Esteemed etiquette guru William Hanson stirred up quite a debate among his Instagram followers after schooling them on the art of eating long pasta with finesse.
William knows a thing or two about savouring life’s delicacies, regularly sharing that wisdom with his impressive following of 2.9 million people. Famous for hosting the ‘Help I Sexted My Boss’ podcast, he provided guidance on everything from eating croissants correctly to navigating restaurant menus with decorum.
In his latest video, William insists: “Even if you’re working from home, there’s no excuse for sloppy pasta manners,” as he indulged in sumptuous Birds Eye tagliatelle. His masterclass includes three pivotal tips for both at-home diners and those out for a meal.
He stands firmly against using a spoon to eat pasta, urging enthusiasts to forsake any form of twirling, saying: “Leave it to one side.” And in line with authentic Italian dining traditions, he recommends putting away the knife too, because slicing through your pasta is just not the way to go.
As William elaborates: “Instead, holding the fork upturned in your dominant hand – you go into the side of the pasta and make a nice little parcel. Lean forward and eat.”
Garnering more than 35,000 likes and a flood of comments, William’s demonstration gained nods of approval from numerous followers. One comment stood out: “As an Italian I can only say: YES! That’s the way it is. As simple as that.”
Another wrote: “This is the first thing that I’ve done that has been correct.” While a third chimed in, agreeing with the post: “Absolute lack of etiquette to use spoon to roll in pasta. Fork only!”
However, not everyone was in agreement, as one food lover argued: “But it’s so much easier with the spoon!” Meanwhile, another countered: “The spoon is okay, it’s a traditional and old-fashioned way used in southern Italy to help with the spaghetti; leaning forward instead is not ok, if you really want to follow the etiquette.”
For those looking to spice up their kitchen routine, Birdseye’s Steamfresh Seductions audio series is available on YouTube, perfect for enjoying while your steamy and saucy pasta lunch is being prepared.
William recently joined forces with the frozen food giant, revealing his secret to adding a bit of spice in the kitchen. These cheeky tales combine his playful narration style with sharp wit, all delivered from the heart of the home – the kitchen.
This exclusive footage comes after a survey of 2,000 adults found that 40% are eager to jazz up their lunch breaks, from what they do to what they eat. Birds Eye commissioned the research and audio clips to mark the launch of its three new Steamfresh Meals – pasta and veg-based microwaveable meals for one.