mofederal
Major
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2017
- Location
- Southeast Missouri
If you were my great grandfather use a knife. That was his go to untensil after the war. He ate peas and corn with it also.
Last edited:
You can’t fool me, that’s a Spork! Albeit a very fancy one.Knowing which fork to use at a fancy dinner has long been a challenge for many diners, but using a spoon to eat ice cream has always been pretty easy. Or has it? Diners in the mid-19th century insisted on using peculiar forks to enjoy this treat.
The ice cream fork was a product of the cutlery overkill during the Victorian era. It seems table-setting became a competitive art form for the Victorians so the requisite utensils were soon accompanied by numerous odd utensils like aspic spoons, snail forks, bonbon scoops, and, of course, ice cream forks. This utensil seems especially odd since people initially associated the common fork with the devil’s pitchfork. We can thank the Italians’ love of pasta and the table-setting boom in the 19th century for making the fork acceptable.
Today ice cream forks aren’t often seen, but proper etiquette still calls for them, especially when eating ice cream sundaes. It all depends on how the ice cream is served. If it’s placed in a bowl, it’s proper to use a spoon to scoop it up. If it’s presented on a plate, you should get out that ice cream fork.
It's rare to find ice cream forks in kitchen shops these days, but these relics are still available on the internet.
During college I worked in a Mexican restaurant and fried ice cream was our top selling dessert. The kitchen crew regarded it with horror! They told anyone who was a fan to let the ice cream sit about ten minutes and then come back and praise the dessert. The ice cream balls used for fried ice cream are pre-scooped, rolled in a crushed corn flake topping, and put in the freezer. Just before serving they are dropped in the deep fryer. They come to the table with a crispy hot exterior. But - and to the kitchen crew this was an important but - as soon as they cool you can see a thin layer of fryer grease all over the outside. Yech. Once I saw a few cooled ice cream balls I understood why they rejected them.I love Fried Ice Cream. Haven't had it in many a year.
I have never tried fried ice cream. I'm not so sure I ever will. That sounds nasty @lupaglupa !But - and to the kitchen crew this was an important but - as soon as they cool you can see a thin layer of fryer grease all over the outside. Yech. Once I saw a few cooled ice cream balls I understood why they rejected them.
Hyde W. Ballard trademarked the word, "spork" in 1951. My first encounter with one was at a KFC. KFC was the first restaurant to offer sporks to customers.You can’t fool me, that’s a Spork! Albeit a very fancy one.
There was a nearby restaurant that specialized in fried ice cream--and we all went there just for this wonderful dessert. It may have been the hot grease and corn flakes that made it so good!During college I worked in a Mexican restaurant and fried ice cream was our top selling dessert. The kitchen crew regarded it with horror! They told anyone who was a fan to let the ice cream sit about ten minutes and then come back and praise the dessert. The ice cream balls used for fried ice cream are pre-scooped, rolled in a crushed corn flake topping, and put in the freezer. Just before serving they are dropped in the deep fryer. They come to the table with a crispy hot exterior. But - and to the kitchen crew this was an important but - as soon as they cool you can see a thin layer of fryer grease all over the outside. Yech. Once I saw a few cooled ice cream balls I understood why they rejected them.
Shouldn't be--if the table has been laid properly.Knowing which fork to use at a fancy dinner has long been a challenge for many diners
I remember eating with those sporks - they made funny scratching sounds in the tiny Styrofoam cups of mashed potatoes and cole slaw!My first encounter with one was at a KFC. KFC was the first restaurant to offer sporks to customers.
Ever since I was a kid i’ve eaten watermelon with a steak knife. The knife allows you to cut out chunks without crushing the melon and losing a lot of water. Then you just stab the chunk and lift it up to your mouth. Yeah, I could pull it off the knife and eat it, but that would just take more time and make my fingers sticky. I hate having sticky fingers and by using my knife I look more refined. Mostly the only people who look on in horror are strangers and if I feel they are staring at me i’ll shove my pinky finger out to advertise my descent from the First Families of Virginia. It’s been said that i’ve descended pretty far!If you were my great grandfather use a knife. That was his go to untensil after the war. He ate peas and corn with it also.
Mmmmmmm...... fryer grease! (Sorry, it had to be said. Too many episodes of “The Simpsons” when I was younger.)During college I worked in a Mexican restaurant and fried ice cream was our top selling dessert. The kitchen crew regarded it with horror! They told anyone who was a fan to let the ice cream sit about ten minutes and then come back and praise the dessert. The ice cream balls used for fried ice cream are pre-scooped, rolled in a crushed corn flake topping, and put in the freezer. Just before serving they are dropped in the deep fryer. They come to the table with a crispy hot exterior. But - and to the kitchen crew this was an important but - as soon as they cool you can see a thin layer of fryer grease all over the outside. Yech. Once I saw a few cooled ice cream balls I understood why they rejected them.
I agree, especially the older days when it was more common to have manners. Families and folks were good at socializing with each other. To make meals in the past took lots of work and they all worked together; to hunt, gathering crops from the fields, going to the stream for water and as for preparing meals everyone joined together for this whether it's shucking corn, pealing the potatoes, cutting up okra, preparing the meat, etc., Therefore they didn't take things for granted like many of us do today especially the technology, including watching tv during dinner rather than have family time socializing. As for fine china, my grandmother on my mother's side always had the dining room set up like the older days, she loved antiques. You had to sit and stand properly and even each utensil had to be used properly like using a tiny little fork for lobster. All this was done together; family and friends and neighbors out of love.I love formal dining and am sorry to see people abandon fine china and silver flatware. There is something about a perfectly set table with special food that communicates love to me.
I love Fried Ice Cream!!! To me, the mexican restaurants make the best fried ice cream, depending on where you eat. We've never made any homemade before.I love Fried Ice Cream. Haven't had it in many a year.
Was your great grandfather Rambo? lol! No wait! Crocodile Dundee! jokeIf you were my great grandfather use a knife. That was his go to untensil after the war. He ate peas and corn with it also.
I like this utensil the best for it's both spoon/fork together. I would use this more than a fork or a spoon.Knowing which fork to use at a fancy dinner has long been a challenge for many diners, but using a spoon to eat ice cream has always been pretty easy. Or has it? Diners in the mid-19th century insisted on using peculiar forks to enjoy this treat.
The ice cream fork was a product of the cutlery overkill during the Victorian era. It seems table-setting became a competitive art form for the Victorians so the requisite utensils were soon accompanied by numerous odd utensils like aspic spoons, snail forks, bonbon scoops, and, of course, ice cream forks. This utensil seems especially odd since people initially associated the common fork with the devil’s pitchfork. We can thank the Italians’ love of pasta and the table-setting boom in the 19th century for making the fork acceptable.
Today ice cream forks aren’t often seen, but proper etiquette still calls for them, especially when eating ice cream sundaes. It all depends on how the ice cream is served. If it’s placed in a bowl, it’s proper to use a spoon to scoop it up. If it’s presented on a plate, you should get out that ice cream fork.
It's rare to find ice cream forks in kitchen shops these days, but these relics are still available on the internet.
@lupaglupa , I thought about you when we recently stayed at a B&B in PA. The tables were set to perfection for breakfast every day. It was such a lovely way to start the day. They even had knife rests on the table.I love formal dining and am sorry to see people abandon fine china and silver flatware. There is something about a perfectly set table with special food that communicates love to me.
Frankly, all of that eating formality does not appeal (or formality in general).