I seem to remember living overseas that they would turn the fork over when they stab the food then eat. I've always used the top down method lol.

I also use the fork with my right hand and cut with left at all times. Never did get the switching hands thing.

The only time I'd use a fork in the right hand is when eating a bowl of chilli or a curry...If there is a knife and fork I would never dream of crossing them over.

So you Americans cut with your left hand?? Stabbing with your left, cutting with your right seems far easier to a right handed person
If the issue is with food that rolls around the plate, that's what mashed/creamed potatoes are for.

PS tip the bowl away from you when eating soup...LMAO

This is interesting, here in Finland it is the other way around, ie. when taking a short break (e.g. while drinking something, going to the bathroom or if ones is planning to take a second round) you cross the knife and fork, and when done they are placed paralell in the 5 o'clock position.

To degree, yes.

As my father used to say, "You don't have to use good table manners, but you have to know how to use good table manners."

Then again, I not only permit, but encourage my kids to lift up the plate up to their mouth - as I do -and shovel in the last bits of food on the plate because I think wasting food is a sin.(And the look of horror and disgust on my wife's face when we do it is just the icing on the cake.)

As long as he doesn't go face down into the plate and start chowing away I'm sure he'll be fine. I can never get around people in Pizza Hut or other sit down to eat pizza places using knife and fork to eat pizza! I always use my fingers and love the looks I get

This thread has been quite enlightening and funny. And yes, I'm a lefty so I'm one of those eaters who switches the fork and knife since I don't have much dexterity when I try to cut with my right hand.

It's the same here in Poland. But they usually ask before taking the plate away if not empty, so no one should steal it from under your nose if done the wrong way.

Damn straight, baby. And don't leave a crumb for the dishwasher.

It is the same in Belgium JAMF, but in UK the knife and fork are laid paralell at 6 o'clock to indicate you are finished. Also you don't fold your napkin after using it, but you do lay it neatly to the right, beside your place setting.

My family broght me up with proper etiquette but it was still an eye opener when invited to a formal dinner in an officers mess, there was enough cutlery at one place setting to provide for the whole family

My wife here is amazed at the range of knifes, forks and spoons I have for setting the table, here in Belgium it is really not formal at all and nobody cares what you use, which with my upbringing does make me feel uncomfortable at times, even after almost 8 years.

An indication as to what the "tools" are for...

http://etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/table_setting.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Formal_Place_Setting.jpg

Well, I'm always beyond myself, when the cork is allowed off the fork.

The impression I got from eating with my Polish friends was that you should clean the plate, preferably fill it again, and then make sure that there is some food left in the pot (to indicate that no-one hand to go hungry).
Here in Sweden you are expected to clean your plate, and if there is food left at the end of the dinner anywhere, you are showing a lack of appreciation (though usually I prefer when there is food left, though no on peoples plates, for the same reason as for the Polish customs, plus it means that I'll have food for tomorrow).
This is quite different from how it works in Arabic countries, where there should be some food left on the plate when you are done, as otherwise you might not have been given enough food, which is a sign of poor hospitality.

I've been to France and Italy but didn't follow or was even aware of any intricate etiquette system for eating! Maybe they made an exception for an uncultured Brit with an indecipherable Scottish tongue.

I'd imagine that as long as your lad is polite and doesn't use the table like a trough he'll be fine.

Wrong way round, ain't it? Crossed means you just have a pause, next to each other means plate is finished.

The proper way to eat (Continental Style) is fork in left and knife in right, always. There is no difference as to when you have something to cut or when you do not. The fork is not a shovel, but an implement with which to convey food to your mouth. The knife is not just a cutting tool, but an implement with which to assist with placing food onto the fork properly, and without undue mess. When finished, you "fold" your knife and fork... You place the knife, blade down, through the tines on the resting fork, have both rest together, folded on the plate. This is a proper indication to servants, footmen, or restaurant wait staff, that you have either finished your meal or are ready to begin the next course. This is the way I was raised, and my parents made sure that I knew that regardless of setting, this modicum of etiquette was never to be abandoned... Not even in a Denny's.

-Skater

Interesting. Thanks.

For my part, having been poor for a few years, I hate to see food wasted. And I have seen so much food wasted while people go hungry that it makes me ill to think about it. That said, we try to waste as little food as possible to show thanks for our present good fortune.

as a side note, elbows NEVER rested on the table while eating.

Cheers,
Slug

He's already been told that WW2 is a very touchy subject. That would be more of a problem for me though.

Or your feet for that matter

But is it OK to rest your ass on the table while you put a foot on the chair so you can take off your shoe to check your athlete's foot or toenail fungus?