Cutlery

Ariadne I don't think he was being an arch snob on that particular occasion in the pome [sic] about the fish knives. I think he was replying to the recent, slightly tongue-in-cheek article by Nancy Mitford about U and non-U (not, of course, the same as our much-loved Nonu).

Oops thought I'd spelt it wrong! x

Funny you should say that about Nancy Mitford, absent - there are certain triggers, aren't there?

Apparently the "upper classes" didn't use fish knives/forks-they were seen as a "middle class affectation". Just saying!!

<running for cover>

Crikey Elegran I didn't know you had to tip the soup in sideways! No one told me that.

Cake forks are useful for small boys eating chocolate cake. No mucky fingers.

I like butter knives. Hard to find these days.

Oh! You mean front on! Sorry. Wrong kind of sideways.

Durrh!

I find grapefruit knives very useful Janerowena but I haven't come across an oyster knife, could you describe one?

I have an oyster knife sitting beside me as I read this thread! It has a stumpy wooden handle of 4", a metal guard below the blade which is 3" long, is flat, approx. half " wide and blunt at the end for digging between the oyster shells. I hasten to add that it isn't mine - it was forgotten by a friend at Christmas who kindly brought oysters. (I can't eat them - violently allergic)
For the record, I use a grapefruit knife, grapefruit spoons, fish knives and forks (so common!), soup spoons, cake forks and anything else meant for purpose . No point in having a drawer full of equipment if it isn't used appropriately.

The upper classes had someone else to clean the silver cutlery that had become stained with the sulphur in fish or egg. The middle classes had a cook-general who was already over-worked. Using different-shaped fish knives and forks meant that the good silver stayed silver, not black.

Jings How do you eat soup? does the spoon handle stick out forwards as you tip the soup into your mouth, or to one side? We could do a survey on GN - fronters v siders - it could become a demographic of soup-eating habits.

Lobster forks anyone? Long thin handle two pronged affair.

I have a lot of Viners Chelsea, too, I think it was a popular wedding present in the 60s. It is far better quality of stainless steel than most of the stuff in the shops now.

I topped up some missing pieces from Ebay a few years ago. If any Gransnetter now has a yen for fish knives, Chelsea ones go for a song on Ebay, and look very stylish.

Elegran I cut up loads of bread and butter and add it to the soup. Then I eat it.

When out, I do it the posh way. I do try not to slurp.

Side

Side

Don't like bread in my soup, would rather eat it with the soup, not in it.

Except proper French onion soup with bread and toasted cheese in it.

I don't see a lot of point in soup. Why not just eat the stew?

Warming, comforting and just slides down when a bad cold includes a sore throat Jinglbell, I also have soup when I just want a light lunch.

Thank you Marmite, I am going to see if I can find a picture on Google. I would never need an oyster knife as I wouldn't want to eat a raw oyster.

Do try from Waitrose Parsnip and ginger soup, microwaved in 3 mins with a nice crusty buttered granary roll - FAB.

Ooh, yum!

Marmight's description sounds very like mine. The handle is very strong for a good grip, the whole knife tapers down to a bluntish tip so that the knife is almost like a triangle, with a very short blade of only 2.5". The pint isn't very pointy and is slightly curved on one edge only. The blade is very thick on one edge for strength. We love oysters.

Yes, I was always taught NOT to use fish knives and forks but DBH's family are keen users of them so I have had to give in. Which is partly why I would like a new cutlery service, the other reason being that the one I have is very thin-handled and I far prefer our chunkier everyday ones.

I can't find a picture of my own oyster knives, which are wood, brass and steel, but this is the same shape

www.nobleexpress.co.uk/cp/2-5-black-handled-oyster-knife/KT481?set_vat=true&referal=3196&gclid=CM7_lofCjsMCFe3MtAodNyMAyQ

Almost identical! Just the point is slightly different.

www.faloyster.co.uk/products/oyster-knife