Comments on: What is the correct way to hold a knife and fork while dining out?

By: Lord Percy Fawcette-Smythe.

Lord Percy Fawcette-Smythe. — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:24:59 +0000

Slightly the wrong way round, the fork is held in the left hand (supposing you are right handed of course) with the points downwards and the knife in the right hand. NEVER, never, never put down the knife and eat with the right hand. The fork is held gently with the left forefinger and thumb going down the handle, likewise with the knife.
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Look at the title

By: Carly

Carly — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:42:59 +0000

Fork in your left hand and upside down from what America uses it. "Americans use it like a shovel" as opposed to turning it upside down so that the hump on the fork faces up. And hold your knife, if cutting something with your right hand. This goes the opposite way if you are left handed.
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By: Scorpious

Scorpious — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:08:59 +0000

I would like you to try the Indian method. You hold the fork in your dominant hand and the knife in the other. It is the best way to eat.
However this method is also accepted in the US. The European way is quite tough. I would you like to try this new method. and post a reply.

Regards,
Scopious
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By: Belinda

Belinda — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:37:59 +0000

Knife in right hand, fork in left, is the European way.

Fork prongs face down. Before each mouthful, the food, rather than getting scooped up, gets mashed and mixed by the downturned fork against the knife in the right, then balanced on the downturned fork before inserting into mouth.

This applies even to food that lends itself to being scooped up - such as rice and peas.

End of knife is held in palm of hand - do not hold it like a pencil.

Cut up, mash and mix food together as you go. Do not do all the cutting beforehand.
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By: zero tolerance

zero tolerance — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:07:59 +0000

whaaaattttt? knife in your right hand? are u crazy? u hold knife in your right hand only. if u re left handed nobody cares about that - u hold knife in right hand too. fork always goes into left hand. u never change knife and fork in your hands like americans do, u never put knife down like americans do and yes, u re right, u always eat with your fork tongs facing down, even if u re eating rice. it might be very complicated. but only european way is the true way of eating.
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By: SwartBore

SwartBore — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:00:59 +0000

the european way looks retarded in the usa.
"when in rome"

Fit In.
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By: Judith

Judith — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:45:59 +0000

What you describe is European however, as long as you hold the utensils with your hands then no one in the US will care. In Europe one holds the fork in the left hand with tines down and facing the plate. In the US the fork is held in the right hand unless cutting something then it is held in the left and transferred back to the right to eat. The tines on the fork point up and toward the plate.
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By: just_me

just_me — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:06:59 +0000

Most people are trained early in European countries to hold the knife in their dominant hand and fork in the other. They use the knife as an actual tool, not just for cutting. As you know, it isn’t frequently done in America. Most Americans use their knife to cut with their dominant hand, then switch the fork into that hand to eat. Many Europeans regard that as poor manners, but it is the ‘American way’, so to speak. It is acceptable to use the European method in America. I try my best to follow the European method, which isn’t always easy, especially with foods that need to be scooped, like rice.
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