Proper Use of the Fork

Posted by Kanga.

I have a vague childhood memory of someone calling Americans uncouth because of the way we use utensils. We tend to use one hand and a fork, primarily. Spoons are used only for liquids and knives only for spreading butter or cutting meat. In this person’s perception, the “continental style” of using a knife and fork simultaneously was much more civilized.

Now that I’ve had a chance to watch this continental style in action, I am amazed by the illogic of it. People hold their fork upside down and use the knife to push food onto the back of the fork. They put a great deal of effort into this process. The fork is a multitasking tool. It can spear food, scoop food, cut food and rake food. Yet, I don’t see any of these uses, only the pressing of food onto the back of it, the most inefficient use conceivable. There is more sense in using one’s fingers or chopsticks.

So much for the superiority of the continental style.

Advertisements