Our Italian relatives have never been embarrassed when we have sneakily cut some of the pasta with the big spoon, using it as we would use a knife. Once you do that, you can twirl it around the fork as the natives do. I think the important part is to eat nicely without slurping or spraying sauce throughout the restaurant. But, as many here point out, spaghetti is not the most popular pasta you will encounter and many of the others are much easier to eat. Enjoy and buon appetito.

The best way to eat spahgetti is to enjoy it. Believe me, no one is going to be looking at you et your meal. Most of the people will be enjoying their own food in Italy. What a fantastic place to go. Try the local wines with your pasta-forget the fancy expensive wines-- the locals are like drinking water. <BR>order the specials of the region and you will have great memories! <BR>larry

RE 'Slurping.... <BR>Went to Japan recently & the only way to eat noodles with chopsticks is to 'slurp'. This is apparently considered a sign of a healthy appetite & not bad mannered at all !

That's gross! <BR>I know that in France and Italy a loud belch after a meal is not considered offensive but a sign that one had appreciated the cuisine. <BR> <BR>Table manners are evidently not to the same standard as in the US sadly.

My wife and i just returned from Venice, Florence, and Rome. We had a great time except for my wife's purse getting stolen at an outdoor table at a restaurant in Rome. <BR> <BR>I don't think Italians sit around at restaurants just to see how Americans eat spaghetti. You have to be pretty egotistical to think everyone is watching you. I learned years ago that the easiest way to eat spaghetti is to cut it into smaller strands first, and I did so in Italy. One of our waiters, who later became a good friend of ours, laughingly told me he was insulted that I was cutting my spaghetti. We both had a good laugh about it and I got my spaghetti eaten without looking like a fool with sauce all over me. <BR> <BR>Don't be rude to Italians. Just joke around with them just as you would with friends at home and they will respect you.

-- <BR> <BR>Unlikely you'll have any difficulty as others have described, the Italians use less sauce on their pasta than Americans do. If you're concerned about the 'correctness' and are able to order your own selections, then why not sidestep the problem and opt for a pasta that doesn't require twirling? I'm an avid tortellini fan (small self contained pasta stuffed w/cheese or spinach); Or a ravioli, perhaps? Also, a penne pasta is a short tube shape that shouldn't cause you any 'back splash'. <BR> <BR>DO NOTE --- if you order coffee with or after your meal, cappucino is considered a breakfast coffee. Italians rarely drink it after noon - they will serve it to Americans, if asked (an eye roll may accompany your request). Italians usually have a caffe latte or an espresso. <BR>

Belching is just as rude in Italy as it is in USA. Some Italians say "orate porci" when someone belches; they may make it SOUND like it's something nice like "God bless you" or "Here's to your health" if they know the person won't understand, but it isn't.

Simple: Pick up each individual strand with your fingers, then pull said strand between your toes, then suck said strand directly into nostril!! I can assure you, you will be respected for your skill and versatility!!

...and you could gather up all the unused washcloths and use them as napkins. <BR> <BR>Personally I use a fork with at least three tines and a spoon and a large napkin.

Please, please please ... I must object : You DO NOT eat spagetti with a spoon ... you will make a laughing stock of yourself ! You eat it witha fork and do it gracefully ....you wont spiulll then. But, practice makes perfect, so start doing it from now. <BR> <BR>But if you dont want to make a fool of yourself, don't use a spoon (that is provided for tourists only).

I always thought 'spaghetti' was spelled with an 'H'. My God, I eat it with a spoon AND can't spell it correctly.

you guys have it all wrong!as spaghetti was originally invented by the chinese and brought back to italy by marco polo,the correct way to eat it is with chopsticks!have u seen the chinese making a mess when eating noodles?they don't even need napkins!so the western correct way to eat spaghetti is to get a grip on it bu twirling it around your fork,put your mouth as low as you can go and slurp the spagheeti up ala lady and the tramp.the louder and faster you slurp,the better it will taste and the happier the chef and your italian hosts will be!

The forum's experts were certainly helpful?? Give us a report on your spaghetti experience.

True that spaghetti isn't as populat in Italy as in US. But some of the other pastas are much MORE difficult to eat, for example perciatelli.

You guys are too funny! The further south you go, the messier (and spicier), and more fun pasta gets! <BR>Capice? Have fun and mange bene!

By this time the original poster must be back from the trip. Wonder what she ate and how it went. <BR> <BR>By the way, "capice" and "mange" are not correctly spelled Italian words -- sound like pidgen-Italian, and what's the point of using that? It kind of sounds like ridiculing uneducated Italian immigrants when you use made up spellings of mispronounced Italian words. If American, write in English. Or, if showing off now and then, write correct Italian words.

Solution: wear dark printed tops, for example black with a really dark floral print. Then splash and spill with impunity. Oh, and I find the capice and mange misspellings mildly irritating too. Glad I'm not alone.

Lordy -- I'm rolling on the floor here. <BR> <BR>Seriously --it *is* possible that she will be in a situation where she is SERVED spaghetti and where her "manners" will be used to judge her husband. So the question is a real one. <BR> <BR>And I'm still laughing at the responses FYI I'm a twirler in a big sppon myself

I really can't believe you people spend so much time answering questions that have already been answered days earlier! How about helping out all the other posters with tips instead? Or does one only get answered if you ask a stupid question?

Re to above. Because we all want to put our 2 cents worth in.<BR> My Italian born grandfather used a spoon and tried to teach me when I was a child.I couldn't master the technique. I twirl and do alright considering that I tend to be messy anyway.. I DO as suggested often wear dark tops.I have been told that the spoon is "the peasant" way.<BR>Re capice (?) and mange (?) my grandparents said "cah peash" and "mahn ja" tho they never spelled it for me.