When is it proper to use a fork and knife to eat?

Question

a friend uses a fork in his dominate hand and a knife in his non-donimnate hand to poke, prod, push, stir, scoot, shove, & to stack food on the back of his fork. he uses a napkin but also licks his fingers. also, both elbows are on the table at all times, except when he lifts his glass. he lived in europe and uk for years and says his manners are perfectly genteel for the area...very upper class.... really?

Answer 1

I think from personal experience Americans tend to be a bit more puritanical when it comes to manners and etiquette. Generally speaking here in the UK the fork remains in the left hand and the knife in the right, with food being pushed/stacked on to the back of the fork being the preferred way of eating. Obviously if you were left handed it would be the reverse. The napkin goes in your lap before any food or drink comes to the table and stays there until you get up again. As for l*****g fingers and elbows on the table it really depends on the level of formality you are going for, plenty of Italians and French do this when in the company of friends but wouldn't at a formal function and the same goes here. Really table manners should equate to how well you know people and whether your behaviour would be likely to cause offense.

Answer 2

Actually, he is using his knife and fork in the proper way. l*****g his fingers is not good and elbows should not be on the table but he is right when he says that Europeans use their knife and fork this way and it is proper. My Grandmother came from Wales and she ate this way and insisted I eat this way too which I have always done. I think using your knife to push food onto your fork is a lot better than using you thumb which I have a very wealthy friend that uses her thumb to push food onto her fork. She is wealthy and in her later 50's. Just goes to show you that just because you have money doesn't mean you have class.

Answer 3

His manners could use a bit of brushing up. He is most likely mistaken that that is seen as polite. However, it doesn't seem too bad, maybe remind him once about his ettiquette and then after that don't say anything.

Answer 4

always!

Answer 5

That's not really classy. A knife isn't to be used as a shovel. haha

This might help:

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Menu/Dini...

Answer 6

Upper class from which slum?

I always have my doubts when someone has to start "explaining" their behavior, and excusing it.

When is it proper to use a fork and knife to eat?  Whenever there is FOOD in front of you, along with a knife and fork provided to eat with it.  Some foods ARE "finger foods" and as such, it is perfectly allowable to use fingers AND l**k them... in more "informal" settings like picnics and bbqs.  Otherwise, utensils and napkins are proper.

Have a polite day.