This is about as mundane and pointless as it gets (although this could turn into a Great Debate, as it did on another message board I posted this on a couple of years ago).
So, how do you eat your spaghetti? Do you cut it into small pieces or twirl it around your fork? If you twirl, do you use a spoon?
I have never quite mastered the art of proper twirling, so I cut mine into about 2" pieces. Whenever I try to twirl, I inevitably end up sucking long, dangling pieces into my mouth, leaving a trail of sauce dripping down my chin. Very un-ladylike.
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank
I twirl if possible; always in public though sometimes cheat in private.
The toppings with chunky stuff, like veggies, shellfish, etc. can be a real pain to nail along with the strands; "twirl, stab, get fork into mouth quickly.
The key is to separate just a strand or two at a time, or else you end up with a huge knot of pasta on the end of the fork.
Get a few strands on one tine of the fork, gently wrap them around, using the edge or bottom of the bowl, spin gently, pop the packet into your mouth.
Now if someone could advise me how to use chopsticks I’d greatly appreciate it. I can’t get the hang of them to save my life.
Funny you should mention that, Veb. As I was typing this topic, that exact thought popped into my head and I thought about posting that next. Now that you mention it, perhaps I will.
And thank you for the lesson in twirling. Try as I might to start with just a strand or two, it never seems to fail that I end up with a huge glob of spaghetti on the fork, just as you described. I guess I’ll have to give it another whirl.
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank
Twirl on the fork with aid of spoon.
I thought this is how you’re supposed to do it.
Of course, you can do it without the spoon if you’re so inclined or talented, but it keeps that other hand busy to have the spoon.
Arthur Schwartz, host of Food Talk on WOR here in NY says that Italians (I mean Italian Italians–the ones in Italy) twirl, but do not use a spoon. They use the plate or bowl for assistance, as some on this thread have already described.
Perhaps I had the wrong impression about the sucking of spaghetti being un-ladylike. Men - do you agree with Cristi? Should I actually be boning up on this technique?
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank
Sucking spaghetti is unladylike, Shayna. That’s why guys seem to like watching us do it. They’re thinking “Hey, if she’s willing to risk a little spaghetti sauce on her face…”
Of course, they also just like to watch women stick things into their mouths. Men are just funny that way. Eat a banana or a Twinkie in the presence of a man. Pretend to be absent-minded about it, but keep an eye on the guy. By the time you get that last bit of Twinkie filling into your mouth, he will be buying you very expensive things.
Sealemon: Depends on whether you want Ragu or sauce from scratch.
This space blank, until Wally thinks up something cool to put here.
Cut into more managable strands, then twirl. I was shown to use a spoon to help twirl, but I think that’s because I was 6 and needed the help…
Chopsticks take getting used to. I learned how to use them at the children’s museam in boston… Hold the first stick like you would a pencil, only with your index finger straight. You should have it resting on the webbing between thumb and index and on the last joint of your middle finger. The second is held with thumb and index finger to form a pincer. To eat rice, don’t just pick at it, hold the bowl to your mouth and shovel. Right now, sushi is my biggest chopstick challenge (or was… now I use my hands).
http://www.madpoet.com
“I never meant to hurt you,” you said,
And buried yourself in lies instead.
Next time I would rather be slain,
Than forced to bear your mercy again.
