Originally Posted by Englishtart (Post 8550174)

Most definitely, where's your dessert fork:p

Originally Posted by Bill_S (Post 8550166)

Maybe if we keep still and ignore it, it will go away and bother the Canadians instead.

Originally Posted by meauxna (Post 8550182)

It's because we have proper sized refrigerators to keep our leftovers in. Why cook when you don't have to?!

We adore you too. :wub:

Originally Posted by Rete (Post 8550185)

I admit my escorgot holder and the seafood forks are in the junk drawer at home, along with the corn on the cob holders and I do own individual salt/pepper shakers which reside in my china cabinet but that I only have 2 butter knives ;-(

Originally Posted by Leslie66 (Post 8550187)

Does the Barbie have this problem? :confused:

Originally Posted by Rete (Post 8550188)

Don't know about adoring a stranger .

Originally Posted by Rete (Post 8550185)

And the seafood fork, or do you Brits call it the shellfish fork. And wherever is the escargot holder?

And I suppose you set your table with individual salt/pepper shakers, individual butter knives to go with the bread plates.

I admit my escorgot holder and the seafood forks are in the junk drawer at home, along with the corn on the cob holders and I do own individual salt/pepper shakers which reside in my china cabinet but that I only have 2 butter knives ;-(

Originally Posted by Englishtart (Post 8550191)

Ok, now you are just extracting the urine! WTF is an escargot holder? :rofl::rofl:

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl (Post 8550200)

I've used a fish knife but I've never even heard of a fish fork. A salad/dessert fork usually accompanies a fish knife.

:eek: I can't believe I'm getting dragged into this old subject again. :eek:

Originally Posted by Leslie66 (Post 8550176)

Oh really? Well, I will be kicking your ass on 10/10/10.


HA!

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl (Post 8550200)

I've used a fish knife but I've never even heard of a fish fork. A salad/dessert fork usually accompanies a fish knife.

:eek: I can't believe I'm getting dragged into this old subject again. :eek:

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl (Post 8550200)

I've used a fish knife but I've never even heard of a fish fork. A salad/dessert fork usually accompanies a fish knife.

:eek: I can't believe I'm getting dragged into this old subject again. :eek:

Originally Posted by Englishtart (Post 8550199)

That's cause you is a cold kipper!:rofl::p

Originally Posted by Rete (Post 8550215)

Here you go:

PS they also come with only two prongs which are the type I own.

Originally Posted by Trixie_b (Post 8550216)

.http://www.bondhiltonjewellers.co.uk...R/PF-05-SS.jpg

Originally Posted by Leslie66 (Post 8550214)

Fish for dessert just sounds gross. Fish pie?

Originally Posted by Rete (Post 8550217)

You know what they say :)

Cold Kippers means a warm morning romp.

Originally Posted by Trixie_b (Post 8550099)

Errmmm While I accept that everyone has their own style I love eating out and dining out. I think there should be some ceremony over food, even when your at home.
I love food and someone has gone to a great deal of effort to present it to me.

How you hold your knife and fork, even how you lay out your cutlery is slightly different to in other countries, most notably the US, I disagree that its personal preference, I suspect it's parental preference.

I have a friend who stabs her food to her plate to cut it. It's like a toddler eating badly, but that's OK in this country. My husband, does not stab the food like that is also horrified, and has been practicing squishing peas on to his fork like I do...

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl (Post 8550234)

I've never seen a fork like that used with a fish knife.



But you said earlier a fish fork has less prongs than a normal fork.:confused:

Originally Posted by Trixie_b (Post 8550333)

I thought it did have less tines, but I could have been wrong (Shhhh don't tell my husband that I said that EVER!)

Originally Posted by Leslie66 (Post 8550127)

Oh joy. Another knife & fork thread.


Threads like this make me want to cut myself. Can somebody please advise as to the proper utensil to use for this?

Originally Posted by Englishtart (Post 8550132)

A sharp fork:D

Originally Posted by zargof (Post 8550170)

You've got to remember this is a country that can't even write the bloody date correctly. Why would you expect them to understand the subtleties and complexities of correct knife and fork usage?

Originally Posted by Desdemona (Post 8550301)

I think so too. My Mum was meticulous about table manners, in the same vein my grandmother would be quite shocked to see us girls sitting with our legs cocked up and knickers showing.

Originally Posted by RoadWarriorFromLP (Post 8549906)

....
The standard for table manners in the US is certainly less stringent that you'll find in Europe. You can decide for yourself whether that's better, worse, or just different, but whatever it is, it is less formalized.

Originally Posted by sunflwrgrl13 (Post 8550061)

OMG, this just tells me that too many people put too much formality into eating. I mean really? Somewhere people actually measure the exact placement they leave their silverware on their plate? :blink: That just seems way OTT to me. I guess I'm just not a formal person, and feel that too many people in this world take things way too seriously. Just leave your cutlery on the plate when you're done - what's so complicated about that?

Besides, I doubt many servers here would even know the 'universal signal' you all are speaking of.

Originally Posted by N1cky (Post 8550077)

Makes eating spag bol a bit of a chore

What bugs me most is no-one here understands the word 'cutlery', they all say 'silverware'. Even the take-out places that give you plastic, call it bloody 'silverware':curse:

Originally Posted by Rete (Post 8550206)

Here you go:

PS I have the dishes as well.

Originally Posted by ironporer (Post 8550342)

So it's the damn Grandmas that have cocked up the upskirt panty shots?;)

Originally Posted by N1cky (Post 8550077)

What bugs me most is no-one here understands the word 'cutlery', they all say 'silverware'. Even the take-out places that give you plastic, call it bloody 'silverware':curse:

Originally Posted by Desdemona (Post 8550466)

:rofl: Also referred to as "utensils" -- what's with that :huh: I'd reserve that for pots and pans, basically :unsure:

Originally Posted by RoadWarriorFromLP (Post 8549906)

In addition to working as a server in a nice restaurant back during my college days (during the Civil War), I also have occasionally had meals with Americans here in America.

And no, the cutlery "signal" is not common here at all. When I was doing the job, I was forever having to ask customers if they were finished because I couldn't tell, given that the silverware was all over the place and that most customers didn't eat everything that was served to them.

The standard for table manners in the US is certainly less stringent that you'll find in Europe. You can decide for yourself whether that's better, worse, or just different, but whatever it is, it is less formalized.

Originally Posted by Octang Frye (Post 8550490)

That's because you're uncouth, my dear.

Originally Posted by Octang Frye (Post 8550548)

Chopsticks!

This thread is like herpes. It just keeps on giving.

Originally Posted by Rete (Post 8550565)

Chopsticks! Where do you put them when you are between courses? Do you insist on a clean pair before you start on the main course?

What if you have an itch on your back and use it to scratch the itch? Do you wipe in on a napkin and reuse it or knock to the floor and demand a new one?

Do you use it to make a point during your dinner conversation and splatter ginger sauce over your companions face?

Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 8550567)

You get little porcelain things to rest them on...aaargh

Originally Posted by N1cky (Post 8550585)

Maybe we could move the topic onto tipping etiquette now:D

Originally Posted by Rete (Post 8550565)

Chopsticks! Where do you put them when you are between courses

Originally Posted by Rete (Post 8549496)

Do you hold you fork with the prongs down, speak your food and then place it in your mouth? And when you are mixing your food, i.e. potatoes and peas, do you then hold your fork with the prongs up and shovel the mixture in the "bowl" of the fork and holding it awkwardly in your left hand shovel it into your mouth?

I use the European method of knife in right hand and fork in left and never letting either out of my hands when eating. Was amazed and a bit horrified when I watched an Irish doing the second method and only eating with the prongs up. Was waiting for him to poke an eye out with the bloody fork. Wonder if he carries eye patches with him for accidents.

Originally Posted by Rete (Post 8550565)

Chopsticks! Where do you put them when you are between courses?

Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 8550500)

Make it stop.