SC - Plastic Ware (change to Forks??)

[Elaine Koogler]

Oh goodie....another thread, sort of.  I ran into something Saturday at the
event I cooked, that I thought you all might like ti "chew on".  One of our
metal workers, and a very talented one who does serious research, I might add,
was selling a thing that I christened a "spork".  it is brass, has an early
spoon shape on one end and 3-tined fork on the other.  When I asked, he said he
had documented it as 9th century Anglo-Saxon, and quoted me chapter and verse.
Unfortunately, as I didn't have anything to write on...and my mind was a little
toward the "pudding" stage at that point so I can't remember what he said, I
don't remember where the "chapter and verse" came from.  Any thoughts????

Kiri

"James F. Johnson" wrote:

> Hi everybody! This is 'Lainie, writing from Seumas' place- hanging out
> after the event yesterday (a lovely little feast done by Himself- if I
> do say so...)
>
> Anyway, regarding plastic utensils/chopsticks/whatever- I've been
> working through more manners books again (and I found a whole one I
> didn't know of before- 15th c., Middle English. REALLY COOL- I'm
> thinking about rendering it into modern English- *wink* to Stefan- as if
> I need another project for the TO-DO pile...).
>
> I got off track again- hmm. Oh, yes- utensils. Because forks are those
> silly new-fangled thing from Italy, and I have been reading rules about
> keeping yourself and your napery and your hand clean and not allowing
> the sauces to drip from your fingers (and because I couldn't find my
> favourite threek before the demo Friday night) I did the small meal at
> the demo and the feast last night with just a small knife, a spoon for
> soup, plate, bowl, goblet. No fork. Nice big napkin, but no fork. I used
> my fingers for almost everything, and was thinking the whole time about
> not smearing/slurping/dripp, etc. It felt really rather delicate and I
> decided it might just be a habit I'll get into.
>
> Did you know the manners writers felt the need to instruct their readers
> specifically to NOT wipe their hands on the cat or dog? Why? Was there a
> rash of greasy, gravied pets, I wonder?
>
> 'Lainie
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