Pasta Etiquette


eating etiquette (how to eat...)

Table manners for eating pasta. When pasta is served on a plate or in a shallow bowl, such as spaghetti, it is eaten with a fork, but if served in a deep bowl, such as ravioli, it is eaten with a spoon.

The Table Manners Question: Cut or Wind?

Noodle length and width dictate whether you will be winding the pasta round your fork tines or cutting it.

Table manners for eating thin noodles. Thin noodles are wound around fork tines. Try to pick up two or three strands with each bite to avoid a bite that becomes too large. For leverage, balance the tips of the tines against the side of the plate and wind the strands around them. In the US, a spoon is at times used to steady the fork.

Inevitably, some pasta strands will still be hanging from your fork. Just quietly suck them into your mouth (this is not improper dining etiquette).

Table manners for eating wide noodles. Wide noodles (like ravioli or lasagne noodles) are cut.

resting knife and fork etiquette

Our resting utensils etiquette section covers the rules (american and continental) for resting your utensils when taking a break from eating, when you are finished eating, and when you are passing food [...]

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