Why is it that when people are eating on t.v. they always eat with their fork upside down?

Question

Is this how we are supposed to eat?

Answer 1

Here is a link that does help to explain the difference.

http://www.geocities.com/rationalargumentator/Dining_Etiquette.html

When the Europeans first came to what became the Thirteen English Colonies, and which later became the first Thirteen States of the United States, the fork was just being introduced, and the practice in England was still not well-defined.

The colonists took to using tthe fork right-side-up with their right hand, but when cutting food with a knife, would transfer the fork to the left hand to hold down the piece of food that was cut with knife in the right hand. Then, they would set the knife on the edge of the plate and transfer the fork to the right hand and eat what what cut.

This practice in the United States has continued until today, and is the common way Americans eat. The custom came from Europe.

Europe, in the meantime, gradually solidified the common usage to holding the fork upside down in the left hand, and cutting food with the knife in the right hand. Both fork and knife are used throughout without much need to set either down, except to choose another eating device, such as a salad fork.

But some Europeans today (I have seen this) will shovel some food onto a knife with the fork, and put the knife to their mouths. This is not a very common practice, however. I have seen it done in an attempt to eat peas.

A number of Americans are seen in movies and on TV using the European system. Americans who have not been exposed to this system sometimes feel it is an attempt to look proper and elegant. Some Americans, not exposed to the European style, would consider this a bit effete. On the other hand, some Europeans see Americans eating the traditional "American" (formerly "European", and specifically "English") way and think it is improper.

It just depends on your point-of-view. In some countries the spoon is held in the right hand, and the fork is upside down in the left hand and is used only as pushing device to push food onto the spoon. This is typical in Thailand and some other SE Asian countries. So, who is right? Cultures differ from one another. In India and much of the Middle East, food is eaten only with the right hand, and virtually no utensils are used, except a spoon for soups.

As long as a person eats politely, is not slurping (unless in China, where slurping tea loudly is not frowned upon, I understand) or spitting or wiping food off the face with the back of a sleeve, does nothing to bring untoward attention to himself or herself, and does nothing gross--and I would include males wearing hats while eating--then no harm. There are some cultures where belching after eating is considered a mark of praise for the cook. In the Western World, belching would be considered very rude. Again, it depends on the culture. The very ancient saying, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" applies here with styles of eating.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

I was going to ask which way is upside down, but I see it has been covered. I swap hands all the time. I am neither american or english. I also don't set the knives and forks around the table anymore as I have too many left handed friends. When I think about it - the fork looks like a shovel when you hold it tines up.

Answer 3

When eating from a fork with your left hand, you always place the cut food in your mouth with the tines pointing towards your mouth - obviously.

When the fork is held in the right hand, as when eating salads or some desserts, the tines always point upwards.

In Europe any awkwardness with cutlery is considered bad manners; this includes changing cutlery from hand to hand, pointing your knife upwards while talking, and using a dessert spoon when a fork would do.

Answer 4

I think Americans are the only people in the world who cut their food into pieces, lay the knife down and then use the fork on its own with the tangs facing upwards.

Who's to say what is correct, but it does look really strange to Europeans who are taught to eat with both knife and fork with the tangs facing down.

Answer 5

Eating with your fork downward is proper etiquette. If you are not finished with your food you place your fork with the prongs upward, letting the wait staff know you are not done but digesting, cause its not proper to "inhale" your food, on the other hand when you are done and cant consume any more that is when you place your fork prongs down. Hope that helps.

Answer 6

What do you recommend by using "the different way up"? in case you recommend with the tines pointing downward, it relatively is the appropriate thank you to hold a fork. in case you recommend the choice, it relatively is totally undemanding and that i do no longer evaluate it to be slovenly or low-type. some human beings shove food into their mouths and communicate mutually as chewing, and that's rude, yet i do no longer see many do it, and that i easily have not seen every physique on a food channel do it.

Answer 7

Yep. Good manners. I think most Europeans are taught to eat that way, but most Americans (especially right-handed ones) use their utensils incorrectly. Myself included.

Answer 8

Forks? I didn't see any forks... just people eating hot dogs fast, really fast.

Answer 9

Depends on where you are. Eating customs are different in different places.

Answer 10

No, and I noticed elbows on the table,
and many other bad eating habits.
They probably do many of them eat anyway.