Britain’s etiquette authority Debrett’s has approved eating with your hands with a rider — you cannot lick your fingers clean.
Debrett’s guide to modern manners offers advice on a vast range of subjects, including family occasions, work life, romance, table manners and letter writing.
“In these more informal times,” says Debrett’s, “it is acceptable to eat certain foods with hands.” However, it warns that the main point must be to avoid “making a mess”.
The guide recommends cutting large items into manageable pieces which can be held with both hands, and taking small bites. “Food eaten with the hand must always be put down on the plate between bites,” cautions Debrett’s. Any food spills cannot be touched with the hand, diners must use a fork to pick it up. “Eating with your hands is a relaxed and convivial style of dining,” says Debrett’s in approval, but adds, “Don’t let your standards slip, remember your manners.”
The advice is definitely not about eating Indian food but about finger foods, pizzas and calzones. For the squeamish, it offers an easy way out: “Even if your fellow diners have chosen to eat with their hands, it is perfectly acceptable to use a knife and fork if you wish,” says Debrett’s.
“Diners can then wipe their hands on their napkin but they cannot wipe their mouth with their hands or talk with mouth full,” it says.