Is it not appropriate to eat pizza with hands in Germany?
I eat pizza in Germany every day as it is pretty cheap yet so delicious! However, I found that most Germans, likely 80% or more, use knives and forks to eat pizza.
I got pretty surprised to see how many locals here use these utensils to eat pizza. But I am wondering if it is not appropriate or even rude to eat pizza here with one's hands.
Do people around here mind it or are simply very tolerant? How about a chef?
I usually eat about a 6 to 10 euro pizza alone at cheap restaurants or eating establishments. The pizza is usually served cut but in one case it was not, which was at slighly more "classy" restaurant (e.g. has a tablecloth and a waiter comes with menu) but still incredibly cheap (5.9 euro).
Best Answer
I would correct problemofficer's answer that once you are eating in a real dignified "restaurant" (better style, cutlery, soft drinks costing over 2,50 €, whole meal is > 20 €), use of cutlery is obligatory. You do not eat with hands anymore.
German good conduct books are always dismissive about eating with hands, so if you are in company which sees this as important, abstain from eating with hands.
Use of cutlery has also an interesting side effect: German pizzas are very rarely already sliced (and if they are sliced, it is sloppily done), even if they are intended to be eaten at home.
Another reason to wash the hands: You get easily grease spots from the oil on paper.
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