Tines down vs tines up
Discussion
Reading about how European and American people use their cutlery differently, I came across a few 'etiquette' websites that said that eating with the fork tines pointing up, 'like a shovel' (or, one could say, like a fork) is not only impolite or incorrect, but is actually the mark of a savage and little better than the way a three year old might eat.
It gave a guide as to how to eat with the tines pointed down, even going so far to suggest that if food is difficult to keep on the back of the fork in this orientation then mashed potato should be used as a kind of congealant, as if we're still living in an era where mashed potato forms the bulk of most meals.
Is this right, would people here be mortally offended by someone eating food from an upturned fork, or do people generally notgive a s
t notice these days?
It gave a guide as to how to eat with the tines pointed down, even going so far to suggest that if food is difficult to keep on the back of the fork in this orientation then mashed potato should be used as a kind of congealant, as if we're still living in an era where mashed potato forms the bulk of most meals.
Is this right, would people here be mortally offended by someone eating food from an upturned fork, or do people generally not
tjoshleb said:
My sister in law eats 90% of her meals with just a fork in her right hand.
She's a veggie and most of her food she finds she can just cut up using the fork.
She's a veggie and most of her food she finds she can just cut up using the fork.
johnnywgk said:
Don't give a shi*
down = Steak
Up = baked beans
Simples
I'll be honest, these first two replies have me fearing for the last remaining shred of decorum we have in this country.down = Steak
Up = baked beans
Simples
ScotHill said:
Reading about how European and American people use their cutlery differently, I came across a few 'etiquette' websites that said that eating with the fork tines pointing up, 'like a shovel' (or, one could say, like a fork) is not only impolite or incorrect, but is actually the mark of a savage and little better than the way a three year old might eat.
It gave a guide as to how to eat with the tines pointed down, even going so far to suggest that if food is difficult to keep on the back of the fork in this orientation then mashed potato should be used as a kind of congealant, as if we're still living in an era where mashed potato forms the bulk of most meals.
Is this right, would people here be mortally offended by someone eating food from an upturned fork, or do people generally notgive a st notice these days?
We eat out quite a lot, or did do until this recent unpleasantness came about, and I can say, my hand to God, I’ve never studied how other people use their cutlery.It gave a guide as to how to eat with the tines pointed down, even going so far to suggest that if food is difficult to keep on the back of the fork in this orientation then mashed potato should be used as a kind of congealant, as if we're still living in an era where mashed potato forms the bulk of most meals.
Is this right, would people here be mortally offended by someone eating food from an upturned fork, or do people generally not
tFor years I ate in what was probably considered as the “normal” style, knife in right hand, cutting anything that needed cutting, while holding it down with my fork, then spearing the food with said fork, and transferring it to my mouth.
Around my late thirties, early forties, I switched to cutting meat or pie whatever, into bite sizes, putting my knife down and using the tines of my fork to dig into a steak for example, and chew that slowly, then go for another chunk.
At home now I mostly use a ”knork”, this cuts through most things, other than steaks or slices of meat, and has tines so that I can stab or shovel if I’d prefer.
The tines of my fork are always down when I use a fork, but admittedly there are times when I pick up a forkful of peas or beans, with the tines up, hardly the end of the world.
Different table manners or customs in different countries are quite interesting to be fair.
A friend of my wife's started work as a waitress when she first came to the UK, and got shouted at by the manager on her first night as she started clearing plates from people as soon as they had finished. She is Polish.
In Poland it is considered bad manners and very poor service to leave diners sat looking at their dirty plates, and plates should be removed as each person finishes.
Clearly over here it is considered bad manners to start removing plates before everyone has finished, as the other diners can feel rushed.
Both make sense really.
A friend of my wife's started work as a waitress when she first came to the UK, and got shouted at by the manager on her first night as she started clearing plates from people as soon as they had finished. She is Polish.
In Poland it is considered bad manners and very poor service to leave diners sat looking at their dirty plates, and plates should be removed as each person finishes.
Clearly over here it is considered bad manners to start removing plates before everyone has finished, as the other diners can feel rushed.
Both make sense really.
ScotHill said:
Is this right, would people here be mortally offended by someone eating food from an upturned fork, or do people generally not give a st notice these days?
Mortally offended is a bit strong but I would notice if someone used an upturned fork at my table in somewhere like a restaurant.tA family bbq in the garden it wouldn’t seem out of place.
Scrump said:
ScotHill said:
Is this right, would people here be mortally offended by someone eating food from an upturned fork, or do people generally not give a st notice these days?
Mortally offended is a bit strong but I would notice if someone used an upturned fork at my table in somewhere like a restaurant.tA family bbq in the garden it wouldn’t seem out of place.
I too would notice someone 'shovelling' with their fork in a restaurant or a more formal function of some kind, but I wouldn't really care if I saw someone doing it while eating in an informal/casual setting.
Scrump said:
Mortally offended is a bit strong but I would notice if someone used an upturned fork at my table in somewhere like a restaurant.
Would you think they were about to stab you, or metaphorically giving you the bird or something like that? I'm trying to get my head around what the problem is, apart from 'it's just not the done thing'.I do eat some things tines down, things that can be cut and stabbed, but anything like risotto tines down makes no sense at all.
Lord Marylebone said:
I think this is a fair assessment.
I too would notice someone 'shovelling' with their fork in a restaurant or a more formal function of some kind, but I wouldn't really care if I saw someone doing it while eating in an informal/casual setting.
So is it the potential for/existence of 'shovelling' that is the problem, rather than the placement of the fork itself, i.e. it's a behavioural thing?I too would notice someone 'shovelling' with their fork in a restaurant or a more formal function of some kind, but I wouldn't really care if I saw someone doing it while eating in an informal/casual setting.
ScotHill said:
Lord Marylebone said:
I think this is a fair assessment.
I too would notice someone 'shovelling' with their fork in a restaurant or a more formal function of some kind, but I wouldn't really care if I saw someone doing it while eating in an informal/casual setting.
So is it the potential for/existence of 'shovelling' that is the problem, rather than the placement of the fork itself, i.e. it's a behavioural thing?I too would notice someone 'shovelling' with their fork in a restaurant or a more formal function of some kind, but I wouldn't really care if I saw someone doing it while eating in an informal/casual setting.
I know I'm old fashioned (despite not being old or even middle aged), but I just think that using cutlery correctly and having good table manners is one of those things that doesn't cost anything and should be adhered to in restaurants and other similar settings.
So this is interesting:
"The fork evolved into the shape it is today from a perfectly straight design. The straight design was problematic because the tines pointed into the top of the mouth unless the fork was held perfectly horizontal and pushed directly into the mouth, which is awkward. With slightly curved tines and food placed on the convex side of the fork, the utensil didn’t need to be lifted so high to reach the mouth, and the tines don’t point into the roof of your mouth when you bite the food off your fork. Instead the tines pointed toward the back of your mouth without the need to hold your fork horizontal in front of your face."
So I can understand that not having to hold your hand/arm as high to eat with tines facing down can make sense, but I would also counter with 'spoon' and then go back to the base argument of 'who gives a fk'. 
"The fork evolved into the shape it is today from a perfectly straight design. The straight design was problematic because the tines pointed into the top of the mouth unless the fork was held perfectly horizontal and pushed directly into the mouth, which is awkward. With slightly curved tines and food placed on the convex side of the fork, the utensil didn’t need to be lifted so high to reach the mouth, and the tines don’t point into the roof of your mouth when you bite the food off your fork. Instead the tines pointed toward the back of your mouth without the need to hold your fork horizontal in front of your face."
So I can understand that not having to hold your hand/arm as high to eat with tines facing down can make sense, but I would also counter with 'spoon' and then go back to the base argument of 'who gives a f
k'. 
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