What is Your Pizza Taste, Fingers or Fork?

According to a recent survey by Technomic a research and consulting firm in the food industry,  93% of pizza lovers eat pizza at least once a month; the average consumer eats pizza three times a month. Wow!

I remember as a child growing up my mother would bake pizza every Saturday night. The dough for the crust was either a package mix or if we made bread earlier in the day, we saved some dough for the pizza. The toppings were simple: a small can of tomato sauce, fried and sliced Italian sausage and lots of thick slices of mozzarella cheese. Then thirty minutes in the oven and wallah! Oh the memories.

Fast forward a couple of decades and now I ask you, do you eat pizza with your fingers or a fork?  As a child, and now most times as an adult, I use my fingers. Now that’s not to say if I’m served pizza with a knife and fork that I skip using the flatware. It’s usually a subtle hint I’m in an establishment where patrons use a fork over fingers.

So when eating pizza with my fingers, here are the etiquette tips I follow so the meal does not become messy.  

1)    Resist blowing on the pizza when it is hot. It really doesn’t cool the pizza any faster. Wait a minute or so for the pizza slice to cool. You will also save yourself from burning the roof of your mouth.

2)    Don’t tilt your head backward like you are going to gulp the slice of pizza. Save the silliness for when you are eating by yourself (if at all). Instead, share some conversation with the folks at your table.

3)    If the pizza slice is layered with soft melted cheese, score the cheese with a knife before taking your first bite. Sometimes using a knife and fork is the better option in this situation.

4)    If the crust is crisp, skip eating the crust and place it on the side of your plate. You don’t want your friends hearing a “crunch” when you bite into the crust.

5)    Avoid licking your fingers by using plenty of napkins. Don’t be shy about asking for more napkins. It is much better to have several paper napkins on your lap than one unsightly and overused napkin.

Now it’s your turn. What are your etiquette tips for enjoying a pizza with friends?

What next?
Subscribe to Carol Bory’s Etiquette Blog with RSS reader or email.