The fork in the road

How should noodles be eaten? Who ought to stand for whom? Far from being preserved in aspic, etiquette must evolve to suit modern life, argues William Hanson

‘Do I need to know which fork to use for the fish?’

The decimal switch was surprisingly smooth, despite the centuries of tradition that came before it

We may have all manner of modern gadgetry and user-friendly kit in our kitchens, but often it’s the most humble objects that mean more to us than anything else.

In short, yes: the Victorians did indeed think eating mummified remains pilfered from ancient Egyptian tombs was a good idea, although they did not come up with the idea themselves. The morbid practic

As frequently, this column is inspired by Britain’s Queen of Classics, Mary Beard. This time, her ‘History of food tasters from Nero to now,’ appearing (25 May 2025) in the TLS weekly Newsletter. Does