I don't think we're angry, it's just really funny watching Americans eat cos it looks so childish and clumsy. For example, cutting it all up before you eat is what we do for young children who haven't learned to cut up their own food yet loool
During one of their videos, I watched one of them - I can't recall which one - pick up a Yorkshire pudding from the plate with his hand, to eat it........ The look on his face here, as he discovers how to use cutlery correctly, is quite bemusing......
The way the British lady in the video eats, is how we do it almost everywhere in the world. I've had many meals with colleagues from all over the world, and we all used the cutlery the same way - except the Americans 😉 It's up to you, whether you want to learn 'the world way' - but when abroad, your use of the cutlery screams 'hi, I'm American' 😁 Please note the way the British lady holds her fork, tines downwards and the handle 'concealed' in her hand - In your vlogs from the UK I noticed that both Will and you held your forks vertically, handle-in-the-air, giving you away as Americans instantly!
I have seen some young children eat it the US way but this is because they have lazy parents who can't be arsed to teach their kids the proper way of using them.
The thing with keeping the knife in your hand is that it is not just for cutting up the food on your plate, it is also used to manipulate the food on to your fork.
I'm Norwegian, but my mother was British and she was very particular about table manners. Her argument for that was that you never know who you'll be dining with in the future. No elbows on the table, tilt your bowl of soup away from you rather than towards you. Place the cutlery next to each other pointing towards 4 o'clock when you are done, or apart at 4 and 8 if you are not done. Hold the cutlery with your index finger on top, don't hold it like a pencil. Place the napkin in your lap. As an adult, I appreciate that all of this (and more) has become a habit for me, so I don't have to be insecure when I eat in social or formal contexts.
Was the same with my upbringing. My mother & English Grandparents were extremely exacting. We had to ask if we could ‘step down’ if we wanted to leave the table before everyone was finished their meal
///Her argument for that was that you never know who you'll be dining with in the future./// She was right, you never know when you'll be invited to a formal dinner. Your good manners reflect on her and your upbringing. They cost nothing.
If you put your cutlery down during the meal, the knife and fork should rest either side of the plate on the edge, fork tines down. When the meal is finished, lay the knife and fork side by side on the plate at 12 o'clock, fork tines up.
@@possumyx Agreed except the finished position. When finished, the pair should be left together at somewhere between 4 and 6 o'clock. This is so the (usually right handed) waiter or waitress can remove your plate and jam the cutlery under their thumb, ensuring the cutlery does not skitter off the plate flinging residual food all over the table and guests.
@@Martyntd5 My dad left when I was fourteen, and my mum kicked me out at seventeen because her new boyfriend wanted me out. Can I therefore eat like the pig I am, because I don't care what you think of my parents?
Actually, the 'British way' is the American way too. If you go to any formal dinner in the US or any fine restaurant, they will use the same methods we do. It's the international dining etiquette. The difference is that most of us use a trimmed down version of it for daily life, whereas Billy-Bob prefers to eat from a carton or a trough and his sister never taught him the proper way, like mothers are supposed to. :D
@@Martyntd5 lol cut up all your meat 1st then use your fork to stab it .... its like they learned to eat at the age of 2 and said that'll do if its go enough for "mom" to chop up all my meat and leave it on the plate its good enough for me. you can eat any way you want but you cant say switching hands and putting down the knife is correct lol 1st off if you cut up a full stake into strips and put the knife down then use your fork to eat with your right hand ya meat will go cold quick 2nd why would you need a spare hand with no knife is it to drink your 1 gallon super soda lol 3rd why would you attempt to ever cut something with the side of a fork , its blunt as hell i never thought i was picky about stuff like this till i saw people do it in public and it blew my mind , eat with ya hands at home or just a fork or what ever but in a restaurant dont eat like a savage eg for an american it would be like seeing some one eat a pizza with a knife and fork with correct etiquette fork left hand knife right instead of just picking it up
I didn’t want to say anything but, for two educated Americans, I was astounded at the way you used your fingers to eat your food. We are taught, at the age of childhood, to eat correctly that means using cutlery rather than fingers. The girl in ‘green’ represents the way I eat.
correctly is subjective. In Indian sub continent and most of Africa they mostly eat with their hands. In other cultures they mainly eat with spoons. Asia mainly chop sticks. so what is the correct way I say is just dependent on culture 😊
Joel I enjoy your videos for a number of reasons. You are always extremely well mannered and respectful. You are also well spoken and keen to learn other cultures. I really love your work. Please don't stop producing your videos.
I recently returned from Croatia where I had noticed in a number of restaurants how neighbouring tables of Ukrainians, Italians, Croatians, British had the same table etiquette not the sloppy childlike method that many Americans seem to adopt.
LOT of american etiquette did come from upper class brits an irish who migrated there ,the irony is real when their comedy is based on mocking the posh british etiquette
Your comment made me laugh. I also just commented Americans look clumsy and childlike when using cutlery. Most British toddlers eat like Americans until the parents teach them the correct way. lol. No hate Americans just an observation. lol.
@@girlsdrinkfeck ///LOT of american etiquette did come from upper class brits an irish who migrated there.../// Please tell me you didnt get that from Wikipedia? If you did, please check the references, it's absolute tripe.
Why would you make such a stupid comment? The methods that Americans use came from europe. It came during the period of colonization because that's exactly the way all of Europe were dining. Then in the mid 1800s, some countries started switching to the point of not switching their hands. The USA and Canada stayed the way they always had been--The original way. There's nothing wrong with either method. So stop being a rude ass. If you don't believe me, do the research. It's very easy to find. Or you can wallow in your ignorance.
"I'm going see what I've been doing wrong for the past... 19 years!" And "take a long hard look at the way I've been eating" - 😄 we love you for being a good sport!
It's not just the British way of holding the cutlery, Joel- It's how every other nationality in the world holds it ( including us here in New Zealand and Australia) ie the fork STAYS in the left hand, ( yes, you're right, Joel- even though the vast majority of people are right handed), and is held with the prongs ( they're actually called 'tines') facing down, and at an angle, not vertically. There's nothing 'wrong' with the way you eat- it's just a little inefficient compared to the way the rest of the world eats.😉😀
@@CamcorderSteve I'm left handed and I use my fork in my left hand. It might be harder as a child to learn but as an adult , you have enough dexterity and power in your non-dominant hand to cut with your right hand if you have learned to do it that way.
@@leechgully me and my dad is the same ,im right handed fork in my right ,my dad has fork in his left ,cuttign daosnt require power lol, steve must be cutting with a plastic knife
You don’t need to change your ways at all. You’re American living in America it would be like any of us to change. People were probably looking because it would have been unusual for us. You’re great just the way you are and that’s why you’ve got the following you have. Looking forward to your next one 🤗🤗
Agree, but bare in mind that other nationalities will find it rather uncouth, if you happen to be dining with them. Especially if you shove a whole piece of roast beef from your roast dinner in your mouth without cutting it into bite sized pieces.
@@dianeehlen9794 - I agree. Once when first traveling in France, my French friend took me aside & quietly let me know not to tie my jumper around my waist as it was considered uncouth & oikie. And instead to put it over my shoulders ( tied or untied) if I didn’t want to carry it.
@@peterstaiff2211 - even though I came from a very working class background in Liverpool, my parents and extended family were very keen on good manners. I worked as an au pair with a wealthy Swiss family when I was 19 years old, and I was so thankful to my family for teaching me good manners, as I never felt awkward or embarrassed about my behaviour both at the table and in company.
@mary carver I agree but, even at 4, I was able to use a knife and fork correctly and not kids platic ones like they use in American kindergarten, (I saw it on telly) proper, adult size cutlery. Probably because we all sat around a big (big to me as a little kid) dining table every Sunday afternoon for a roast at my Grandparents house.
I watched all your UK Trip Vlogs and I was stunned to see you hold a fork as if it was a pen, completely ignoring the handle. It's there for a reason. It gives you greater control and precision over your food.
That was brave and well done for tackling. It’s not a British thing, or an insistence on ‘proper etiquette’ though - it’s just normal worldwide. Also the thing about being loud in restaurants, it’s because you’re spoiling other people’s experiences.
And in the US the restaurants want you in and out as fast a possible but most of the rest of the world don't rush their restaurant meals, that's what fast food joints are for.
The signal of placing the knife and fork side-by-side is very helpful to the server or host. Untidy cutlery means...maybe. Or one on each side my mother would say 'are you rowing a boat'.
@@brucemckean2848 Absolutely, and as waiting staff in Europe don't rush you to finish like they do in the US, the knife and fork together indicates you are ready for your plate to be taken. It means they don't have to keep asking or hovering, which we really don't like as we want to have a relaxed dining experience. Waiting staff will also often wait until everyone at the table has finished before removing plates, so those still eating don't feel pressured.
I could understand putting the knife down but why swap the fork into the other hand only to swap it back to pick the knife up again to cut. Your dinner will be cold by the middle of the meal.
There's no problem with the way you eat - it's just that to our eyes, it looks like the way a toddler, or some uncouth slob would eat. "Table manners" is a thing over here - children are taught basic etiquette quite early on: Don't put your elbows on the table, use of cutlery, never eat with your mouth open etc., etc..
Sadly, increasing numbers of children are not taught table-manners (by parents who were not taught table-manners). I was at a job interview some years ago where, at lunch, one of the candidates had so little idea of table etiquette that he actually licked his knife clean after every mouthful. He didn't get the job. In this case, it's fair to say that the parents prevented their graduate son (of whom they were probably so proud) from being employed at anything other than a menial level.
@@winnywin Dinner ladies patrolled the room?? I don’t think I ever saw the lunch ladies (as we called them) emerge from the kitchen when I was in school here in the U.S. No staff ever came near us while we were eating unless there was a problem, so they weren’t policing anyone’s table manners, but those were taught at home to a greater extent back in my day.
@@raymartin7172 oh my, I think I'd still be in next week if I'd licked my knife when I was a kid. I think part of the problem is a lot of families no longer eat at a table. They eat with their plates on their knees. If for no other reason, it shows why it's worth actually sitting down at the table to eat our meals.
Your eating? I don’t think we were annoyed or disgusted about how you didn’t hold the knife and fork properly - I think we were just frustrated that you hadn’t been taught properly in the first place. It’s funny seeing a 19-year-old learning something which we all learnt when we were about 3 or 4 :)
Good point. We also all learn to tie tie because of school uniform. I was shocked on a US based website when that was listed as a skill your child should learn before leaving college.
Brit here. I usually just eat things that are eaten by hand, or only require a fork/spork/spoon. I'm right-handed, but I eat with my fork in my right hand. If I need a knife, I use it in my left. This is how a left-handed person would likely eat in the UK.
In the UK it's perfectly OK to use the fork in the right hand (of left if left handed), prongs up if the food needs no cutting, like a curry for example.
I'm always amazed at the types of food that Americans will pick up with their fingers.Table "manners" are drummed into us at an early age. Elbows off the table and sit up straight. The food is brought to the mouth, not lowering the head to the plate.
I'm British and I eat how the British lady eats and we are taught from a young age to eat this way. You add a bit of everything onto your fork, always prongs down. The reason being all the items on your plate should complement each other. If I had scooped my food onto my fork prongs up like a spoon I would get such a telling off by my parents and told 'we are not barbarians' hahaha Also the restaurant side of things can vary. It depends where you are eating. If it's at at fast-food place or pub, it's a bit more relaxed conversation & volume wise but if it is at a nice restaurant then that is definitely toned down. I have seen people being asked to tone it down if they are being rowdy and being asked to leave if they continue.
I seem to remember reading somewhere that it's ok to eat peas with the fork as a scoop. Saves having to pick them out of your cleavage, although there's always a squashed one you missed.
Poor Joel … I feel for you on this one. The American way is what it is and it’s the way you’ve been raised. In England we’re raised with very particular table manners that’s all. It looks painful to us seeing you “ shovelling” your food into your mouth and awkwardly swapping your fork over but it’s nothing really and you mustn’t feel bad. I hope you don’t. You’re a great young man and we all love you ❤️
She's right that's how I would eat it, sorry Joel your way reminds me of a child cut all there food up at the beginning and then let them shovel it in 🤣
@@sarahealey1780 No, wrong assumption - I'm English lol. I just loath the patronizing snobbery in the comments. Find them quite embarrassing and downright toe curling.
We need to talk about forks 🍴 the way some American hold their fork to cut. It looks so awkward. Also my experience of eating in the states. Sometimes you guys don't use knives... you just cut with the side of your fork. I was visiting for thanksgiving one year and I was presented with the typical meal. I was only given a fork... I'm thinking... how am I going to cut my meat. Everyone else seemed to be dragging their food around the plate. I had to ask my sister where my knife was. Everyone sat around the table was looking at me like I had 3 heads!!!! 🤣🤯
Joel I’ve never watched anyone eat before …. But I was fascinated with how you and your mate ate on videos 😂 …. It was like watching kids eat, no disrespect! Over here in UK your taught at a very early age how to use cutlery. Every meal …. Knife/fork/ Spoon for desert 😂 and steak and chips Joel …. We don’t eat steak with rice 🤮 but for steak … you wouldn’t use an “ordinary” knife … you use a “steak” knife 😊
I remember my grandmother would have special cutlery of a fork and knife just for eating fish. The fish knife was slightly wider than an ordinary knife with pearlised handles . They were kept separate from the other cutlery ...seems funny now but common place then.
If a steak has been cooked correctly you would NEVER require a serrated knife to eat it with. A correctly cooked steak will always cut beautifully with a normal dinner knife. No top class restaurant would ever offer you a steak knife and I dare say a Chef would be horrified if you were to ask for one!
Fish cutlery is still in common use in up-market restaurants - wide blade is used for separating the skin from the flesh. Not so common in most households now but common back in the 1950s
A serrated blade knife is common in Europe where most meats are served somewhat thicker than in UK where (especially) beef is served thinly sliced so doesn't need the added cutting power
😘Joel, I read the comments in your previous UK videos and people were not at all angry - just amused😂and the intention was not to make you uncomfortable, so please don't feel like people were annoyed - quite the opposite, we were all intrigued by the complicated way of using utensils and the faff of swapping forks backwards and forwards 😋
I think in the U.K. tables manners are drummed into us from an early age. Even today, if faced with some particularly awkward peas and I turn the fork up to scoop them up I will do it very quickly and hope nobody notices haha
I was always taught that 'shovelling' peas was acceptable, because it's an exception where the proper etiquette fails on a practical level. So long as it's only the peas, then no frowns.
As a British person, when I saw you eating the British food in your UK blogs, it looked like a child eating. It’s like one step up from eating the food with your hands.
I'm British and eat everything with a spoon. Started when I lived in a flat and my flatmates hoarded most of the forks, instead of purchasing forks I just started eating with a spoon. Became a habit and now I pretty much eat everything with a spoon unless it's like spaghetti which specifically requires a fork to eat.
@@richardwest6358 Oh dear, yes I actually do. I had to think about it for a while, the last dessert I had was a slice of cheesecake and it was many months ago... and I did in-fact prefer to use a fork for that. Whereas, I will eat chicken breast and potatoes for example purely with a spoon, using the spoon to for everything including cutting the chicken breast.
Etiquette is nice but don't let it become a strait jacket. It's about showing proper respect for your host and fellow guests, and allowing everyone a set of minimum rules so everyone knows what to do and feels comfortable. If you're using etiquette to humiliate or ridicule people then you're forgetting the first rule of etiquette: never make someone uncomfortable.
I find it fun to practice good etiquette, it's like an activity at mealtimes haha. I will be surprised by bad etiquette, but I keep my mouth shut, don't stare, and pretend nothing has been done. I figure if they want better etiquette they could follow my example or learn and if they haven't done it at their age they probably just don't care.
Saying that I have a friend with appalling table manners, so bad it puts me off my food, but no matter how one gently reminds them to perhaps not eat with their mouth open, or take a dozen bites in a row without swallowing or chewing, much like an aquatic predator who's been starved for six months, they still don't understand what they are doing, completely unaware and unable to do anything about it. Frankly eating a meal with them is worse than wiping an old man's arse, at least I'm not expected to eat at the same time.
I remember whilst working in Italy with quite senior US Guys back in the eighties, we all went out for a meal, I'd never noticed before but it was like eating with 3 year olds? I'd visited the States before in the seventies and it never struck me then but I suppose back home, 'Mommy' cuts everything up for them? One of them asked the waiter to take his pizza away and cut it into slices for him. You should have seen the waiters face!
I'm British. For the last year I've had to eat 'the American way' due to a frozen left shoulder. I literally couldn't get the fork to my mouth with my left hand. I basically cut up all my food, whilst standing up, then swapped the fork to my right hand and sat down to eat. Thankfully my shoulder is improving and I am now back eating the traditional 'British' way. I enjoying watching these reactions. It also teaches me more about your culture as you're learning about ours.
The problem really began in York, where you were introduced to Yorkshire pudding wraps (filled with roast meat and veg) - clearly a convenience food version of a Sunday roast. Later when presented with a REAL Sunday roast, with REAL Yorkshire pudding and REAL cutlery, you proceeded to stuff everything into the Yorkshire pudding, then pick it up in your hands and stuff it into your mouth. (I'll bet you'll have got a few strange looks from neighbouring tables after that effort!)
@@gillianhynes7120 - you are allowed to use your fingers for some meats (left hand again) or asparagus with the right hand. And some seafood ( hence small ornamental finger baths were introduced). This originated from banqueting aristocrats and French aristos.
I’m Australian and we use our cutlery same as Brit’s. Yes we start from the outside re cutlery and work in. Knife and fork together on plate, means waiter can take plate, not together, joined at top tip means haven’t finished. We ate like that at home growing up and also taught at high school. Rice um, I use a splade, looks like a wider shorter fork.
I eat rice with a rice spoon. Holding cutlery the right way is important in a formal setting too. A fish knife is held differently from a meat knife. A fork is a stabbing implement not a shovel. Soup should eaten from the correct side of the bowl and not slurped. The knife and fork should be kept in the hands during the meal unless breaking to take a drink or engage in conversation. I admit that I'll use a splade to eat a dessert at home now and then.
There's different levels of formality in eating. That said, it looked like JPS had never used a knife or fork before in the trip. As an Australian, I don't like the US way.
maybe it was after he had discovered legal drinking of alcohol ?? it did look awkward. even i was surprised, and i'm v accepting of different cultural norms.
Where I'm from (Sweden/Finland), it really depends on the setting. If it's super informal dining (everyday family dinner etc) you'd just do whatever is most comfortable for you but as soon as it gets more posh than that you'd only have your fork in your left hand with the prongs downwards. And again when you're finished - if it's an everyday dinner scenario you'd just go with your dishes to the sink/dishwasher/whereever but if it's more fancy you'd place your fork and knife at "5 o'clock" (the way the UK person put them on the side would be kind of rude) and wait until everyone's finished for someone to collect the dishes. This is something at least I've been taught since I was small. Also if it's a fancier setting you'd wait until everyone/at least half have received their food to start eating - depending on the customs for the particular dining scenario. As for conversations, that depends on the situation. Usually at fancier sittings your conversations would be dependant on how well you know the person. At an everyday dinner you'd talk about whatever really. In any case if it's a restaurant it's super rude to be loud unless it's some type of a pub/bar, you don't want to disturb others or be disturbed by others
Some of my earliest memories are actually learning how to use a knife and fork the proper way and what good and bad table manners are. It's very important in the UK and (as you saw in the comments of your vlogs) we get very upset about bad table manners. One of the most complained adverts of all time was not because it was scary/misleading/inappropriate. It was because kids were copying a KFC ad where people were singing with their mouths full.
Having watched a lot of videos of Americans visiting the UK or trying other foods, one thing I have noticed is how much you eat with your hands. It has been a bit of a shock to me as I have even seen people trying fish and chips or beans on toast by using their hands. Culturally, we do not use our hands for much other than fast food, but use a knife and fork for majority of our eating
Watching American adults cutting up their meat into small pieces before they eat it kind of reminds me of when American adults say they 'have to go potty' meaning having to go to the toilet. Both complete throwbacks to when they were children.
😯 oh my gosh, you just reminded me of a few years ago. There was some American tourists in the restaurant that I was in, and one of them asked me where was the potty room! I said "potty room?" For a few moments I was trying to think, what was a potty room so Icould help them! Lol all sorts of things went through my head, even down to padded cell (potty, loopy) then someone said do you mean the toilet, then it clicked lol
We’re not angry we’re just baffled lol. My best friend is American, I’m British, and the first time I visited her in the States I was stunned at how she & her husband ate food. I was saying to them ‘what are you doing? Why aren’t you using the knife that’s right there?!’ 😂😂😂 It’s just so weird to us that you don’t use cutlery properly. I think if you sat down for every meal with a knife & fork and used them correctly for a week or two you’ll find you’ll never go back to your old ways #JoinUs 😉
I was amazed to see my cousin from Florida eating dinner when he managed to fork a whole potato and get it all in his mouth at once. Something which my dad would have knocked y block off for when I was 4. Cousin was 25 at the time.
I prefer to enjoy my food so I will sample each thing first on it's own, then combine the flavours - and the English way is much better at accessing the gravy! Also, eating our way, meat etc stays in one piece and is less likely to get cold and congealed! I served in the WRAF in the 60s on a bomber base and we frequently had USAF officers attached through NATO and in training they had learned our table and eating etiquette because formal dinners were part of their duties - guests during my period included Prince Philip! Actually most Brits see American eating style as lazy, as if the food doesn't matter, however beautifully cooked and presented and in a formal environment is thought uncouth!
Eight months ago in the beans on toast kitchen shoot, hundreds pointed out the strange and labour intensive knife and fork routine, but only now does it come up, so didn't read anything.
My parents were Dutch and would laugh about English people using the fork upside down. The Dutch reasoned that the fork has a bowl shape so that food could be scooped up. They considered it ludicrous to squash peas when they could be scooped. Your meal in our household was considered finished when you placed your knife and fork together with the tines and pointy end on the 12 and the handles on the 6. The rest of the table etequette is the same.
I liked the video of Joel eating Yorkshire pudding with his Sunday roast, he picked it up and shoved peas on it and ate it like he was eating cheese on toast... 😋 I was like ... where's the knife and fork.... 😄 🤣 😂
Yep I felt really embarrassed just watching him. But to be fair on Joel he only did this after he had already had a takeaway meal where they used a large Yorkshire pudding like a wrap. So he was only emulating that and would not have realised that it was totally unacceptable to eat food off a plate like that.
I'm British. I was taught to eat like the British lady in this video. I tend to press or squeeze meat, potato and veg onto the fork and eat rather than eat individual food items. I keep the cutlery (fork in left hand, knife in right) in my hands. I only put them down to pick up my drink. When I'm finished I put the cutlery on the plate together. Imagine the plate is a clock. I put the knife and fork at "4:20" A very good friend of mine is American. He eats like most Americans. It doesn't anger or offend me. It's just his way as an American.
People certainly shouldn't get angry about it, it's the custom there, and some of the comments were just rude. Unless of course its a British person doing it the American way, that's just wrong. As for whether you should change, that's up to you, its hardly a big deal to try it for a while. There could be video on seeing you and your house mates trying it. The advantages are not having to cut things up in advance, or keep switching round the fork and it gives you two implements to manipulate the food. The other advantage she didn't cover is that with the left had holding the fork, which you never let go of, the right is free to place the knife down and pick up a glass. Whether it looks better I leave to you.
I think it’s all to do with how you’ve been brought up! I’m British too and also learnt to use a knife and fork like the girl in the video. By the time I started school at four and a half, I knew how to use a knife and fork and even cut up my own food, so to me that’s the correct way to do it. However I will say that I do eat a lot of food now (I’m 57) with a fork in my right hand, usually meals such as pasta and meatballs, or chilli which don’t require a knife for cutting, on those occasions I wouldn’t lay the table with a knife at all!
I was amazed at how you picked up the Yorkshire pudding with food inside and picked it with your fingers! That's a no no use a knife and fork as with Sunday roast dinner there is nearly always gravy on plate. As a family any Yorkshire pudding left over in the tray we use it as a dessert and sprinkle sugar, jam or lemon and still use a smaller knife and fork. After all the mixture for Yorkshire pudding and pancakes is the exact recipe for both.
The knife in the right hand dates back to several hundred years ago , and was for defence, as in stabbing enemies who may attack while you are eating. Also forks are a fairly recent invention, or addition , to meals , before them we ate with our hands, cutting meat from the bone with the knife then either stabbing with the knife or just using fingers , but the knife stayed in the right had in case off attack.
I have lots of American friends, I have noticed they mostly use their fork and have seen them chasing their food round their plate. It’s funny the difference.
Hey Joel, using the American method of swapping the cutlery multiple times you just get one peice of food and one taste. Using the British (or international) method, no swapping of cutlery, multiple pieces of food & tastes in one hit. LIFE CHANGING mate. 🍽 👍
Swapping the cutlery is inefficient and clumsy indeed, but I disagree with the second part: multiple pieces of food & tastes in one hit is inefficient taste-wise and it makes you look like you can’t wait to finish your plate. I consider it’s in bad taste. Good for lumberjacks maybe, but no: don’t do that. Also, the British way is NOT international. Just saying.
Indeed. You can assemble the perfect mouthful of food. You can arrange the layers based on texture or taste or whatever. You can eat items individually, you can put gravy onto them, add other elements, a hint of mustard or horseradish ...or both onto your roast beef for example, the switch it up for the next mouthful...the range of options is almost endless.
On a trip to the States, I went for a meal with a group of Americans. My nerves were in a state of distress by the final course, I couldn’t quite believe that they were eating like my five year old nephew! 😂
I understand, but good manners, I would suggest, you should have mimicked their table manners so as to not cause offense, maybe? You were in their country.
Schools in the UK often ask that all children are able to eat with a knife and fork before they start at age 5. It is something that is expected alongside being toilet trained.
Love your videos, they always make me smile. As a Brit that has travelled to America often and noticed the differences myself its interesting to see you discover them too from the other perspective. Love your openness to learning about a different culture. As for the eating I am right handed too and we just learn to eat using both hands. The knife is super useful too. If eating steak we use a specific steak knife. Keep up the good work 👍
Joel, eat the way that you feel comfortable. We are taught to use a knife and fork from a very early age, I'm left handed and in primary school I was always being scolded and told to eat right handed. As long as you eat with your mouth closed and don't slop food all over, you'll be fine.
We're taught as children how to use cutlery. We also had to ask to leave the table when we were finished eating. Lol watching Americans eat is like watching a toddler.
i have to disagree. some people live like that. most don't. i was never taught how to hold cutlery, i just did what was necessary to eat. later i noticed techniques and copied some that were useful to know and use when i choose to do so. never ever had to ask to leave table, nor anyone i knew did. we rarely ate together anyway.
@@acommentator4452 my dad was a proper eastender, but table manners were a must. We always eat as family. Yes we did ask to leave the table. Good Manners cost nothing.
I tend to just use my fork, which I use for cutting as well. The only time I use my knife is when I can't cut with the fork. I do find the American way of eating very time consuming...My wife and I popped over into Italy to a restaurant to have dinner with an American couple we knew...Now Italian service is very slow at the best of times, but this combined with the time it took for the Americans to eat, it felt like we were in the restaurant forever. The woman cut everything up before hand and the guy kept changing hands. My wife and I finished each course long before the American couple. Then we had fun at the end of the meal with the Americans having a discussion about how much to tip, we simply told them that we don't tip. It was a looooong night.
why don't you tip, what, never ? that seems a bit mean. you could at least round it up to nearest 5. i would always try to tip a little unless something was really bad
@@acommentator4452 Why tip? This American obsession (happily not in Europe) with tipping is ridiculous. It's up to the employer to provide wages, not the customer. I might add, and this is something which annoys me, In Italy they add a service charge to every bill. One of the reasons that American employees pay so little is precisely because of tipping. They are depending on the customers paying the staff's wages, rather than pay the wages themselves.
For most food, I would eat like Lauren describes. But if I was eating something that didn’t need cutting, like curry and rice or pasta in sauce, I would use the fork in the right hand in the American way.
American forks have the handle bending downwards to help eating with the right hand. Our fork bends upwards so that it sits neatly in the left palm. Some foods are correctly eaten with the fork in the right hand to scoop up the food - rice, salads, etc. The handle fits easily over the right hand.
Great video Joel yes we use the continental style in the UK. This is why I am convinced that in the States that beans on toast never took off because of how you use your silverware. Most Americans would slice the toast and then eat the beans off the toast with their fingers? Which is kind of messy whereas the Brits would push the toast and beans onto their fork with their knife.
Until I got lots of pain from arthritis, I followed the etiquette that the lady described. I also was taught how to use lots of different shaped knives and forks depending on what foods are being consumed. These days I mostly just use a fork and use the edge to cut things and the tines up the American way as it is less painful for my wrist. Although if I am with people in a restaurant I will follow the etiquette that I was taught.
I know it seems weird at first, but believe me, I’d you switch to keeping your fork in your left hand you’ll get used to it very quickly. You just have to remind yourself at the start of each meal.
I don't stick to "the full etiquette" either, i'll often use the fork as a scoop not have it facing down, but i do use it paired with a knife :) I'm also not into stacking the fork with lots of food items, most is maybe 2 things at once. I also eat "cack handed" with my fork in my right hand even though i'm right handed. It wouldn't bother me seeing someone eat like they do in the states, but it is confusing, normally your practices are quite simple and easy, yet with eating you make things very difficult.
@@margaretlavender9647 why is it wrong. if it is adeptly done, what's the problem. it. is. not. a. moral. issue. not. but a certain skill is required to eat neatly, in any style. uk/usa, takes practice.
I'm a lefty, but have always used my knife & fork in the 'right-handed' tradition. My wife is the opposite: she's a right hander, but for some reason, uses her knife and fork 'cack-handed'. It caused much amusement when we met and she first visited my parents' home at Chistmas, the table was set, and we'd all be seated while mum brought various dishes through. The first thing my missus did was swap the knife and fork to opposite sides of her plate. Mum, thinking she'd made a mistake when setting the table, would of course swap them back, my wife corrected that for her comfort, and then mum would come in from the kitchen again, look a bit puzzled, and swap them back again. This went on for about four or five times, with my wife too embarrassed to say anything, my Dad and I chuckling to ourselves, and Mum thinking you was going a little bit mad!
@@margaretlavender9647 The way Americans currently eat was the proper way to eat in Europe hundreds of years ago when America was colonised. Eventually, Europe adopted the "modern" way and America remains old-fashioned.
I commented on a food bloggers video who is American but of Asian decent that he put too much food in his mouth that it was off putting ramming so much food in your mouth. I was called a Karen , & that it was normal. I feel it shows disrespect for the food that the chef has spent time preparing if you don”t eat in way that you are savouring the food. We are taught very early table manners at infant school.
The first time I ate in a diner in America I felt like an alien. Everyone one in there ate the way that guy described (and it was one cut at a time) and then there’s me eating exactly like the lady described. Your way just seems caveman like and inefficient x
Before you make stupid comments, my apology, you should look it up. Everybody used to eat that way including brits. When you colonized the states, that's what was brought over from all the countries in europe, including England. United States and Canada held on to this system of eating, inefficient as it may be. In England and a handful of other countries in europe, you stop switching hands in the mid 1800s. Perhaps because of efficiency or perhaps due to laziness. But that became the new method. So in fact, you were doing it yourself for many centuries. And eat anyway you want. Nobody's going to look at you in a strange way. They'll just think you don't have manners. That's okay. In my many travels to the uk, sometimes I do it the USA way, sometimes I do it the UK way. Nobody makes a comment to me except my girlfriend.😂😂
@@scottbarry62 If only your name was the other way around.. it would sound SO British! You know Barry! We call him special Bazza! Holds a fork like he's playing aeroplane with himself when he eats! Yeah thats the one mate! Barry Scott! Sorry Barry, I don't believe you gave any historical references to your claims mate! Ps.. (we're only having a laugh, chill out Bazza!) But if you're going to cut up your food beforehand then just eat with a spoon! For god sake man! 🙄 Love you Baz!
@@imranali52 I completely agree with that ridiculousness of cutting up his food beforehand like he's some kind of an infant or an invalid. And I told him that. I don't need to do your homework for you. Just look it up. It's very easy. Just look up the history of the differences of eating with a fork in the UK and the usa. It's a Wikipedia page. There's another one featuring the world famous Miss Manners, haha, as she just lambasts the Brits for being lazy. My girlfriend is Scottish so I get the grief from her all the time. I'm used to it. And you can call me Scott or you can call me Barry. I'm used to it both ways. As long as they get it right in the credits of the movies and TV shows I act in. Take care.
@@scottbarry62 did you do your research using Wikipedia 😆 the reason Americans eat that way is because there were no forks in the early days of colonialism and knives had become blunt at the tip thanks to the French. So to eat they had to use their spoons with the left hand to steady the food while cutting with the right hand, and then switch the spoon to the right hand to scoop up the food and eat
Put it this way Joel...your learning alot , and just think how sophisticated you are gonna look when trying to impress a girl and her parents when u meet them and have dinner. Its all learning bro. And you're a step ahead of your peers
I'm literally less than one minute in and that British girl has bad manners too! If you're still eating, but want to put your utensils down you place them at a 4.40am/pm with the fork facing down. She is holding the knife & fork properly though with the index fingers straight (some hold them like a pen which is wrong).
Both pieces of cutlery at the same time 👍🏻 cut , load your fork and into your mouth it goes 🤣 load your fork with multiple items so you get the full flavour of the meal . A dessert is spoon or fork only depending on what the dessert may be , example - cheesecake , I would use a dessert fork only 👍🏻 when your meal is finished neatly rest your used cutlery on your empty plate . It’s polite .
I took a friend from Norway to a nice lunch a few years back, he always thinks he is a bit posh and prides himself on his knowledge of things The meal went well and instead of a desert he decided to select some fresh fruit from the fruit bowl, he stated to tuck in and peeling a banana, when the waiter turned up with a fruit knife and fork, he was horrified that he didn't realize that there was an etiquette to eating fruit in a meal. It was worth paying for the meal to see him realise he didn't know everything!!
That was the right handed way to eat! Left handers (like me!) have difficulty cutting meat with the knife in the right hand, but, in company especially, have learnt how to! Meals in the US tend to be faster, so it seems to have evolved into the quickest way to shovel in food. With noise levels, although in a public place, I prefer to keep my conversation between me and my fellow diners, and also don't want my conversation drowned out by the next tables. Lastly, eating your main neal with a spoon, I may at home if it was pasta and I'm being a slob, but never in front of others, not since I was a baby!!
We were taught at an early age to use cutlery, when finished place knife and fork side by side, don't cross them (old superstition, if you cross them, you will have an argument) . Place settings for meals, not difficult, work from outside in towards the plate. Desert spoon and fork above the plate. It's a sign of good manners to eat properly at the table and is not just a British thing, but European. Its not difficult. Taught as a child not to talk at the table and never talk with your mouth full. Keep your mouth closed when chewing.
The knife and fork are coworkers lol they're companions that assist each other. The knife helps load food onto the fork and control. Cutting individual bites also stops food such as steak from going cold. Coming from the UK but living in Cyprus and seeing how other Europeans eat, I will say that we all use cutlery in this manner. The only time we would cut all the food up first is when we're cutting up food for children. Thought inspiring video, thank you 🙂❤️
It's different 🤷♀️ .. the fact that you both were very polite and appreciative towards staff, and expressed enjoyment of what you were served (minus the black pudding..😂 forgiven!), is higher up on my list of dining etiquette than cutlery culture differences. It would be interesting if you tried to master the British way of eating, then invite your friends out for a meal at a restaurant, and see if they notice the difference 👀
good idea. and film it, but tell them it a reaction to the food video. agree above comment. manners is far more than cutlery usage and you both are v mannerly
The reason for the cutlery placement (together in the middle when you are done or to the sides if unfinished) is designed for restaurants, so the waiters know whether it's OK to come over and offer to take the plates.
Watching many of the RU-vid channels with Americans try "British" foods, I'm amazed that it appears the US diners eat single items at a time... In the UK, the norm is to load the fork with numerous items to get a combination of flavours. The Full Monty breakfast means each forkfull will contain some egg, bacon, beans with a dab of HP sauce, even some crumbs of black pudding too, maybe all riding on a small square of buttered toast. It's these combinations at every meal which add to the taste and pleasure. One element at a time is soo boring!
It’s interesting because the American way of cooking things are often overloaded with a variety of sauces and whatnot, all at once, so maybe they do their mixing at that stage but they miss out on the custom combinations from the plate
As far as I can tell, piling stuff on the fork is not something we do in Canada. It’s one item at a time. I’m 66 and can’t remember a time where I’ve seen friends, family or strangers (in restaurants) pile up food on the fork. It’s considered gross, like you can’t wait to finish off your plate. Good for lumberjacks and fishermen maybe… No hate, just a different take 😉
I would say that while I would generally use my fork tines down, there's nothing wrong with flipping it over if the situation calls for it. For example if you wanted to just pick up some rice it makes perfect sense to get a scoopful. However the American methos swapping hands just seem completely unneccessary when you already have the fork in your hand!
In the UK children's first cutlery used to be a spoon and push. The spoon in the left hand and the push in the right to push semi soft or precut food on the spoon. Using the fork like a spoon encourages the diner to put the tines of the fork to far into the mouth, an accident waiting to happen. Also they open their mouths wider, not a pretty sight. That's why most Europeans would consider this a childish way of eating and something only done in private.
I remember my grandparents and parents drilling into us as kids, the correct way to eat. My grandmother also insisted we use a fork and spoon to eat dessert. We had to keep cutlery low down near the plate and no higher and finish by putting the knife and fork together neatly on the plate. Having excellent table manners is a huge thing in the U.K. but each to their own style. We are quite regimented in the way we do certain things.
Carry on eating the American way Joel. It’s hilarious. How nice to see a young person eating properly. We now have a lot of “shovelers” in Britain who eat like Desperate Dan. It comes from watching American TV.
When your meal is finished or you have eaten enough place Knife and Fork in the position of six o'clock this will in form the waiter in a restaurant that you have finished your meal, in other position the waiter may think you are still eating
Honestly i have asked the question "what is he doing" when watching you eat 🤣🤣🤣 i find it amusing more so than a problem. But i do find the way we eat is more effecient and will have less mess lol
My cousin works in a restaurant in Florida and has seen some very strange eating habits. Including eating a fried egg with their hands lol. They also say fork and knife, not knife and fork.
In the UK when you're finished you place the knife and fork together, if you haven't finished ... like just having a rest ... the knife and fork is placed apart. This way, especially if you're in a restaurant, the server will know if you're finished or not.
