From: sp@osf.org (Simon Patience)
Subject: Re: Knives and forks
Organization: Open Software Foundation
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 09:41:59 GMT

In article <92350.145832HERSCH@auvm.american.edu>, <HERSCH@auvm.american.edu> writes:
> In article <glen.724433823@cs.wisc.edu>, glen@slate.cs.wisc.edu (Glen Ecklund)
> says:
> >
> >So how did the Europeans come to use the backs of their forks?  (Or is it
> >ethnocentric of me to think that the convex side is the back?   Are European
> >forks decorated on the convex side?  US forks are pretty on the concave side,
> >and the convex side often has the name of the manufacturer.)
> >When I eat peas or mashed potatoes, I use the fork in my right hand, like a
> >spoon.  But I've seen Europeans mash peas onto the backs of their forks with
> >a knife.  Now that strikes me as odd.

Some things to note. 

UK cutlery (in my experience) have the manufacturers name on the stem or
the back of the part in your hand. Both the convex and concave side at the
business end may be decorated but is not necessaarily so.

Try putting a fork into your mouth convex size up and then concave side 
up and you will find one of two things, when the concave side is up (US 
usage) either your elbows will stick out more or your wrist will hurt
if you try to keep them in. In British schools, as many kids are jammed
onto a table as possible (it is a small island remember) so the art of
keeping the elbows tucked in is developed at an early age and this all
helps.

> It strikes me as odd, too. But you go too far in imputing this behavior
> to "Europeans". It is my observation that the English do indeed wield
> their cutlery in this manner, but that continental Europeans do not,
> holding the fork concave-side upwards during mouthful preparation and
> plate-to-mouth transfer operations. 

Although I think you go to far the other way. I know of Europeans who do
follow the British manner. 

> I intend no insult to the English,
> or at least none beyond their manner of table-implement manipulation,
> but I find the way they eat bizarre.

The feeling is completely mutual. :-)

> Not only do they hold their
> forks upside down, not only do they mash peas on to the backsides
> of their forks with a knife, but I've observed many who will mash
> or spear a bit of every item on the plate for a single mouthful --
> perhaps a bite of beefsteak, some peas, some mashed potatoes, and
> a bit of salad.

Not everyone mashes peas onto a fork, some of us can manage without the
mashing. It takes years of practice though and the use of an otherwise
idle part of your brain.

As for the mixing of food on the *same fork*, how discraceful! Could you
explain just why wishing to taste a mixture of flavors in the same
mouthful is so outrageous? Funnily enough the foods on your plate are
sometimes designed to complement each others flavors so why only allow
them to mingle in your stomach when it is too late for your taste buds to
enjoy them?

> I don't know whether non-English inhabitants of the British Isles
> do the same thing; if they do, consider this taunt directed at
> them as well :-)

How about British people who don't inhabit the British Isles?

Simon.

-- 
  Simon Patience
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