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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2009 13:28:31 GMT
I also have a friend who can peel prawns with a knife and fork. His mother was married to a series of rich men and some of that stuff sank in.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2009 13:53:04 GMT
I would be laughed out of the city if I attempted to peel shrimp with a knife and fork here.
Which brings to question,how would such a person eat whole crawfish AKA crayfish?
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Post by spindrift on May 19, 2009 14:15:25 GMT
Are you asking me how I'd eat a crab/lobster/prawn? with fingers of course! I doubt that these would be served at formal dinners ;D
are we splitting hairs or nitpicking?
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2009 14:44:06 GMT
In spite of the rule about not removing food from one's mouth, I suspect that some of those people have the small dogs running around under the table just to serve as emergency disposal units.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2009 14:49:49 GMT
No,no spindrift.I was responding to pookie's post about knowing someone who was expert with fork and knife dissecting prawns and laughing at how she would tackle a crayfish!
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Post by spindrift on May 19, 2009 15:24:36 GMT
I hope I haven't upset anyone  Who cares, really, about how anyone eats.... |
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Post by bixaorellana on May 19, 2009 16:09:58 GMT
I can't even imagine peeling prawns that way! I'd never order shellfish with the peel on in a restaurant unless it was the kind of casual place that featured lobster bibs.  The bowl of warm water would never be enough for me -- more like a hot shower. |
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2009 16:11:25 GMT
I hope I haven't upset anyone Who cares, really, about how anyone eats.... I truly don't believe you've upset anyone. I'm fascinated by etiquette in different cultures as I know you are as well. I have a copy of Peggy Post's etiquette that someone who had 2 of gave me and I've marveled at some of the entries. I've also referred to it particularly with regards to formal letter writing(local dignitaries et al.) One of my favorites is that you have up to a year to give a wedding gift. I've saved quite a bit of money over the years as couples I knew would never last a year married. |
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Post by bixaorellana on May 19, 2009 16:25:15 GMT
I was told -- rather tongue in cheek, I believe -- that people in Edinburgh eat bread and butter with a knife and fork. Is it true they have a reputation (deserved?) for being particularly refined?
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Post by spindrift on May 19, 2009 16:29:22 GMT
We'll have to ask BigIain this question!
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2009 17:25:42 GMT
I had to work in Casablanca for a few weeks once, and my local colleague there invited me to dinner. His wife was going to make the national dish, couscous (and I will again say to those who don't know, 'couscous' refers to the stew, not the uninteresting semolina that it is poured on).
He was very proud to inform me that he had both a European salon and a Moroccan salon in his flat, and that I would feel very comfortable. That made me think: this culture is very tormented!
On the day of the dinner, he suddenly became grave and told me, "my wife said, 'We are in Morocco. Your colleague will eat as the Morrocans eat!'" He also apologized that he would be speaking Arabic with his wife because he was from former French Morocco and she was from former Spanish Morocco and their only common language was Arabic. ("This culture is very tormented!" take 2)
Anyway, what he was telling me was that we would be eating with our hands instead of with forks and spoons. It was a first for me, but I was delighted to see how it would go. It all went quite well, although I would have preferred to use my left hand since I am left handed, but I made a point of using the 'correct' hand. The colleague made sure that I drank wine with him, while the other people drank Fanta. In fact, I think the main reason that he invited me was to be able to drink wine at home.
Adapting to other cultures (even if the culture is VERY TORMENTED) is always interesting.
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Post by spindrift on May 20, 2009 14:18:47 GMT
In Nepal it is commonplace to eat food with the fingers. It can be done so gracefully - yet I haven't got the knack. I must look clumsy. It's all a matter of practice.
Nepalis seem to be the least TORMENTED people I've come across.
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Post by imec on May 21, 2009 2:09:02 GMT
Dined with an Israeli tonight who fessed up to eating BBQ ribs - with a knife and fork(!).
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Post by hwinpp on May 21, 2009 4:42:21 GMT
I was told -- rather tongue in cheek, I believe -- that people in Edinburgh eat bread and butter with a knife and fork. Is it true they have a reputation (deserved?) for being particularly refined? Bixa, we do that in Germany, mainly if it's at home and the family is present. Come to think of it, I have seen it done in hotel restaurants for breakfast as well. |
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2009 5:00:29 GMT
I start eating ribs with a knife and fork, but I finish them by hand.
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Post by tillystar on May 21, 2009 8:21:28 GMT
Mine too, if I put my elbows on the table they would get knocked out from under me. I have to struggle to put my elbows on the table and look relaxed with it. Its just so unatural to me. When I am in Spain they all laugh at my English table manners as my hands are always firmly on my lap even in the most informal situations unless I consciously fight it! Elbows sticking out were also highly illegal and they'd get pushed in.
I also get picked on in Spain for using a knife to push food onto my fork, as that is what bread is for there. I do try to eat with bread, but always start with a knife and have to remind myself to put it down and pick up the bread and I find it more awkward. At home the table is set with a knife and fork for me and a fork and bread for Mr Star unless it is something that needs a knife to cut it up where he will use the knife to cut it up first then put it down. I am also very English in food must be served scoldingly hot (god forbid you ever served my grandma on an unwarmed plate, I have inherited her asbestos mouth), Mr Star likes his Spanish style - tepid. So now his food gets served onto a plate a few minutes earlier than mine or he has to sit and watch me eat.
Other people's manners don't bother me, the only thing I can't stand is eating with the mouth open. It repulses me so much I have to turn away and struggle with every bone of my being to not tell the person to shut their bloody mouth...which brings me to the very worst sin - commenting on other people's manners at the table. No no no, it was drummed into me from a young age that this is the rudest thing you could ever do.
I remember I was at an informal meal at the end of a course once and I used some of my bread to mop up some of the sauce (which I do a lot, a habit from eating in Spain) and one of the girls on my course shouted down the table "goodness, why don't you just pick up your plate and lick it". THAT was without a doubt the worst display of table manners I have seen in my life. )You will be pleased to know I refrained from stabbing her in the eye with my fork)
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2009 13:29:45 GMT
A Lebanese guy I knew was horrified to see that we mop up the sauce with bread in France. Considering how hummus and similar items are eaten in the Middle East, I was really astounded by his reaction.
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Post by imec on May 21, 2009 13:41:08 GMT
Mopping up the sauce is my favorite part of the meal. I once saw an "after theatre' menu which featured "a basket of bread with several of the chefs sauces for that day" - pure heaven to me...
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Post by Don Cuevas on May 22, 2009 20:25:14 GMT
I also have a friend who can peel prawns with a knife and fork. His mother was married to a series of rich men and some of that stuff sank in. I knew a couple (man and wife) in which the very talented man could tie a knot in a cherry's stem inside his mouth; no hands. |
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2009 20:26:34 GMT
I have known at least two people who can do that. I have never really understood the desire behind it.
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Post by Don Cuevas on May 22, 2009 20:30:37 GMT
I can't even imagine peeling prawns that way! I'd never order shellfish with the peel on in a restaurant unless it was the kind of casual place that featured lobster bibs. The bowl of warm water would never be enough for me -- more like a hot shower. When I have camarones al mojo de ajo, I prefer to eat them from the shell. First I lick off all the sauce, then peel the prawn with my fingers, eat the luscious crustacean, and it's gone. Below are some Hot and Spicy Chili Prawns which we ate recently at the Chengdu 1 Restaurant, in Cedar Grove, NJ. The same method applies.  |
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Post by Don Cuevas on May 22, 2009 20:33:31 GMT
I have known at least two people who can do that. I have never really understood the desire behind it. Use your imagination. His wife was very proud of hs skill. ;-) |
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2009 20:38:53 GMT
I would never want that particular stem to be tied into a knot. (I did see an internet photo once, but the person was extremely... lengthy.)
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2009 20:44:12 GMT
There's nothing better than eating food with your hands. Especially prawns and chicken and ofcourse a proper curry.
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Post by hwinpp on May 23, 2009 3:45:01 GMT
Paul Throux has a somewhat sarcastic dialogue on eating with hands in one of his books, I think it was 'The Great Railway Bazaar'.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 23, 2009 14:03:24 GMT
I have a real thing about crustaceans, other than boiled ones, being served in their shells. I've never understood the point of going out to eat, then sitting there and having to do some of the food prep at the table. And peeling a shrimp covered with seasoned butter -- the flavor of which would have penetrated better without the peel -- makes no sense whatsoever.
The only way I'll order camarones al mojo de ajo (shrimp cooked with oil and toasted garlic) is if I'm assured they come peeled. Thus I was assured when ordering them in Puerto Escondido. Nonetheless, they were served in their shells and I really had to restrain myself from dashing the plate to the floor.
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Post by tillystar on May 24, 2009 20:12:48 GMT
Sucking the shell, the sauce on the shell and licking the sauce of my fingers is part of eating those prawns for me. God that picture looks good, its sent me down a memory lane of the best prawns I have had like that. Bix, I would gladly have got on the floor and eaten them for you  |
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2009 20:45:21 GMT
There are a number of dishes such as paella that I would never order in a restaurant (unless I knew it was a relaxed homestyle restaurant) just because, even though it would not stop me from touching the food with my fingers, it would diminish my pleasure knowing that lack of table manners might be distressing possible witnesses.
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Post by Jazz on May 24, 2009 21:43:47 GMT
My mouth is watering looking at the Don's shrimps in #50! I eat shrimps in just the same way. My imagination is too limited to think of eating them with a knife and fork!
But, how I serve shrimp is determined by my guests and it is important that any guest feels comfortable and at home. If I am aware that some friends dislike peeling shrimp at the table, then I will prepare a dish without the shells. Most of my close friends are quite at ease with this and love that one special part of the sequence that involves licking the shells.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2009 1:34:27 GMT
I get a skin reaction from peeling raw shrimp,itching,hive like. Makes me want to take sand paper to my hands it itches so bad. So consequently my guests have no choice unless Mr. C is available to do the peeling beforehand. Gloves don't work. One teeny jab and that's it.
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The bowl of warm water would never be enough for me -- more like a hot shower.
