping food, self-injury
knife in non-dominant hand: cutting doesn’t require fine coordination (practice makes it 2nd nature) & fumbled knife ends up on plate
utensils never switch hands: minimizes fumbling.
Basically, the European convention with opposite hands.
If we’re talking table manners and conventions, at this point I’m on board with combining three principles, two from the West and one from the East, for making dining more convenient and more pleasant:
(From Western restaurant norms): Every item on the plate or in the bowl should be intended to be eaten. The kitchen should remove bones and inedible seeds, and all garnishes should be edible.
(From Western fine dining): Food should be properly seasoned when served. There’s no need for salt or pepper to be available at the table.
(From Asian dining culture): Knives at the table are barbaric, and everything on a plate or bowl should already be cut into appropriate sizes for one handed eating.
That would also take care of the American versus English etiquette (and whatever countries fall on either side of that convention) on how to use knives at the table.
Eating with only a fork instead of knife and fork. Cutting the food into pieces first, then shifting the fork to the right hand and eating the pieces like a toddler.
That’s the whole western hemisphere.
I also loathed when they tried to teach me that custom, especially the whole utensils switching hands deal: it’s frustrating for a young child who will fumble and drop utensils to the floor trying pointlessly unnecessary maneuvers.
I loathe the European convention just as much: bring pointy, sharp thing to mouth in less coordinated hand? Fuck no.
I don’t follow either convention. Instead
Basically, the European convention with opposite hands.
If we’re talking table manners and conventions, at this point I’m on board with combining three principles, two from the West and one from the East, for making dining more convenient and more pleasant:
That would also take care of the American versus English etiquette (and whatever countries fall on either side of that convention) on how to use knives at the table.
Do toddlers where you are keep a hand free to multi-task, be available to lend a hand where needed, or use a napkin?
Or is dedicating both hands to stuffing your face the more toddler-like method? Maybe think before you fling shit.
You can put the knife down when needed, Janice. It’s not rocket science.
We do. That’s exactly what the “toddler”-insulter is lambasting.
They don’t have a hand free when they use fork and knife you numbskull.
Precisely, thus they are the more similar to toddlers. Make sense?