Twirling Mamas and Chopping Daddies?

[Perilagu Khan]

The classic Italian-American staple spaghetti and meatballs was also a staple of my childhood table in the 70s and 80s. (And sometimes the sauce was Ragu out of a jar.) Now my mom, ever the sophisticate, twirled her spaghetti around the fork, but my dad hacked his unsuspecting pasta into inch-long segments with fork and knife before consuming.

I mentioned this to my wife last night and she said the same thing went on at her childhood table. Dad was a chopper and mom was a twirler.

Any other Hounds observe this phenomenon back in the primeval era?

[pine time]

Mr. Pine had never had any pasta before we met (and 3+ decades later, still isn't a fan). The first time--as poverty-stricken starving students--I piled a plate in front of him, he asked: how do I eat this stuff? After trying unsuccessfully to twirl and it fell off the fork, next question: and why?

[wyogal]

My husband cuts his, I twirl mine.

[Plano Rose]

Two cutters here.