I don't understand eating in America

[Ian Gills]

After living here for six years now, I had the shock of my life yesterday when I was having a Burito lunch at a Mexican restaurant.

I looked around and saw that each and every American would cut up their food with their knife first, before taking the fork in their right hand and eating the lot.

Me, I sat there with a knife in my right hand and a fork in my left. Cutting and forking the food into my mouth as I went along.

Like this:



So why can't you guys eat nicely? Didn't your parents teach you any manners?

[asktom]

Knife and fork for a burrito? Must be one of those big juicy fake ones. Where I come from, to eat a burrito you pick the dang thing up with one hand and chomp into it. That leaves a hand free to squeeze lime into your Corona bottle.

[Cookie]

So why can't you guys eat nicely? Didn't your parents teach you any manners?

You mean like this?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u48PvBTl3u8

[Ian Gills]

How did you lot ever get past your first date?

Yes, I did use a knife and fork to eat a Burrito.

If I ever have a daughter and you have a son old enough to date her and he took her out for a meal and ate like y'all, I'd chase him away with a shot gun.

Manners.

[Cookie]

Away? It would quite be the opposite, he'd be your son in law in no time flat.

[hj]

You are describing a British and European style of eating. We disassociated ourselves from them a couple of centuries ago. WE do not have to cut with one hand and eat with the other, because we are not in a race to get done first. I'll bet you eat your peas with a knife also. And it has taken you SIX years to notice this? And at a Mexican restaurant at that. You must not eat out very often.

[johnjh2o1]

This guy should be on everyone's ignore list. He is on mine.

John

[Ian Gills]

Thanks John. I've sent the friends request.

[wmills]

lol John I just enjoy the satire he presents. No one could worship such an inbred family such as his royals. Their genes are too low to mix with the gene pool.

[Ian Gills]

This is not about the Royals (for once!). It's about being taught to use a knife and fork when eating in the company of others. It seems to have passed most of America by.

[asktom]

I also eat fish and chips with one hand, leaving the other free to operate malt vinegar and ale containers as necessary.

[Ian Gills]

I cannot believe it. It is possible to temporarily stop eating to consume beer, you know?

As an act of protest, I have just been to one of my favorite restaurants.

Here is the menu, and is one of the very few things (and I will admit) makes the good ol' US of A great:

http://www.cheeseandburger.com/

You just don't get stuff like that anywhere else.

Anyway, I ate an entire burger, onion rings and coleslaw continental style. Yep, even the onion rings were consumed using a knife and fork. I did this to show respect for those American diners around me. They, however, just used their hands instead. Disgusting, and at a place of fine dining too.

[asktom]

You know, Ian, when you are standing at that board running down the wall shoving cod down the hole in your face, shoulder to shoulder with the middling sort, it is best to keep a grip on your brew lest the slacker next to you try to hook it. Oh sure, you could slap his wrist with your fork when he goes for it, but that is unseemly. No, better just to keep it safely in hand.

[Cookie]

I bet you have a hard time cutting up your soup.

[Redwood]

Anyway, I ate an entire burger, onion rings and coleslaw continental style. Yep, even the onion rings were consumed using a knife and fork. I did this to show respect for those American diners around me. They, however, just used their hands instead. Disgusting, and at a place of fine dining too.

You did that with a spork at McDonalds? Amazing!