# On Table Manners And Eating Pancakes **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 4, 2017, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750 "2017-04-04T18:02:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/41 "2017-04-05T03:25:45Z")
You adults carry on however you wish. Cutting up pancakes for kids, however, requires a pizza cutter. I am not even kidding. Put the pancakes on a plate, add butter and syrup then roll that cutter until all you have is pancake pieces about 1 inch square. Lightning fast and easy for kids to eat. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/42 "2017-04-05T04:04:24Z")
I put eggs and a sausage link on mine, fold them up and eat them like a taco. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/43 "2017-04-05T04:23:11Z")
> [@Cub\_Mistress](#): > > You adults carry on however you wish. Cutting up pancakes for kids, however, requires a pizza cutter. I am not even kidding. Put the pancakes on a plate, add butter and syrup then roll that cutter until all you have is pancake pieces about 1 inch square. Lightning fast and easy for kids to eat. One of us! I do use a pizza roller when it’s useful for cutting up “kidfood.” Pancakes, waffles, and omelets definitely apply. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/44 "2017-04-05T17:58:46Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > More butter? Syrup? 😃 No, thanks. I will have some peanut butter and honey, though, 'cause that it the only way to top pancakes. Or waffles. Or sex partners. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/45 "2017-04-05T18:20:57Z")
I am right handed but hold the knife in my left hand and never put it down when I use a knife. I’ve been told that is called “European style” but with pancakes I don’t use a knife; I cut them with a fork. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/46 "2017-04-05T18:29:21Z")
When eating steak or some other knife-required food, I eat European style (left hand fork, right hand knife, not switching hands at all). When eating something like pancakes that only needs a fork (or spoon, for that matter), it’s in my right hand. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/47 "2017-04-05T18:58:47Z")
**Maggie** , I’m a little surprised we’ve never done pancakes together. I butter my pancakes, then neatly cut them into eighths (like a pizza) with fork in left hand and knife in right. And then set the knife aside altogether while eating. I once had an IHOP waiter describe my plate as “a work of art.” I take my pancakes seriously. But, most germane to your question, I’m left-handed when eating, so the fork would be in my left hand no matter what. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/48 "2017-04-05T19:08:48Z")
The only cultures in the world that even use utensils are European and Chinese. Everyone not influenced by one or the other of those just eats with their bare hands, even formally. That’s everywhere south of the Himalayas/Mediterranean. If Muslims influence is present, it is an offensive faux pas to bring your left hand anywhere near your food. ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/49 "2017-04-05T19:16:47Z")
If we’re having pancakes for breakfast, there’s a knife and a fork for both me and my boyfriend. He only uses his fork to eat pancakes, cutting them with the side. I use both the knife and fork, euro style, knife in right hand, fork in left hand. Old habits die hard. I can eat with my fork in my right hand if I’m eating something that doesn’t require cutting, so I suppose I am forking ambidextrous. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/50 "2017-04-05T19:45:49Z")
Quick tip for parents who hate having to cut up their kid’s pancakes. Pizza cutter. 🆒 And as for the poll? Side of the fork. I never use a knife cause I’m lazy. If it can’t be cut with a fork, I stab it with the fork and gnaw on it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/51 "2017-04-05T19:57:26Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I believe American pancakes are rather thicker than English ones, the former taking after Dutch pancakes. English pancakes are wafer-thin and you put jam or whatever inside and roll them up. Or just serve rolled up with lemon juice and sugar. Use of a knife to cut is optional: you should be able to cut the rolled-up pancake with your fork, but if it’s too much effort, you use a knife. Those sound like crepes to me. But Euro-style for fork and knife always made sense to me. I’m sure I did it before I had ever heard it was a “style”. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/52 "2017-04-05T20:04:13Z")
I’m left handed. Between using my dominant hand and switching knives, forks, and spoons, I’ve decided to eat all my food mid-Atlantic style. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/53 "2017-04-05T22:15:58Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#): > > Quick tip for parents who hate having to cut up their kid’s pancakes. Pizza cutter. 🆒 Look eight posts before yours. 🙂 That said, had no idea this was a thing. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/54 "2017-04-05T22:24:33Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Look eight posts before yours. 🙂 > > That said, had no idea this was a thing. :smack: That’s what I get for skimming a thread super quick while at work. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/55 "2017-04-05T22:59:47Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > That said, had no idea this was a thing. You never heard of a pizza cutter? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/56 "2017-04-05T23:24:37Z")
> [@Cub\_Mistress](#): > > . . . a pizza cutter. I am not even kidding. . . . Best idea I’ve heard all day! > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > When eating steak or some other knife-required food, I eat European style (left hand fork, right hand knife, not switching hands at all). When eating something like pancakes that only needs a fork (or spoon, for that matter), it’s in my right hand. Is that European style? Oops, then, I want to take back what I said. This is how I do business with, say, a nice thick steak. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/57 "2017-04-06T04:17:07Z")
I am right-handed. Like several others have confessed, when eating something like steak, I hold knife in left (non-dominant) hand, fork in right (dominant) hand, and don’t switch hands. This, I gather, is the way a left-handed European would do it. In fact, people who see me eat this way have occasionally asked me: “Are you British” or “Are you left-handed?” Any of you (in America) ever have people ask you either of those questions? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/58 "2017-04-06T08:22:44Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > I am right-handed. Like several others have confessed, when eating something like steak, I hold knife in left (non-dominant) hand, fork in right (dominant) hand, and don’t switch hands. > > This, I gather, is the way a left-handed European would do it. > > In fact, people who see me eat this way have occasionally asked me: “Are you British” or “Are you left-handed?” > > Any of you (in America) ever have people ask you either of those questions? Yes. It has happened to me. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/59 "2017-04-06T09:30:57Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > I am right-handed. Like several others have confessed, when eating something like steak, I hold knife in left (non-dominant) hand, fork in right (dominant) hand, and don’t switch hands. > > This, I gather, is the way a left-handed European would do it. It’s also the way a right-handed European would do it. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750/60 "2017-04-06T11:10:16Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Those sound like crepes to me. Crepes and _pannekoek_ are the best kind of pancake, and best eaten by hand. I never use utensils, unless it’s a knife to spread Nutella. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-table-manners-and-eating-pancakes/783750.md?page=4)