A silly question about Americans....

[Barbara]

I LOVE Indian food and sometimes I even cook- although I am just an apprentice in that art and will never manage. I love the different grades of hotness, textures, colours and taste.

In India people eat with bread and hands and they say (I have read it) that the food tastes different if you eat it that way, that the way of eating it with knives and forks is kind of sterile. I can believe that. And who ever has seen how perfectly neat Indians can eat with their right hand would never think it isn't "civilized".

Of course if I did it- with a big mess I'd expect- it would not be "civilized" at all

[smokey the elder]

I eat "American style" for the most part. My parents, and especially my paternal grandma, were quite strict about table manners, and it has stuck pretty well. One thing I do enjoy doing is when I eat at an ethnic restaurant, I do my best to eat in that accustomed way. I ate at a Moroccan restaurant, where the suggested method was use the flatbread to pick up the food, but only with the right hand. I "slipped up" a few times but the staff admired me for trying. I think it's a great learning experience. I'll never forget learning how to use chopsticks! Boy was I ever a spazz! But that's how you learn.

This is a really cool thread.

[BitsyNaceyDog]

Justin had to learn table manners when we got married. His mom makes supper and his family all comes to get what they want off the stove and takes it and eats anywhere in the house. My family was totally different. We set the table with place-mates, plates, glasses, napkins, spoons, forks, and knives. Food was taken out of the pot and put into a bowl on the table. We always said a blessing before we ate anything. Napkins always go in your lap. Forks have to be held properly. No elbows on the table. We had to ask permission to leave the table. Hats are a big no-no too. Justin wears a hat and has to take it off before he sits down at my patents table. His parents on the other hand couldn't care less, anything goes.


A couple years ago Justin's parents had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner, they invited their english friends who had lived here for a couple years, but never had a thanksgiving dinner. The english family is very very proper. Justin's redneck grandparents from West Virginia also came for Thanksgiving that year. Wow was that a Thanksgiving to remember. Justin's grandma sat down next to the english woman. She (the grandma) took a bite of something and said "mmm, this is good", she turns to the english woman and said "did you get any of this?" She hadn't, so Justin's grandma put some more on her fork and shoved it into the english woman's mouth. We all sat there speechless (and embarrassed).

[wolf_Q]

In the grand scheme of things I just can't bring myself to care whether I'm using the correct fork for a salad or which hand I'm supposed to hold the knife with...

Sorry, I guess I should care otherwise I'm considered "uncivilized" but I don't. Yes I use silverware, but only the essentials. I find it incredibly pointless to set out all the silverware if all you need to use is a fork. I'm sure I've put my elbows up on the table, I don't really notice. I don't talk with my mouth full (or at least I try not to) or like eat food off of somebody else's plate or anything.

Just don't invite me to dinner any of you, I'd rather not have people watching the way I use my silverware.