today''s Q....when you are eating a piece of steak...

[Phoenix]

You just cut it, put it in your mouth and devour it as quickly as possible, tee hee

.

Only kidding!!

. I was brought up in the UK and, amongst other things, I had this one boss (my first full time boss) who was a stickler about etiquette. I must say I learned a lot from him. Apparently, the right way is to cut your steak with the knife in your right hand (assuming you're right-handed) and eat it with the fork in your left hand whilst still holding down the knife in yr RH. At no time, however, should you wave the knife around, or the fork for that matter.

Some consider it only "proper" to have yr steak rare, but I think it's personal preference. I like mine rare (but not as "bleu" as the French like it - almost but not quite). I cringe, however, when I see people ordering their steak well done. I mean, what's the point!!? It's a waste of perfectly good beef!!

 

[Clairitek]

Date: 1/17/2009 4:59:45 PM
Author: strmrdr
neither...

I cut it all up first then eat it.

Ditto.
Though I agree with those that have said that the true "proper" way is to eat with the fork in your left hand with the tines down.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 1/17/2009 4:56:36 PM
Author: somethingshiny
I do it the proper way. My mom was a stickler for table manners when I was a kid.

yup,i was told eating a steak the proper way shows that you have good table manners.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 1/17/2009 5:21:29 PM
Author: Kaleigh
The proper way for me. And some A1 too. We are grilling steaks tonight, yummm.

you just spoil a nice piece of steak. i always laugh at my friends when they use steak sauce. all i do is add a little salt.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 1/18/2009 12:44:44 AM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 1/17/2009 5:21:29 PM

Author: Kaleigh

The proper way for me. And some A1 too. We are grilling steaks tonight, yummm.

you just spoil a nice piece of steak. i always laugh at my friends when they use steak sauce. all i do is add a little salt.

I always use catsoup(ketchup) on my steak , have to have some vegetables, unless its venison then it is honey mouseturd(mustard)

 

[HollyS]

According to you, I eat my steak (and everything else) the ''proper'' way.

But that is not the ''proper'' European way; it''s really just the American way.

 

[bee*]

I''ve never heard of the American way-I''m in Europe so we always have our fork in our left hand. Does it not waste lots of valuable eating time having to switch hands?

 

[gemgirl]

I haven''t eaten meat since the late 70''s. Most of what I eat now, chicken, turkey or especially fish or eggs falls apart by itself or I just cut it with my fork. No more issues of switching hands!

 

[ladyciel]

I eat 'Continental' style, as I was taught by my parents. They both grew up in Canada, my dad born in London and raised by his British/Irish parents. I, however, was born and raised in the US. I do find it funny that the American style has come to be considered 'proper' in this country. Particularly the style where the fork is held straight up and down clutched in a closed left fist while sawing vigorously with the knife in the right hand. Sometimes even with arms practically crossed! It just looks so awkward to me, and it always puts images in my head of the fork slipping and the steak flying across the room.

When I think 'proper', I imagine something done/said in a way that is elegant, considerate of others, and generally attractive. To me, the American 'proper' way of eating feels more like the way a child (who has just learned how to use a knife) eats before learning the continental style. I'm sorry if that seems offensive, but it's probably because that was exactly the case for myself. As someone said earlier, eating continental style is just more elegant with less movements required. I would add that, in consideration of others, there is less noise of the knife constantly being rested back on the plate as well as fewer chances for the knife to fall, sometimes making quite a bit of noise and mess.

 

[AmberGretchen]

Well, I never eat steak since I''ve been a vegetarian since I was 5 years old

But I do cut food with the knife in my left hand and eat with my fork in my right hand, always

 

[Deelight]

Date: 1/18/2009 7:37:52 AM
Author: bee*
I''ve never heard of the American way-I''m in Europe so we always have our fork in our left hand. Does it not waste lots of valuable eating time having to switch hands?

Ditto, I am in Australia, sorry but the other way just sounds weird IMO.

 

[platinumrock]

Depends on who I''m around

If it''s just me and hubby at home, we eat however we wish.

If we''re with other people, we use our table manners. Right hand cuts the steak with knife while fork on left hand holds it down. Put steak knife down. Right hand takes fork, stab piece of steak, and enter mouth carefully. A dab or two on the chin with linen follows after.

Repeat process.

 

[kittybean]

I was taught to eat the proper European way (fork stays in left hand) by my grandparents. However, at this point I just do whatever I think is proper for the situation.

 

[elrohwen]

I do it the "improper" way, it''s just easier. I do this with pretty much everything I need to use a knife for.