Etiquette lessons?

[wildrover]

The correct manners to use are the ones in use among the group you are with.

To rephrase what Jersey said, "Etiquette is knowing how to do it properly, manners is knowing when to do it properly."

Or just crumbs in the butter, which always led to the Spanish Inquisition in my house.

Or peanut butter in the jelly jar, or jelly in the peanut butter jar. One of my pet peeves, and no I don't care that they'll all end up smooshed together on the bread. The horror!

Sometimes lessons in manners can come from humor...try the book "Talk to the Hand", regarding manners in modern (American) culture.

I remember someone saying that he always relied on watching those around him for the correct etiquette to use, and this always worked until one day when he was in a situation where he realised everyone was watching him to see how to he was going to start eating some unfamiliar item. So I guess his method served him well up to that point, I mean, so well that it made him a role model.

Interesting. My reaction, upon noticing that all eyes were upon me, would be to make casual conversation with a neighbor until someone else had the balls to dig in.

Humor aside, there are people here in Texas that do prefer to eat off their knives.

Tenderloin off the grill at the top of the outpost in the backcountry of the ski resort is best eaten this way as well.

I certainly was taught to hold my fork in the left hand and the knife in the right, although I can understand if a lefty wants to do it the other way round.

I was never taught one way or the other, come to think of it...more like, it just seemed natural to hold something in place with the fork, and wield the knife with the more dexterous hand. Holding the fork "upside down" also seemed natural...you can't spear something from above, when the tines are sideways. So I eat the meat off the point of the knife sometimes...

But seriously, whether the steak is eaten off a backward fork, or off the point of the knife, is all about manners as opposed to etiquette. BTW only little kids chop all their meat in to little bites and then eat it. Besides, if you do that, your steak will get colder, faster.

As a way to remember which utensil goes in which hand, I was told once that it would be impolite to stab someone with a fork.

Then, recalling that lettuce was supposed to be eaten with fingers, I grabbed at the salad, only to hear my aunt say: “You eeet like a peeg!”

I actually do have a few cookbooks. Every one, where the lettuce is to be eaten, suggests tearing or chopping the lettuce in to bite-sized pieces so that one need not choose between only a fork, or fingers, to do battle with an oversized leaf of lettuce. To force guests to eat whole leaves of lettuce, is to make them eeet like peegs . I wonder how she would've taken that remark.

Peas...same thing, along with any other item on the plate that simply cannot be eaten without a bunch of drama. Pass the honey, please.

But at a braai you cook the meat yourself, and you eat it with your fingers.
(Okay, the boerewors is often hot, and you can use a fork for that.)
Not at my uncle’s house! The food was prepared by waiters in white coats, who then brought it to the table and served it on dinnerware. The guests ate it with silver knives and forks!

...Like eating a candy bar with your knife and fork. Snooty folk just don't know how to BBQ.

He went up to the lunch counter...

I can totally see that. I tend to use the term 'head'...it's completely obfuscating, every guy knows exactly what it means, and it can be hilarious if asked of a young woman (though "restroom" is better)...but it's always asked...well, discreetly. Not..."HEY BRO WHERZ TEH SH&TTER!"

...Unless the request is humorous .

On the other hand if we were discussing port---------------------

I can handle that one. In most situations in America, port goes like this:

"What the hell are you drinking?" But to be honest, it's rare when a bunch of people sit down and drink nothing but port.

Food is also passed to the left, and the dish rarely touches the table. Is this a matter of convenience, necessity, or some bizarre decree?

Sooo...serious question, now...

In a Moroccan restaurant, where one may be expected to eeet like a peeeg as a matter of good etiquette, how does one approach sloppy foods?