Forget the utensils just stick with finger food. For a whole year after I became "single again" my daughter. who was 13 at the time, and I refused to eat anything that you could not eat with just your fingers. (Yes we saw it in a movie). We had a lot of fun creating appetizer meals.
What a cool thread! And I'm not the one in the line of fire for a change! x:-)
For the record, when I was in boot camp years and years ago we were taught dining etiquette and told that it is never, never, EVER appropriate to push food onto a fork with anything. My solution is to push the peas, corn, etc. up against a mound of potatoes or other appropriate backstop, thus avoiding the matter altogether.
Boot camp etiquitte does not count! Military establishes a culture of its own and is not applicable in all social groups. I was never permitted to say "Bring on the grub."
They taught etiquette using Emily Post's protocols as guidelines. It was the AF's intent to make sure its airmen and officers were able to at least appear to be civilized in public. And I doubt they do this anymore - I went through in 1975 and a lot's changed since then (especially my waistline).
So, Sam, etiquette is etiquette regardless of who's teaching it. x;-)
OK, this thread has digressed. Let's tabulate the results. I don't find anybody in favor of pushing food onto a fork using a chunk of bread. Have I missed someone? x:-)
How did I miss this one -- you'al are having too much fun! Of course you can eat your bread with a fork or spoon -- providing it is spoon bread or bread pudding. What's the problem?
Okay I can solve this and tally once and for all so we can move on:
"A significant difference between the American and the Continental styles of using a knife and fork is the American insistence that even the most awkward and contrary food (peas being the traditional example) must be captured by the unaided fork. In Europe it is permitted to use the knife or a small bit of bread to ease a stubborn item onto the fork."
Taken directly from the post by Crawfod in TN. So I imagine I can count his vote in my favor. Therefor with HRinNH, Gene, Shadow, and SMACE to one vote by Parabeagle, the final is six(6) to one(1) in favor of using a pusher.
Whew. I don't smoke but I think I need a cigarette.
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 03-22-05 AT 01:44PM (CST)[/font][br][br]Well, you're not in Continental Europe, you did not count my vote, Dasher's vote is obviously in my corner and you thoroughly misrepresent all of the others you mention. I wouldn't want you grading papers for my kids' classes.
Dasher in your corner! How do you get that?! There is no misrepresentation. The issue is whether or not it's proper to use a pusher. Those on 'my side' made reference to using an implement to clean their plates with a method other than using their thumbs. I also made the case that it IS proper to do so.
Oh, sorry that I forgot your vote. But now that National Guard chimed in, it's seven (7) to two (2).
Tell you what you do then. Start the balloting. Ask the question: Is it proper in a nice dining establishment, where others are present, for one to load his/her fork with the assistance of a chunk of bread? Yes or No. All jokes aside. Honest poll. 'You Go Girl' does not count as a vote either way. It's just an errant remark from the peanut gallery. Do the poll. If I lose, I send you a prize and a public acknowledgement of your having won the opinion poll.
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 03-22-05 AT 02:42PM (CST)[/font][br][br]The NH Chapter of the Peanut Gallery votes that it is proper to use either a roll or knife to assist food onto the fork if necessary. x:-)
However, let's clear the air before we clear the tables. It's not about 'loading a fork with the assistance of a chunk of bread.' The question is: "Is it proper to assist the remaining orts from one's plate with the assistance of a piece of bread?"
I vote yes. (But then again I was always told by mother about the starving children in Eastern Europe--although, as far as I know my mother never sent leftovers over there).
See what you started Sam! Hijack, in a business setting is it ok to slurp the last drop in the beverage glass with a straw??? I know the answer but just wanted to get the professional view if ya know what I mean.8-}
In a 'fine dining establishment' with others whether busines or personal it would not be proper etiquette to use any form of a "pusher". Now if you're at home or IHOP or Applebees do whatever you want; but if you are sitting across from me at The Mansion just leave that last morsel instead of trying to "womp it up" with your last crumb of bread please.
I think Judy is secretly my daughter using an alias because she likes that awful original green bean casserole! Therefore, don't pay any attention to her vote because her 'mama' votes yes to using bread to pursue those orts.
Let's get the votes rolling in. SMace would vote contrary to me if it meant he had to claim the sun was burgundy. I wonder how some of you people got jobs if you eat with two utensils at once or push your possum onto your fork with a pork rind. Judy, however, makes sense, while Safety totally evades the issue, as usual.
Not true at all. I only comment when I disagree. I'm from the school that you do not waste food. I think you can discretely use various items to help in that process, none of which is a thumb. Now if I'm hunched over my plate, smacking my lips manhandling a piece of bread and corn, that's a problem.
The discrete technique, applied with other appropriate manners, is not a problem for me.
th-up SMace however, I was brought up to not waste food so in my house setting a piece of bread works fine to "clean the plate" or, as a backstop for whatever needs help to sit on the fork. In a business setting I would never use anything to push food onto the fork or other utensil and, I would never use a straw in my drink, don’t need one in a cup of joe.
I believe the best approach would be to follow your dinner companion's style. If he/she pushes, you can push. Although, I'd draw the line at throwing food at the waiter just because your companion did.
Comments
For the record, when I was in boot camp years and years ago we were taught dining etiquette and told that it is never, never, EVER appropriate to push food onto a fork with anything. My solution is to push the peas, corn, etc. up against a mound of potatoes or other appropriate backstop, thus avoiding the matter altogether.
So, Sam, etiquette is etiquette regardless of who's teaching it. x;-)
Oh -- that's not even the question, huh.
"A significant difference between the American and the Continental styles of using a knife and fork is the American insistence that even the most awkward and contrary food (peas being the traditional example) must be captured by the unaided fork. In Europe it is permitted to use the knife or a small bit of bread to ease a stubborn item onto the fork."
Taken directly from the post by Crawfod in TN. So I imagine I can count his vote in my favor. Therefor with HRinNH, Gene, Shadow, and SMACE to one vote by Parabeagle, the final is six(6) to one(1) in favor of using a pusher.
Whew. I don't smoke but I think I need a cigarette.
Oh, sorry that I forgot your vote. But now that National Guard chimed in, it's seven (7) to two (2).
You may concede with grace. It's polite.
However, let's clear the air before we clear the tables. It's not about 'loading a fork with the assistance of a chunk of bread.' The question is: "Is it proper to assist the remaining orts from one's plate with the assistance of a piece of bread?"
My vote is 'yes.' (one to zip.)
The discrete technique, applied with other appropriate manners, is not a problem for me.
How's that Don, was that evasive?