Is this true?

[Frankeh]

Someone just told me that in the USA people tend to cut up their food first, then put their knife down and transfer their fork to their right hand and eat just using their fork.

Can anyone confirm this?

[ZesPak]

[Justayellowbadge]

I have seen this. It is more common there than here, but by no means universal.

[anonymous-user]

I eat with the fork in my right hand anyway.
Can't explain why, just do it. Of course I use a knife though.

I also tie my shoe laces like a left handed person, although I'm right handed.

[Jasandjules]

Frankeh said:

Someone just told me that in the USA people tend to cut up their food first, then put their knife down and transfer their fork to their right hand and eat just using their fork.

Can anyone confirm this?

Can't say as I really noticed this whilst I was there, and judging by the size of most of them they don't have the patience to sit and cut up all their food neatly before consuming, the contents of the plate are simply inhaled...

[soad]

So what's the left hand free for then?
TV remote control? Or beer?

[Cotty]

I have heard about it but no first hand knowlage

[ChiChoAndy]

Not all, but many yanks do, in my experience living there, and working at sea with them. Yes we did take the piss.

[Rude-boy]

It is far more common in the states than it is in Europe.

The Americans tend to mainly use a fork to eat and only resort to using a knife to cut the things the side of a fork will not.

There are a number of tales of escaped American service men in WWII being caught out because of their 'unusual' to European eyes, eating habits.

[V8mate]

Rude-boy said:

It is far more common in the states than it is in Europe.

The Americans tend to mainly use a fork to eat and only resort to using a knife to cut the things the side of a fork will not.

There are a number of tales of escaped American service men in WWII being caught out because of their 'unusual' to European eyes, eating habits.

British, maybe, but not European. The Germans use their cutlery similarly.

[Frankeh]

Rude-boy said:

The Americans tend to mainly use a fork to eat and only resort to using a knife to cut the things the side of a fork will not.

But personally I use the knife for a lot more than cutting. It helps get less solid foods onto the fork and generally acts as something to push against.

Otherwise you can just be chasing your food around the plate aimlessly.

This shouldn't be blowing my mind as much as it is.. Although one of my friends uses his knife and fork by grasping them both with clenched fists with the business end sticking out the bottom.

Much mockery happens when we see him eat.

[Justayellowbadge]

Rude-boy said:

There are a number of tales of escaped American service men in WWII being caught out because of their 'unusual' to European eyes, eating habits.

Whereas it was politeness that doomed us.

A cheery 'Good luck' would undo us every time.

[ChiChoAndy]

Justayellowbadge said:

Whereas it was politeness that doomed us.

A cheery 'Good luck' would undo us every time.

[Frankeh]

They just used to check our top lips for rigidity.

[Parsnip]

Jasandjules said:

Can't say as I really noticed this whilst I was there, and judging by the size of most of them they don't have the patience to sit and cut up all their food neatly before consuming, the contents of the plate are simply inhaled...

Every time I have been to the states (and I'm including the south here), I haven't thought they were that fat on the whole - even the huge people looked a bit healthier than the UK fatties, who have that kind of greasy greyness about them - would definatley say that the UK is worse for blimps than the states.

They do have some awesome food over there though - Bikini's in Austin - Heart Attack burger - massive burger, bacon, onion rings and 2 types of cheese - yum!

Edited by Parsnip on Tuesday 12th July 14:45

[Plotloss]

Yes, it's true. None of them can hold a knife and fork properly.

Cutlery remains an enigma to them.

[drivin_me_nuts]

In the 'Big Red 1' (a WW2 movie, not some kind of porn film chaps) the German infiltrator was spotted by the Belgian bint cooking food for the soldiers because he held his knife and fork properly. The Yanks were eating as described by the OP and that's how the infiltrator got spotted and killed to death....

It would appear to have been around a while then, this eating one handed.

[Stu R]

Justayellowbadge said:

I have seen this. It is more common there than here, but by no means universal.

This.

My Mrs, who is American, also thinks I'm odd for using the back of the fork. Trying to educate her that it's not a trowel fell on deaf ears of course. Silly colonials.

[Frankeh]

Stu R said:

Justayellowbadge said:

I have seen this. It is more common there than here, but by no means universal.

This.

My Mrs, who is American, also thinks I'm odd for using the back of the fork. Trying to educate her that it's not a trowel fell on deaf ears of course. Silly colonials.

I'm very much open to the knife being either way around depending on the food.
Eat peas of the back of a fork and get back to me.

[Doobs]

Frankeh said:

I'm very much open to the knife being either way around depending on the food.
Eat peas of the back of a fork and get back to me.

Mrs. Beeton states that when eating peas you are allowed to turn your fork the wrong way up. Pretty sure it is the only time it is acceptable.