[alligator]

My wife and I are having a fight. Please settle this for us.

Is it more formal to use the "American style" when using your knife and fork (i.e. both using the right hand, one at a time), or the "European style" where the fork is in the left hand, and the knife in the right? This is all assuming it is a right handed person.

What do you think?

[SVass]

Please define the word "formal"! There is no "correct" answer other than to copy the host at a party or to use whatever hand you feel comfortable using. sam

[loki74]

Hmm... I'm going with the "European" style. I've actually never seen anyone not use the fork to hold what is being cut in place. But that could prove that the "American" style is more formal, as I don't do a whole lot of fine dining...at all.

[sknapp351]

I must be a little confused. I read this as to mean the American style is to use your knife or fork, one at a time only using your right hand. I would think it informal to hold the meat steady with my bare left hand when cutting it with the knife in my right hand. I have always been partial to having the knife and fork on opposite sides of the plate.
Um... a different Sam

[sknapp351]

Darn. Loki beat me.
The other Sam

[air]

it doesnt matter. its all in whatever you prefer.

[KeriVit]

I use the "American" style, though I don't know another American who does, my friends think I'm odd.

[Randman]

Technically, the "American" style was the way the French did it. The "European" style was British.

[f1000]

Emily Post's Etiquette, 16th Edition:

The American custom of "zigzag" eating (changing the fork from left to right hand after cutting meat) is perfectly correct, but I feel that it is unnecessarily complicated. It does not have so pleasing an appearance as the simpler European method of leaving the fork in your left hand after you have cut your meat. You eat the meat from your fork while it is still in the left hand, prongs down, rather than turning the fork over and switching it to your right hand.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by f1000

You eat the meat from your fork while it is still in the left hand, prongs down, rather than turning the fork over and switching it to your right hand.

Indeed. Don't ever turn the fork prongs-up unless you want to show your lack of breeding.

[RAILhead]

Left hand fork, right hand knife, no swapping.

How much did you lose?

Maury

[loki74]

lol I actually usually do the opposite--fork in the right hand, knife in the left, never swap, prongs down. I guess I'm just weird.

[Cubeoid]

Screw both and eat India style, with your hand.

[jcadam]

First time eating in a German restaurant, I was served schnitzel with pommes frites. I picked up the pommes and started eating them with my hands. Got some stares, didn't know the weirdoes eat their fries with a fork.

[Cubeoid]

People staring at your were jalous.

[Scandalous Ion Cannon]

European way.

[tavilach]

Originally Posted by loki74

Hmm... I'm going with the "European" style. I've actually never seen anyone not use the fork to hold what is being cut in place. But that could prove that the "American" style is more formal, as I don't do a whole lot of fine dining...at all.

That's not the issue. Both styles start out with the fork holding what's being cut. The difference is with "European" style, after the cutting, the fork is left in its face-down position (prongs facing downward), and the food is brought right to the mouth (with a left-handed swipe motion). With the "American" style, after the cutting, the knife is placed down and the fork is picked up with the right hand (and at the same time, flipped over so that the prongs are facing upward). The food is then brought to the mouth in a swoop-like stroke. I definetely eat "American" style, and I can't tell you which one is more formal. I think it depends on where you are. In the US, you might look a little weird eating "European" style, and vice versa in Europe.

[Cubeoid]

Try screaming at the food. Some people are good enough to make the food disolve and somehow begin digesting.

[starman]

You're having a fight over this?

[tavilach]

Originally Posted by starman

You're having a fight over this?

I'm sure that it's more of an argument, rather than a full-out fight. Then again, sometimes the smallest issues than cause the worst fights. Can you say "Helen of Troy"? . In the context of a war, that was definetely a non-issue.

[moonmonkey]

Definitive answers can be found here you bunch of animals.

http://www.debretts.co.uk/publications/product13.html

[I was David B.]

Originally Posted by alligator

My wife and I are having a fight. Please settle this for us.

Is it more formal to use the "American style" when using your knife and fork (i.e. both using the right hand, one at a time), or the "European style" where the fork is in the left hand, and the knife in the right? This is all assuming it is a right handed person.

What do you think?

To Europeans it looks silly to see americans cutting their meat first and using the fork then with the right hand. In europe only people who have problems coordinating both hands do this.

I think the more complicated a cultural technique is the higher it is valued (Ever tried japanese sticks?).

[DeathToWindows]

I've done both, but having grown up in the US I find the American style more comfortable.

Formality in dining has go so thourghly to hell in the last few decades (at least here) that I fear that this is merely an academic point...

[Warung]

Originally Posted by I was David B.

(Ever tried japanese sticks?).

Yes, quite a few times. It's also funny to see people trying to be all "worldly" using chop sticks at a Thai restaurant.

I grew up in a mixed household and I can remember my parents having quite the discussions about "table manners".

It didn't only involve having your knife in the right and your fork in the left hand, but also where your left hand was placed when you were only using a spoon or a fork (Hand in your lap vs. hand on the table) etc.

I do it the European way (when using both knife and fork), but my favorite way to eat things is with a spoon or with my hands! (Chop sticks are great too)

[Randman]

Ahh, some mutton briyani and butter naan eaten with the hand (right, of course).

[I was David B.]

Originally Posted by Randman

Ahh, some mutton briyani and butter naan eaten with the hand (right, of course).

In some moslem countries right is the unclean hand (because they use it to wipe their ass and don't wash afterwards).

Thats why eating with a hand always means eating with the left hand ; (right is used to hold the scimitar under the table in case christians enter).

[Randman]

Actually, you have it backward. Right is for eating, left is for ...

[storer]

European.

[Synotic]

Ah, this is helpful... I always wondered what everyone was talking about when I was France for summer . I never really thought about it, but reading the descriptions, it seems I subconsciously do it the "American way." I'll have to try the European method; it seems simpler. Just to throw this out:

If you've finished with what you need your knife for, I'm assuming even the European method switches the fork over to the right hand? And, likewise, if you're eating something that requires exclusively a fork, you simply use your right hand? And, for sake of completeness, say that you have many different things on your plate (let's say steak and green beans): Do you, using the European method, only keep your fork in your left hand for the specific cut-and-stick-in-your-mouth technique? or do you also use your left hand to pick up some green beans—keeping in mind that you haven't finished your steak?

[I was David B.]

Originally Posted by Synotic

If you've finished with what you need your knife for, I'm assuming even the European method switches the fork over to the right hand?

No, you never switch the fork to the right hand and you never put down the knife until you have finished (it would make the tablecloth dirty ).

You use the knife not only to cut meat, but also to support the work of the fork. For example cut beans that are too long, fold salad leafs that are too large (hrm, should not happen in good restaurants). Or to push small amounts of rice on the fork.

Originally Posted by Synotic

And, likewise, if you're eating something that requires exclusively a fork, you simply use your right hand?

Yes, in this case you would use the right hand. But I don't know any dishes served in european style*** that require only a fork. (- wrong: spanish tapas)

***what is european style? Here is a collection of may countries each with its own style. The x would be very angry if you accidentially mix their way of eating with y or z style. (put for x, y, z whatever you like, for example french, british, german. Many other permutations will work too )

[bells0]

European here, as am a Brit. But deffo use a fork in right hand if eating, say, Pasta without a knife.

Never heard of 'American' style before, but guess if seen i would think that person had bad table manners.

Same as people who 'scoop' food up with their fork.

[turtle777]

None of you are eating with your feet ?



-t