Am I doing this all wrong?

[sporadicrains]

I was in a cafe the other day and I saw a woman eating her panini with a knife and fork.

AIBU to think I've been making a terrible etiquette mistake by picking them up and eating them... should I be using cutlery?

The whole point of paninis is you can eat them with your hands. Like a sandwich

I eat it with a knife and fork but that’s because I hate getting messy hands when eating —and I am a bit odd in that way__

No they're meant to be eaten by hand.

I give up

Don't worry, sporadicrains, just carry on eating it with your hands!

I'm not worried...

I don't use a knife and fork but generally cut the panini into two or three smaller pieces before eating it by hand. If I don't the filling ends up all down my front.

Depends how messy the filling is. I'm a clutz and spill down myself most days. If it looks like it might be risky, knife & fork all the way. I know it looks a bit odd but so does a big cheesy grease mark on my top.

What about Big Macs - do they need to be cut up first as well?

I cut it into 4 and then eat it with my fingers - as with any sandwich.

"What about Big Macs - do they need to be cut up first as well?"

Nope. Eat them from the drive through. No one can see you. Leather seats are worth it simply for wipecleanability after dripping the sauce.

Pizzas, burgers, paninis - all should be eaten by hand. They're designed to be picked up to be eaten. Using a knife and fork with them is like using a knife and fork to eat a sandwich.

What about Big Macs - do they need to be cut up first as well?

I once had to cut a burger first. I was in American and it was MASSIVE. I had to cut it in half because I could barely lift it, let alone bite it. But normally no.

Ahem, I was in America. Not an American.

Friend at work eats them with a knife and fork because her false teeth can't cope with them eaten by hand.

I'm a bit stuck on pot noodles - fork or spoon?

The only thing that matters is that you use good table manners while eating. If someone prefers to use cutlery, why should anyone care?

The only thing that matters is that you use good table manners while eating.

So, no tongue-in-cheek then?

I always eat a panini with my hands. I did a double-take when I saw a man in Costa's eating a toasted cheese sandwich with a knife and fork.

To be fair, the cheese in those is like molten lava