Latest Page Discussions/Comic Update Chitchat

[Miriam]

Is this a cultural thing or what? I've seen a lot of discussion about this in the comment section of the page too and it puzzles me. Because at least here in Finland it's the definite norm to eat cake with a small spoon. As is supplying the guests with one if coffee with cake or the sort is served.

You're right, this is a cultural thing! I talked about it with a Finn and they told me they would eat cake with a small spoon. They also told me Finns usually don't even have such small forks. Apparently cakes in Finland are generally soft enough to eat with a spoon. I wouldn't eat for example apple pies with a spoon, because they're too hard, but I heard that Finnish apple pies are soft enough to eat with a spoon. So maybe this cultural difference is based on the hardness of cakes. (Just a mere hypothesis.)

(Here in the Netherlands, if coffee with cake is served it's the norm to supply the guests with a small spoon for the coffee (in case they want milk or sugar) and a small fork for the cake.)

But it gets even weirder!

They even told me if coffee and cake is served, the guests only get one spoon for both their coffee and cake! So they have to stir their coffee with a spoon to also eat their cake with! Barbarians! We'd only do that in case of emergency: when we're out of our precious small forks.

[urbicande]

They even told me if coffee and cake is served, the guests only get one spoon for both their coffee and cake! So they have to stir their coffee with a spoon to also eat their cake with! Barbarians!

It's less to wash up!

[Ana Nymus]

Is this a cultural thing or what? I've seen a lot of discussion about this in the comment section of the page too and it puzzles me. Because at least here in Finland it's the definite norm to eat cake with a small spoon. As is supplying the guests with one if coffee with cake or the sort is served.

*shrugs* I've definitely eaten cakes and pies and the like with both forks and spoons. Usually it depends on the consistency of the cake in question.

[Miriam]

It's less to wash up!

True. I was thinking, the Finnish might hate doing the dishes. Or something.

*shrugs* I've definitely eaten cakes and pies and the like with both forks and spoons. Usually it depends on the consistency of the cake in question.

Possible, but since at birthdays there are often several kinds of cakes, it's easier to just give all guests a fork. For example at my birthday we had apple pie and cheese cake, and the latter could be eaten with a spoon I guess but apple pie can't.

[|Yucca|]

True. I was thinking, the Finnish might hate doing the dishes. Or something.

Are you trying to say there's people who don't hate doing the dishes?

[Miriam]

Are you trying to say there's people who don't hate doing the dishes?

Well, I don't exactly hate doing the dishes, I don't really mind it. Reynir agrees.

[urbicande]

Well, I don't exactly hate doing the dishes, I don't really mind it. Reynir agrees.

I don't much mind it either.  Not my favorite thing to do, but far from the worst.

[Vafhudr]

Little forks are like fancy tier stuff. The kind of things you'll find in silverware.

For everyday convenience we've got forks, knives, spoons (for soup and cereals) and little spoons - for everything else: coffee, tea, yogourt, dessert.

So I would eat cake with a spoon. Especially if it has filling to be scooped. While a fork would be a decent option b.

[Miriam]

Little forks are like fancy tier stuff. The kind of things you'll find in silverware.

For everyday convenience we've got forks, knives, spoons (for soup and cereals) and little spoons - for everything else: coffee, tea, yogourt, dessert.

So I would eat cake with a spoon. Especially if it has filling to be scooped. While a fork would be a decent option b.

I wouldn't call cake an everyday food, though.

[Vafhudr]

Thankfully for my waistline, neither would I.

But I wouldn't bust out the silverware for it either.

Especially not for the quality of cake made here.

[Miriam]

Thankfully for my waistline, neither would I.

But I wouldn't bust out the silverware for it either.

Especially not for the quality of cake made here.

Then maybe make cake yourself!

My silverware is possibly less fancy than yours, because I would bust it out for cake.
Do you know what kind of silverware is really fancy? Little knifes. Those are only in high tea restaurants.

[Vafhudr]

Then maybe make cake yourself!

My silverware is possibly less fancy than yours, because I would bust it out for cake.
Do you know what kind of silverware is really fancy? Little knifes. Those are only in high tea restaurants.

The only way to properly butter scone and apply devonshire cream is with little knives.
This is a fact.

Also yes, but that means I am then stuck with a whole cake. What a nice problem to have.

[Miriam]

The only way to properly butter scone and apply devonshire cream is with little knives.
This is a fact.

Also yes, but that means I am then stuck with a whole cake. What a nice problem to have.

So do you have little knifes in your silverware for at-home use? How overly fancy

Right. Because I live with five (six, rather) people I don't have the problem of being stuck with food so I didn't think of that. Especially my dad just eats three-days-old pie or cake my cousin has eaten half and left the rest. Ew.

What a "nice problem" for your wasteline

[Anna]

So do you have little knifes in your silverware for at-home use? How overly fancy

Having small forks and spoons (salad forks and tea spoons is what I think they're technically called) as part of the everyday flatware is useful if your family happens to include people with small, relatively weak hands, such as children under, oh, let's say eight. They're also good as "backup" for when you've run out of regular forks and table spoons and don't feel like doing dishes.

[Miriam]

Having small forks and spoons (salad forks and tea spoons is what I think they're technically called) as part of the everyday flatware is useful if your family happens to include people with small, relatively weak hands, such as children under, oh, let's say eight. They're also good as "backup" for when you've run out of regular forks and table spoons and don't feel like doing dishes.

Hmm. The family I grew up in has, besides teaspoons and salad/cake forks, also a bit smaller flatware besides the 'adult' flatware. Those are for children, not the teaspoons and cake forks.