How to Properly Eat Spaghetti
Even though there may be a large Italian population in the United States, there are many people that are still unsure of how to properly enjoy a dish of spaghetti. Italian table manners dictate a certain “proper” etiquette which a person should observe when enjoying a mouthwatering dish of spaghetti, which does not include the American standard of “keep your arms off the table!” In contrast, eating spaghetti the Italian way can prove to be an endeavor which few people truly realize until trying to do it personally.
The first step in eating spaghetti the Italian way, is for a person to keep their hands on the table during the entire meal , but being careful to keep elbows away and to observe respect for others and wait for everyone to be served. It is believed in any culture to be a bit presumptuous and rude when eating before others have had the pleasure of being served, the same can be said of the Italian tradition. Now that you know the basics in table manners, you are ready to begin digging in, or are you?
A person should never use a spoon when eating spaghetti the Italian way. While many people enjoy using a spoon to wrap the pasta around their fork, it is considered bad manners. Spaghetti should be eaten using a fork only, and with some practice an amateur can become adept at the skill in no time at all. Never, ever no matter what you do, cut the noodles with a fork or knife. Spaghetti is sold in a standard 10-inch length and it is just perfect the way it is!
In Italy, spaghetti is traditionally served in a special dish called a “piatto fondo,” which is deep and shallow with a rim. A person should allow room at the front of the bowl to push the spaghetti a bit forward and into the center of the dish. Take a small bunch of spaghetti using the prongs of a fork to do it and push the noodles against the front of the bowl. Now, using the fork in a vertical fashion, push the prongs against the rim of the bowl and twirl the fork in a clockwise motion. Raise the fork with spaghetti above the bowl to eye level, savoring the sauce, the cheese and the pasta lovingly as you anticipate the first bite!
The mistake most people make is overloading the fork with spaghetti, which can result in disaster. If the amount is too much or too little, drop the fork down and pick up the desired amount. Roll the fork again in the same fashion until you get the perfect bite, pop it into your mouth and enjoy the robust and hearty tomatoes, savor the tangy herbs and spices and allow the taste buds to partake of the exquisite beauty that is spaghetti!
There are just a few more rules to observe when properly eating spaghetti, never slurp, it’s rude. Also no not splatter spaghetti and do not wear your napkin like a bib, unless you are a small child. Unless you are feeling adventurous, avoid spaghetti at a large, formal gathering it is much easier to eat it shorter pasta such as macaroni or bow-tie. No matter what you do never “Scarpetta, ” in public, which literally translates to mean “little shoe,” we all know spaghetti is a wonderful, tasty dish but never take a piece of bread and try to sop up the juices, it is considered bad etiquette. However, when at home do as the others do and enjoy every last bite of one of the most delicious dishes to ever come from Italy!