The following was sent to us via email. We do not know the answer. Do you?
"I was born and raised in New England, and it was always the custom to eat with the fork in the right hand , but change hands when you cut your meat, with knife in your right hand, fork in your left. Then place the knife at the top of your plate, switch hands, and then eat with the fork in your right hand.
I was just on a cruise with People from United Kingdom and I was the only one eating the way I was raised to eat. Everyone was fascinated!
When we ever saw someone eating with the fork in the left hand and knife in the right and never changing hands, we were taught, that that was bad manners.
My question is: Where did the traditional way of eating satrt?? Which way???"
Polly
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Thursday, March 22, 2007
Eating Etiquette
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7 comments:
The American way or zig-zag way of eating was the original method of eating in France and England before 1732. In 1732 a nobleman in King Louis XV's court decided that the noblemen should eat differently than the townspeople and he came up with the Continental style of eating. When America was settled in the 1700's, the people settling it wanted nothing to do with the ways of the Kings (England followed everything that France did etiquette-wise) and they continued the practice of eating the way that this lady learned.
Absolutedly correct description.
and it is now known as the american or continental ways.
AZ Etiquette Australia/Kenvale College.edu.au
Cutting with the knife in the right hand and fork in the left is the same in both countries, as agreed. However, when an American holds the fork in the left hand with the palm up, as if going to stab and kill whatever is being cut up, is SUCH bad etiquette and quite unbelievable to witness--not all Americans do that, of course--but it happens often. Also, I've seen Americans have a piece of meat, or other morsel, attached to the end of the fork and proceed to bite from it and not place the whole piece in the mouth--quite horrible to watch. I have come around somewhat, as a Brit, to cutting my food into small pieces and then using only my fork when I'm in a not-so-fancy restaurant, as one would when eating a bowl of salad, but in someone's house or out for a special meal, I retain the knife in my right hand and my fork in my left...but in this country, it feels a bit of a show to do it.
I was brought up in England and told that I should always have my knife in my right hand and my fork in the left. The fork should always have the prongs pointing downwards. My grandmother (born in 1890!) was really particular about this! Imagine how hard it was to eat peas with your fork that way! So, now I live and work in a foreign country and have come into contact with so many different eating ways. I don't think we can critise other's habits, just observe and learn about their culture.
I have eaten like this lady all of my life, my family having come from England all the way back to the 1700's. Since I am a native Virginian, I think they followed the English! Always worked for me, with the fork prongs down, too!
I am originally from England. My family uses the British or Continental style. I was told the Americans changed the manner in which they held their cutlery, so they would have a hand free for their 'weapon'. This was entirely practical, in the days of the settling of America.
I'm not British but I live and work in UK.My work involves a lot of traveling (and eating out)I wouldn't say I came from a posh background but my parents put quite a lot of attention teaching us good manners.Holding knife in right hand and fork in left for me was obvious and when i went out for dinner in Japan with 8 other people(British,French,Spanish)I was the only one holding cutlery correctly,I was shocked.My good manners didn't allow me to correct anyone;)Obviously I felt embarrassed enough...Maybe even in their eyes I looked as if I didn't know any manners but well,I know I have them...I wish I never felt embarrassed for anyone who didn't know basic savoir-vivre rules.
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