philmayfield 6,089 Posted February 2, 2022 Report Share Posted February 2, 2022 We were discussing over breakfast today the correct way to hold a knife and a fork. Etiquette says that they should both be held with the index finger on top of the handle. Does everyone here do this? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AfferGorritt 868 Posted February 2, 2022 Report Share Posted February 2, 2022 My butler confirms that this is the correct way to use cutlery. NEVER hold a knife like a pencil! I’ve seen young whippersnappers holding a fork vertically by intertwining it between their fingers! What is the world coming to! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brew 5,378 Posted February 2, 2022 Report Share Posted February 2, 2022 Some hold the knife like a pen, but most hold them as you describe. But who cares? and who decided what is the correct etiquette? Anyway surely the hold changes depending on what is being eaten. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AfferGorritt 868 Posted February 2, 2022 Report Share Posted February 2, 2022 And peas! Never turn your fork over and use your knife to push them on. Peas should be speared on the tines of the fork in small groups. Ye Gods! I’d be at table all day! I just lean back, open my mouth and good old Jeeves shovels ‘em in with a spoon! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,284 Posted February 2, 2022 Report Share Posted February 2, 2022 Sat around a table of 14 lads having breakfast in the Portobello Lounge before the Forest V Derby game, if you had mentioned table etiquette you'd had got a smack in the gob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted February 2, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2022 We too decided that it depended on what was being eaten. There are certain social conventions on eating though and I wondered how they developed. Our cats refuse to use their cutlery! My Scottish friend, who was a GP, ate his peas from off his knife. Is this a custom North of the border? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,118 Posted February 2, 2022 Report Share Posted February 2, 2022 I occasionally forget i have ''Essential Tremor'' in my left hand..........and whatever is on the Fork tends to fly thru the air'' with the greatest of Ease............and a drink goes anywhere.........lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brew 5,378 Posted February 2, 2022 Report Share Posted February 2, 2022 He must have had a steady hand, or took a long time to finish dinner. One thing I don't do is combine food on the fork i.e. a bit of potato, some peas etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trogg 2,002 Posted February 2, 2022 Report Share Posted February 2, 2022 I eat my peas with treacle I have done it all my life it makes the peas taste funny but it keeps them on my knife. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alpha 176 Posted February 2, 2022 Report Share Posted February 2, 2022 1 hour ago, philmayfield said: We were discussing over breakfast today the correct way to hold a knife and a fork. Etiquette says that they should both be held with the index finger on top of the handle. Does everyone here do this? Oh! of course we always use our cutlery this way. I wouldn't dare not to! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alpha 176 Posted February 2, 2022 Report Share Posted February 2, 2022 Who uses a cake fork and fruit forks? I always insist having oranges served peeled too. Whatever next! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted February 2, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2022 Cake forks are what people give you for wedding presents. You then pass them on at the next wedding you attend. We used to gets lots of sets of Waterford Crystal over the years from our Irish subsidiary as Christmas gifts. Them came in very handy to pass on as wedding and anniversary presents! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted February 2, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2022 1 hour ago, Brew said: He must have had a steady hand, or took a long time to finish dinner. One thing I don't do is combine food on the fork i.e. a bit of potato, some peas etc. He did practice minor surgery at the QMC. The skill must have been useful. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brew 5,378 Posted February 2, 2022 Report Share Posted February 2, 2022 I much prefer a surgeon who knows what he's about rather than one needing practice.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
West Bridgfordian 144 Posted February 2, 2022 Report Share Posted February 2, 2022 Don't get me going on how the Americans use cutlery... I had to spend a few weeks in Cleveland OH working with an IT team there a few years ago, absolute nightmare watching them cut the food up! Oh yeah, we do use a cake fork here, dead posh now... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieM 9,497 Posted February 2, 2022 Report Share Posted February 2, 2022 I’m embarrassed watching our youngest son eat. He’s a well-educated lad and was taught and encouraged by us to use cutlery in the proper manner. Since leaving home 20+ years ago he’s been married (briefly) to an American girl and also spent more time overseas, particularly the Caribbean and Africa, than he’s been in this country. I’d love to comment on the way he shovels his food in using his fork the wrong way round, but at 42 years of age I think he might tell me where to get off! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David sheridan 159 Posted June 23, 2022 Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 On 2/2/2022 at 7:42 PM, philmayfield said: We were discussing over breakfast today the correct way to hold a knife and a fork. Etiquette says that they should both be held with the index finger on top of the handle. Does everyone here do this? Does one apply the same etiquette when eating beans on toast ??? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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