Most of us relish tucking into a hearty bowl of pasta every so often – the ultimate comfort food that’s both satisfying and full of potential for a variety of flavours.
It’s hard to find fault with this beloved meal, especially on October 25, when World Pasta Day gives us all the more reason to celebrate this cherished dish.
However, a recent revelation suggests many could have been consuming it incorrectly for years. Devotees of spaghetti should abandon the spoon – a common tool employed in the pursuit of a tidy dining experience.
A TikTok user by the handle @_franceess_00, namely Francees, declared that those striving to dine like true Italians must forego the spoon altogether. In her homeland, utilising a spoon to twirl spaghetti onto a fork is considered a gastronomic faux pas.
Displaying her own spaghetti eating technique, Francees posted a clip captioned: “Rule 1. You don’t need a spoon. Rule 2. You don’t need to cut spaghetti. The knife is not needed. Rule 3. Ground the fork to the bottom of the plate and spin around.”
This shared video sparked widespread engagement, igniting vibrant discussions amongst netizens about their personal pasta preferences.
Echoing the diversity of opinion, one individual noted: “Actually, people in some regions do use a spoon as well.”
In contrast, another was baffled: “People use knives?” Questions followed suit with a third querying: “Am I the only one who uses a spoon to spin the spaghetti?” whereas a fourth voiced agreement with Francees: “I thought everyone did this everywhere.”
Clearing the air on this noodle controversy, it seems that most Italians consider the use of a spoon while eating spaghetti as socially undignified. According to some, resorting to such measures flies in the face of proper dining etiquette.
Using a spoon to eat your spaghetti might lead to some awkward glances from locals in Italy, as it can result in you taking too large bites. However, there are those who believe that using both a spoon and fork is a sophisticated way to enjoy the dish.
This method helps to prevent sauce splatter and allows for the addition of cheese to bind the sauce.