(edit title) How to starve a Swede? Take away their knife Options

[Svensksmith]

So I was watching my (Swedish) wife eat the other night and, once again, I was impressed by her dexterity with the fork and knife. She holds her fork, tines down, with the left hand and her knife in the right. With these two utensils flashing back and forth ala Edward Scissorhands, she can oh so elegantly polish off a plate of food with finesse. Me, an American, grab the fork with my my left, saw back and forth with the knife in my right, drop the knife, pick up the fork in my right and, rather clumsily manage to shovel the food into my pie hole. Altogther an ugly affair.

My question is this: is this (the knife and fork thing) a Swedish thing or is all of Europe so enlightened?

[Mo]

so is she one of the knife in mouth brigade - euch - can't stand that. Or have you become aware that the american norms of politeness impose a bewilderingly inneficient "cutlery shuffle" that europeans just don't do ? Anyway in partial answer of your question people in the UK can indeed manage to use both knife and fork simultaneously each in the correct hand.

[cogito]

Svensksmith,
The French do it like your wife. It's efficient. You can eat more faster...

[entry]

So I was watching my (Swedish) wife eat the other night and, once again, I was impressed by her dexterity with the fork and knife. She holds her fork, tines down, with the lef ... (show full quote)

So I was watching my (Swedish) wife eat the other night and, once again, I was impressed by her dexterity with the fork and knife. She holds her fork, tines down, with the left hand and her knife in the right. With these two utensils flashing back and forth ala Edward Scissorhands, she can oh so elegantly polish off a plate of food with finesse. Me, an American, grab the fork with my my left, saw back and forth with the knife in my right, drop the knife, pick up the fork in my right and, rather clumsily manage to shovel the food into my pie hole. Altogther an ugly affair.

My question is this: is this (the knife and fork thing) a Swedish thing or is all of Europe so enlightened? ... (hide full quote)

I don't know about you now Svensksmith... In our home in America we were constantly refereed to Emily Post's books.

However, the concept of finger food seems to be a bit foreign with many I have come across here in Sweden.

[klubbnika]

So I was watching my (Swedish) wife eat the other night and, once again, I was impressed by her dexterity with the fork and knife. She holds her fork, tines down, with the lef ... (show full quote)

So I was watching my (Swedish) wife eat the other night and, once again, I was impressed by her dexterity with the fork and knife. She holds her fork, tines down, with the left hand and her knife in the right. With these two utensils flashing back and forth ala Edward Scissorhands, she can oh so elegantly polish off a plate of food with finesse. Me, an American, grab the fork with my my left, saw back and forth with the knife in my right, drop the knife, pick up the fork in my right and, rather clumsily manage to shovel the food into my pie hole. Altogther an ugly affair.

My question is this: is this (the knife and fork thing) a Swedish thing or is all of Europe so enlightened? ... (hide full quote)

Funny, S-Smith, I am not American but I use the knife and fork just like you. It feels right and it feels comfortable.
And I don't think it's ugly, it's just different,

[klubbnika]

Svensksmith,. The French do it like your wife. It's efficient. You can eat more faster...

Are you sure it's the real reason, cogito? The French are not known for being fast-eaters, they enjoy their food and seem to ear smaller portions. Also, don't you think it's faster to eat all you food when you cut it in small pieces initially (with the knife in the right hand, of course ), instead of cutting piece by piece every time?

[JulieLou40]

My (Swedish) sambo uses his knife and fork in the wrong hands. It makes me cringe!

[Svensksmith]

Despite my ungainly "cutlery shuffling", I do manage to cram enough chow down my gullet to keep from wasting away to nothing. I've tried to change over to my wife's more efficient way of table gymnastics, but to no avail. Old dog, new tricks and such.

[byke]

you need a spork

[cogito]

Are you sure it's the real reason, cogito? The French are not known for being fast-eaters...

Klubbnika, Sorry, was unclear. I meant Svensksmith's wife's method allows ME to eat more and faster. You're right the French eat slowly...though that is changing. Fast food is replacing leisurely lunches. But French fast food is delicious.

[jostein]

I find the most efficient way of eating to be from a bowl using a spoon and with some tolerance for swallowing chunky bits whole.

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

What!

People eat with utensils?

Go figure!!!!

[CathySky]

what's the big deal? Almost everyone I know irrepective of culture eat with a knife and fork.

Although I must add that some of them do it clumsily, while some hold the knife the wrong way up

What I can't stand is people that use knife and fork for everything, for ex ribs. Who the hell eats ribs with a knife and fork!!!

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

Does all this really matter?

If you have eaten and are not hungry anymore...what difference... the method/style used to accomplish your goal?

I mean some people eat with sticks!!!

A long time ago we all used our fingers!!!

[BillyB]

Me, an American, grab the fork with my my left, saw back and forth with the knife in my right, drop the knife, pick up the fork in my right and, rather clumsily manage to shov ... (show full quote)

Me, an American, grab the fork with my my left, saw back and forth with the knife in my right, drop the knife, pick up the fork in my right and, rather clumsily manage to shovel the food into my pie hole. Altogther an ugly affair. ... (hide full quote)

I've never seen, or known anyone to eat that way. Have you tried cutting with your knife in your left hand?

Mind you though, slowing down the speed of eating isn't a bad thing...i might give your method a go...