Knife and fork

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Knife and fork

That's why you should always eat pastrami sandwiches and/or reubens, it makes silverware unnecessary.

I keep the knife in my left hand but still normally set it down on the plate between bites or cuts -- those prissy dining ettiquitte rules are hilarious to me though. That's why I go eat pho or something instead... you eat with both hands and slurp like a mandman and you're just one of the crowd... I like fancy restaurants too, but any place where I feel like I'm being judged for cutting things improperly isn't a place I want to be.

[SPTO]

Re: Knife and fork

I don't usually eat with knife and fork but when I do need to cut things and such it's usually knife in left, fork in right.

[Cyros]

Re: Knife and fork

Knife in right and fork in left hand to cut.

I'm right handed but I feel like my left hand is more nimble for some reason. I drive on handed and only use my left hand.

[AlexBrady]

Re: Knife and fork

Like Stumbleweed said, you don't really need a fork to eat a nice reuben or pastrami sandwich. If I were you I would try to put myself in situations where I just had to eat a reuben sandwich.

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: Knife and fork

This is bizarre...if you are right handed, and you are eating with just a fork, you use your right hand. If you need to cut something, like a steak, you put the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right, as your dominant hand is typically steadier and firmer and you don't want the atrophied left hand to slip up.

Easy way to visualize, if you are trying to slice a roast or a turkey, I guarantee ten times out of ten the thinner, more even slices will be done with the knife in the right hand.

Geez, it's not that hard of a habit to learn.

http://www.expertvillage.com/video/2807_table-etiquette-american-style-cutting.htm

Also, think of proper table settings, fork on the left, knife on the right...designed that way for a reason.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Knife and fork

I have a kick-*** left hand apparently, because switching the fork back to the right hand after cutting something seems incredibly stupid and a waste of time when my left hand does the deed just as well. If your left hand is a shriveled shell of an appendage due to its non-use, then yeah, go for it.

I'm probably more ambidextrous than most people (played baseball left-handed as a kid, do basically everything else right-handed), but that just seems funny and unnecessary to me. I can understand if that's your natural impulse, but being trained to do it that way is another instance of largely useless and impractical etiquette that serves no real purpose other than to allow you to fit within some fake social group. Next time I have to impress some douchebag at a country club, I'll be sure to switch hands though.

Also, that lady in the video is exactly what I think of when I think of an etiquette coach... She seems like the life of the party!

[youvalss]

Re: Knife and fork

Wow, that vid was cool, but I didn't think people take it that seriously. I just wondrerd what was the right hand (not the "right" hand..lol) to hold each...and I doubt that I can change my habits. I tried many times

That's probably a good guide for etiquette and manners...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ipUfFjh3uQ

[Sandman42]

Re: Knife and fork

I'm left-handed and I always have the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right hand.

[skitch]

Re: Knife and fork

I switch the fork to my left hand when I need to cut something, but otherwise I hold the fork in my right hand.

Bingo.

[auburntigersfan]

Re: Knife and fork

I'm left handed, normally I hold the fork in my left hand and the knife in my right. It works great for me.

[Scott]

Re: Knife and fork

I'm left handed, normally I hold the fork in my left hand and the knife in my right. It works great for me.

Same for me.

[Hassan Darkside]

Re: Knife and fork

I use my left hand to hold the fork as well but honestly, I just prefer to cut with the side of my fork if possible. I'm too lazy for a knife.

[ifiok25]

Re: Knife and fork

Same for me. It's only a big deal when eating in a formal setting. Like a high-class restaurant.

[Blzer]

Re: Knife and fork

I switch the fork to my left hand when I need to cut something, but otherwise I hold the fork in my right hand.

Same. I'd cut my hand off if I had a knife in my left.