FWIW, I believe it is bad manners in Spain to
(a) cut egg dishes with a knife, (b) not hide a hand under the table.
However, when I mentioned this to some Spaniards, most were unaware (the technical bods) but the secretary (from an older family) did know but had grown used to most people's poor manners.
I suspect various diplomatic corps have guide books for their staff. It would be useful to track this down.
Bill
PS And some people consider top posting to be bad manners as well :-)
Mi e' parso che Bill Davy abbia scritto:
Inteersting. Probably they do have something at that extent.
Exactly. WHACK! ;)
Is it true that in England one should cut food with the knife in the rigth hand and the fork in the left hand and then, after cutting it, exchange fork and knife bewteen his hands and eat with the fork in the rigth hand?
NEVER ! I still bear the mental scars of my english grandmother's table manner coaching, and what you describe would have been punished with a weeks on bread and water...
Things were a much cooler on the italian grandmother's side ;-)
Mike (writing from a Starbuck's in Tel Aviv)
] Vilco wrote: ] > Mi e' parso che Bill Davy abbia scritto: ] > ] > ] >>I suspect various diplomatic corps have guide books for ] >>their staff. It would be useful to track this down. ] >
It's certainly bad manners in France to cut salad. The knife is used to fold the leaves. Anything else suggest insufficient preparation on the part of the host.
] > ] > Inteersting. Probably they do have something at that extent. ] > ] > ] >>PS And some people consider top posting to be bad manners ] >>as well :-) ] > ] > ] > Exactly. WHACK! ] > ;)
Too right! :)
] > ] > Is it true that in England one should cut food with the knife in ] > the rigth hand and the fork in the left hand and then, after ] > cutting it, exchange fork and knife bewteen his hands and eat ] > with the fork in the rigth hand? ] ] NEVER ! I still bear the mental scars of my english grandmother's table ] manner coaching, and what you describe would have been punished with a ] weeks on bread and water... ]
Indeed, the fork must stay left, upside down, the peas carefully balanced on the back... ;)
] Things were a much cooler on the italian grandmother's side ;-) ] ] Mike (writing from a Starbuck's in Tel Aviv) ]
Ah, the shame. Hope it's warm anyway. And that you find the admission therapeutic... :) Surely there is decent coffee available in Tel Aviv?! If perhaps not with WiFi!
-E
Hi, Vilco -
I have no idea if that's right in England, but I eat that way myself. Being right handed I have trouble using my left for anything but holding down something I'm cutting.
Here's a further question: Is it OK to use the blade of the knife to backstop food one is trying to get onto the fork? (I often see slobs using their fingers for that and I _know_ that's not good manners.) It seems silly to me to have to chase food all over the plate with just a fork.
Tom S
Harumph!! Those of us with proper table manners, Tom, never have any problems securing the food with our fork (yes, even peas!) so that issue should never arise for someone with proper etiquette :p
Emily Post
from a school project
JT
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Nice people in England, it seems to me, quite close to proper Scandinavian manners too! Only difference spotted is that nobody here puts the fork in the right hand and the knife in the left, even when they are left-handed (I am). Eating desserts is more to one's own discretion - use fork, spoon or both - I'm a lefthanded spoonfeeder btw.
Our transatlantic friends may have difficulties - but hopefully they'll accept our strange manners when we come for a visit... :-) Anders
"I eat my peas with honey I've done it all my life It makes the peas taste funny But, it sticks them on my knife!!!"
At a guess, Ogden Nash.
"Phone for the fish-knives, Norman As Cook is a little unnerved; You kiddies have crumpled the serviettes And I must have things daintily served."
Of, course fish should not be eaten with a fish knife, which no proper person would admit to possessing. Two forks is the correct procedure, or a fork and a sippet of bread. :-)
As for porrage......
James
James Dempster (remove nospam to reply by email)
You know you've had a good night when you wake up and someone's outlining you in chalk.
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And on the other side of the Pacific we believe that cheese knives should not be used for eating cheese nor carving knives for eating meat. As for porridge, here in Oz we eat it out of a porringer but use a dessertspoon to eat it, rather than the spurtle, which is for stirring.
By the way what wine should one serve with porridge?
Cheers! Martin
Yes, but do you drink your wine out of a straw? :)
Jose
And what, pray, are serviettes?
Timothy Hartley
Scottish wine (malt) - like the play to be mentioned only only bliquely and better with kippers anyway
Timothy Hartley
Should have read: Scottish wine (malt) - like the play to be mentioned only obliquely and better with kippers anyway.
Tim Hartley
Château Oats-Brion, of course.
Ouch ouch ouch ouch! That was a gruel pun, Mike ;-)
Mark Lipton
So it is true then, as Timothy Hartley mentioned, the only wine would be a good "Scott's" whisky ;-)
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Napkins Anders
Making a meal of complete haute cuisine?
Cheers! Martin
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