Eating Etiquette in Europe

I think in the US people are more relaxed when it comes to eating etiquette..  We are big into our finger foods and think nothing of eating French fries, hamburgers, or other things with our hands.  Europeans rarely if ever tend to eat with their fingers.  That even goes for their chips (French Fries).  I have seen in some cities in Italy where people take two pieces of pizza and put them together like a sandwich.  Then they eat it out of a wrapper with their hands.

I always use utensils for everything when I am in Europe unless it is something like crisps (potato chips).  If you need to use a fork and a knife at the same time you will hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right.  Once a bite-sized piece of food has been cut, it is placed in the mouth using the fork with your left hand.  When eating items such as potatoes, vegetables, or rice, use the blade of the knife to assist or guide placement of the food on the back of the fork while the tines remain pointing down.  Now I can’t say that I always point the tines down.  (There are a few that do use their right hand for the fork and left hand for the knife which is the American way.)

The knife and fork should both be held with the handle running along the palm and extending out to be held by the thumb or forefinger.  They call this “hidden handle” because the palm conceals the handle.
 
Setting the knife and fork in a crossed position with the fork turned down (fork at 5 o’clock and knife at 3 o’clock) on the plate indicates to the server that you are not yet finished.  Setting the knife and fork parallel with the fork turned down on the plate indicates you are finished.    This is not a hard rule and I have not had all servers really get it. 

While eating never talk with your mouth full and never talk loud.  If you are eating and drinking and getting loud everyone will automatically assume you are an American. 

Typical restaurants include a service charge (10 to 15%) on your bill.  Check your bill to be sure – don’t ask.  If you received wonderful service you can always tip an additional 10% but it is not expected.  In a typical pub in Ireland you will never see tipping by the locals.  We still tip if we got outstanding service but you do not have to and it is not expected.  Tipping is not expected in Italy either and most people if they do tip only leave a Euro or two. 

Always carry wet wipes – not all restaurants offer napkins.