I've never bothered to look up the dining rules of etiquette, but I'm sure it says when you should use a fork and when you should use a spoon.

As I began to learn my "manners", I tried to eat everything I could with a fork. Spoons were for soup, ice cream, and little kids. If you had the skill, you used a fork for everything that wasn't a liquid.

But now I find myself going back to my childhood. I am using a spoon much more often. Without thinking about it, I found myself eating peas and corn with a spoon - so much easier.

It doesn't change the taste or sensation of the food, the way chopsticks can do. But it falls into that category of how Americans cut their meat with the knife in the right hand, fork in the left, then put the knife down and eat the meat with the fork in the right hand. In Europe, they don't waste all that time and energy and just eat the meat with the fork in their left hand.

You can see it's been a slow evening - but I wonder if others obsess about this kind of trivia the way I do. It's a lot less aggravating than reading all that stuff on OMNI PR.

Oh yes, our beloved Giants just blew a 4 run lead in the 9th inning and got swept by Washington - some immediate diversion is essential!

I think the Thai style is awesome, especially where rice is concerned. Large spoon in right hand, fork in left hand used to help load spoon. Instantly comfortable for me the first time I tried it.

Thai style, or you meant Filipino style? Filipinos eat with spoon and fork --- looks odd but very efficient.

You just need to pick up one of these...


http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...ndo-north.html

I do everything the opposite way, and they scold me for not following custom!
Even then, eating with fork and knife or spoons is something we don't do... all hands, all the time! (India)

I've seen and done it in the Philippines too, but much more often in Thailand.

I am Canadian any father has always pushed us to eat with the fork in the left hand and the knife in the rights. Immigrated to the US and have always wondered why Americans do the fork knife switcheroo. I do tend to use a spoon for most deserts though.

Not all of us do the switcheroo. Of course, my stepfather was Canadian so that may have something to do with it.

Spork! Best of both worlds! And classy all the way too!

I don't think you have to be that concerned with how you eat it should be a matter of preference unless you're dining with the queen.

+1 AGREED !

Watching people eat 'Spaghetti' is very interesting.
I've seen the following methods:
1. Cut Spaghetti with knife (American style aka fork knife switcheroo)
This method seems common for parents trying to 'feed' children
2. Cut Spaghetti with fork, they move a portioin to the side of plate and cut it
3. Twirl Spaghetti on fork with out the help of bread/roll or spoon
4. Twirl Spaghetti on fork with the help of bread/roll or spoon

I was taught #4 with a spoon.

I like to use a spoon whenever I can. My daughter is a fork fanatic. She would eat soup with a fork if she could.

I tend to be a little different than the crowd. Pepper over salt. Mustard over ketchup.

If I'm at home its all chopsticks all the time if the food is chopstickable. Fork and spoon probably get used evenly when I do use them but a knife is a rarity outside of the kitchen...that's what the side of the fork / spoon is for.

In public I tend to do the fork thing most of the time, although I've been reminded that "gentlemen don't cut any of their food with their fork" and I often do.

At home I tend to use a spoon more often than not. I think that's the laziness and "ahh... I'm finally back home and can do what I want" thing.

I use a mix. When I am cutting things and eating meat, I use the Euro method. It is so much easier and looks way less like a two-year-old eating than the American method. When I am eating a salad, or casserole, I tend to eat with my fork in my right hand with the tines up.