eating w/a fork and spoon... weird?

[Keltron]

So here's how I would normally use those utensils... The fork is in my left hand, the spoon is in my right. I use the fork to push food onto the spoon. If I need to cut meat or anything, I'll put the knife in my right hand and cut it while using the fork in my left to hold it down.

I've always eaten this way just by watching those around me. The fact that most other westerners don't do this didn't even occur to me until I was a teenager. It's so little of a big deal that nobody noticed me doing it differently from them nor did I notice that they did it differently than me.

Well it wasn't a big deal until last night. A lady friend of mine needed a date to some family banquet. I guess some of her family members are kinda snotty so she chose me instead of one of her other boy toys because she thought I could hold a conversation w/them better and convey an overall "higher class" demeanor/persona. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. :D

Anyway, we're all eating [me in my normal way w/the fork and spoon] and she sends me a text message saying, "please stop eating that way!" I didn't know what she meant @ first so I gave her this "what the f are you taking about?" look. She kinda gestured w/her utensils and looked at mine.

As soon as I realized this, I decided enough was enough. It was time for primal Keltron to come out. I asked her if she had any hand sanitizer in her purse. She did and as soon as it dried off, put my utensils down and started eating w/my hands. :D Honestly, it was MUCH easier too.

Anyway, she almost had a sh*t fit! She started panicking and tried to somehow make up for it by bringing up my dad and his work for the UN. "Uncle Ryan, did you know that khalid's dad used to work for the UN?"

"Oh really? What did he do?" he asked me.

"He was the bathroom attendant." I said w/a serious face and then a smile. Everyone chuckled and knew I was just joking.

Needless to say, she was very upset w/me :D She was the one driving and she was so furious that she left w/o me @ the end of the night. As I was walking toward the train station her brother saw me as he was passing by and picked me up. We started talking about how hilarious the whole thing was and he commended me for not giving a damn about impressing the superficial members of his family [only a few of them were. Most were very "down to earth" despite their income level]

He asked how the whole thing started. When I told him about my method of utensil usage he did find it a bit unheard of but said that he didn't even notice it @ the dinner table and that even if he did, he wouldn't of thought anything strange about it.

So.... is it really that strange? I once read a news story where a principal saw a kid from the Philippines eating that way in the cafeteria and asked him to switch.

I don't know man.. I'm all about functionality. There are situations where a knife and fork work best, there are situations where a spoon and knife work best, and there are situations where my hands work best [and I'm not taking about just finger foods!] If using a certain method is less functional but looks more civilized, it seems kind of dumb to me.

[cozener]

While your spoon usage is not exactly Emily Post I wouldn't go so far as to call it strange. Methinks this chick cares a bit too much about what other people think.

[Keltron]

While your spoon usage is not exactly Emily Post I wouldn't go so far as to call it strange. Methinks this chick cares a bit too much about what other people think.

Yep, which is why we're not exclusive!

[Ctrainer]

So here's how I would normally use those utensils... The fork is in my left hand, the spoon is in my right. I use the fork to push food onto the spoon. If I need to cut meat or anything, I'll put the knife in my right hand and cut it while using the fork in my left to hold it down.

I've always eaten this way just by watching those around me. The fact that most other westerners don't do this didn't even occur to me until I was a teenager. It's so little of a big deal that nobody noticed me doing it differently from them nor did I notice that they did it differently than me.

Well it wasn't a big deal until last night. A lady friend of mine needed a date to some family banquet. I guess some of her family members are kinda snotty so she chose me instead of one of her other boy toys because she thought I could hold a conversation w/them better and convey an overall "higher class" demeanor/persona. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. :D

Anyway, we're all eating [me in my normal way w/the fork and spoon] and she sends me a text message saying, "please stop eating that way!" I didn't know what she meant @ first so I gave her this "what the f are you taking about?" look. She kinda gestured w/her utensils and looked at mine.

As soon as I realized this, I decided enough was enough. It was time for primal Keltron to come out. I asked her if she had any hand sanitizer in her purse. She did and as soon as it dried off, put my utensils down and started eating w/my hands. :D Honestly, it was MUCH easier too.

Anyway, she almost had a sh*t fit! She started panicking and tried to somehow make up for it by bringing up my dad and his work for the UN. "Uncle Ryan, did you know that khalid's dad used to work for the UN?"

"Oh really? What did he do?" he asked me.

"He was the bathroom attendant." I said w/a serious face and then a smile. Everyone chuckled and knew I was just joking.

Needless to say, she was very upset w/me :D She was the one driving and she was so furious that she left w/o me @ the end of the night. As I was walking toward the train station her brother saw me as he was passing by and picked me up. We started talking about how hilarious the whole thing was and he commended me for not giving a damn about impressing the superficial members of his family [only a few of them were. Most were very "down to earth" despite their income level]

He asked how the whole thing started. When I told him about my method of utensil usage he did find it a bit unheard of but said that he didn't even notice it @ the dinner table and that even if he did, he wouldn't of thought anything strange about it.

So.... is it really that strange? I once read a news story where a principal saw a kid from the Philippines eating that way in the cafeteria and asked him to switch.

I don't know man.. I'm all about functionality. There are situations where a knife and fork work best, there are situations where a spoon and knife work best, and there are situations where my hands work best [and I'm not taking about just finger foods!] If using a certain method is less functional but looks more civilized, it seems kind of dumb to me.


That made me srs LOL!!!! Eat the way you want to...who cares!!! :D

[Keltron]

That made me srs LOL!!!! Eat the way you want to...who cares!!! :D

Oh this reminds me of one of my Macgyverisms @ work one day! I forgot what I was eating but it was something that REALLY required utensils and couldn't be eaten w/fingers. I couldn't find a plastic fork anywhere so I took 2 pens from the front desk, WASHED THEM and used them like chopsticks. Everyone who walked in and saw me were either amused or grossed out. Evidently the thought of me washing them first didn't cross their minds.

[Ctrainer]

Oh this reminds me of one of my Macgyverisms @ work one day! I forgot what I was eating but it was something that REALLY required utensils and couldn't be eaten w/fingers. I couldn't find a plastic fork anywhere so I took 2 pens from the front desk, WASHED THEM and used them like chopsticks. Everyone who walked in and saw me were either amused or grossed out. Evidently the thought of me washing them first didn't cross their minds.

I have a jar of PB on my desk and sometimes eat it with my finger...I try not to do it while people are talking to me!!! :p

[Klayfish]

I think the only thing you forgot was to pick up the plate when you were done and lick off the sauce. That's what I would have done. :D

I don't do the fork to spoon bit, but I do hold my meat down when cutting it. Hell, at my house, my wife and I have so little time to eat that anything goes. We eat however we can...and fast. We often shock our waiter/waitress when we go out to eat because we eat so quickly. I'm waiting for them to just bring us a trough next time.

[Keltron]

I think the only thing you forgot was to pick up the plate when you were done and lick off the sauce. That's what I would have done. :D

I don't do the fork to spoon bit, but I do hold my meat down when cutting it. Hell, at my house, my wife and I have so little time to eat that anything goes. We eat however we can...and fast. We often shock our waiter/waitress when we go out to eat because we eat so quickly. I'm waiting for them to just bring us a trough next time.
or an IV bag to go!

[cozener]

When it comes to meat I prefer to just stab it with a fork, pick it up, and eat it. Seriously, how did eating ever become so complicated. Why do we have different forks for our salad and our meat? Why do we need different spoons and knives for everything? I mean, a steak knife cuts butter pretty good to, y'know? And why is it so bad to wipe your mouth with the table cloth? You're going to wash it anyway, aren't you? Table manners...bah...almost as silly as neck ties.

[dungeonmistress]

As long as u aren't smacking and talking with a mouthful of food who the eff cares?

Ever try a spork? It's a
spoon with a forked front end... :D

[HeatherAC]

Hmmm......I've seen it done on occasion, so while it may be a little weird, it's not completely unheard of.

[ejthomp]

That does seem a little strange to me. Using the fork to push food onto the spoon versus using a knife to block the food and slide a fork under. But if it upsets someone, well that says more about them, doesn't it?

After spending 8 years in Japan using chopsticks, I've found that a fork, spoon and knife are a royal pain with some foods. Once you get used to them, chopsticks are like having fingers to pick up your food.

I despise having to stab or balance food on a fork when I can just pick it up and hold it with chopsticks. Salad is the perfect example. I won't go as far as washing off a couple pens though......

[halthron]

Within the first few lines I'm thinking "So? That's how they eat in the PI. Nothing unusual there."When I was living there, the Filipinos were sometimes very amused by the way the "token" (me) would use utensils.

[DeathtoToasters]

I have a jar of PB on my desk and sometimes eat it with my finger...I try not to do it while people are talking to me!!! :p

Without a video, I don't believe you!

[paolo59]

No foul. As long as you don't cut all of your meat up into small bite sized pieces at once. You slice off the appropriate size for placing in your mouth, you chew it up, and so on.....LOL People can be so picky at the table, can't they?

[crupiea]

Did you tuck the table cloth into your shirt too?

I have never seen someone eat like you do. Of course, you have never seen people eat like me either.

You do know that its ok to use the knife to cut meat with.

I see it quite a bit in Vegas that people will tuck the napkin into their shirt. i guess its a cultural thing, I find it funny. I find all hillbillies funny.

[SV1000]

It is ironic that your female friend had an issue with your use of the utensils at her family banquet...and then she sent you a text message, how old is she, 14? :D

[Ctrainer]

Without a video, I don't believe you!

You know what...I take that as a dare!! It will be a no spoon vid!!

[Nikonguy]

Were you picking up food with your left hand? :eek: Not cool Brahmed, not cool!



(of course what can we expect from one who craps in bushes? :p)

[StressMonkey]

It is ironic that your female friend had an issue with your use of the utensils at her family banquet...and then she sent you a text message, how old is she, 14? :D

I was thinking the same thing. Texting during a fancy dinner seems so tacky.

I don't think it's weird but it is rather unusual. I find the whole "this fork is for this and that fork is for that" routine with fancy dining silly and pretentious. I bet her relatives will be talking about that dinner for years to come. :D

[Bando]

spoons are for babies, cereal, pudding, mashed potatoes etc. Alpha man only needs fork and knife to consume his kill....

[GuyJin]

I use chopsticks pretty much everyday and if there's something I can't pick up, I just stab it. Consume it. End of story.

(BTW, stabbing food in Japan is considered bad manners as well--so much for my being PC...).

[paolo59]

Keep your elbows off the table, don't burp out loud, try to refrain from forking something off your neighbors plate, regardless of how scruptious it may look, always start out with the smallest fork, and basically, we're all right. Table etiquette isn't really that hard. Now if your dining with *******, it can be a bit trying, mind you. Not that the OP's dining partners were anything of the sort! Never try to impress anyone when food is involved. A good rule of thumb is never knock anyone off their chair, and remember, servers always approach you from the "right, back." If they're good, they let you know when their close, otherwise, God only knows what might happen!

[Wildtim]

While your spoon usage is not exactly Emily Post I wouldn't go so far as to call it strange. Methinks this chick cares a bit too much about what other people think.

This.


Yep, which is why we're not exclusive!

Good call.

[Tyrbolift]

No foul. As long as you don't cut all of your meat up into small bite sized pieces at once. You slice off the appropriate size for placing in your mouth, you chew it up, and so on.....LOL People can be so picky at the table, can't they?I cut up the meat all into pieces first. lol

[kittyboy]

Hell, we're all just highly evolved primates. So much of "manners" is pretending that we aren't animals.

There's nothing more ridiculous at the dinner table than folks eating fried chicken or pizza with a knife and fork. Pork chops should be considered finger food, too, IMO. My wife has a friend who eats *everything* with utensils, including sandwiches. I can't stand to eat with her and her phoniness.

[Keltron]

Update guys. She texted me yesterday apologizing for leaving me. I haven't texted her back yet. I'm definitely not one to hold grudges and her brother picked up after about a block so it all worked out... I just want to make her sweat for my own fun and maybe so it'll teach her a lesson on caring too much about what others think of you. In a few days I'll text her back saying that my stunt probably wasn't the best idea in the world but it was warranted considering her asinine request.

Did you tuck the table cloth into your shirt too?
no but I wipe my mouth with the edge of it after every single bite!


It is ironic that your female friend had an issue with your use of the utensils at her family banquet...and then she sent you a text message, how old is she, 14? :D


I was thinking the same thing. Texting during a fancy dinner seems so tacky.
[]quote]SERIOUS! I mean it's not that big of a deal but if you're being knitpicky about utensils then surely texting at the table should be out of the question.

[QUOTE=StressMonkey;399549341
I bet her relatives will be talking about that dinner for years to come. :DI bet they WILL! When I was eating w/my hands, I just kept my eyes on my food but I could totally feel the "WTF energy" all around me. :D


Keep your elbows off the table, don't burp out loud, try to refrain from forking something off your neighbors plate, regardless of how scruptious it may lookTHIS is my REAL problem!


Hell, we're all just highly evolved primates. So much of "manners" is pretending that we aren't animals.my sentiments exactly.


This.



Good call.It's funny how she chose me to go thinking I'd be the one guy who'd actually impress her family! lol... Well I may have impressed some of them but in a different way.