Would You Eat This Lamb and Couscous Without Utensils?

July 1, 2008

Last week before interviewing Marcus Samuelsson, I ate his African spiced lamb chops and mango lime couscous. The pairing was delicious: the meat was moist and succulent and the couscous flavorful and exotic.

While the ingredients were not grossly insane, the method for eating the dish was out of the ordinary. There were no serving utensils and the chef requested that we eat the lamb while using the bone to scoop the couscous out of the bowl.

I greatly enjoyed sucking on the lamb bone as it doubled as a spoon, however I can understand how some people might not be interested in eating without utensils. Do you have a problem with it?

26 Comments

CHEF NICK 4 years 29 weeks

IN A HEART BEAT...

milosmommy 4 years 45 weeks

I don't eat lamb, but would definitely eat with my hands. I often laugh at my "dainty" mother who eats pizza with a fork and knife. But hey it's her thing. :)

JaimeLeah526 4 years 45 weeks

I've never had lamb or couscous so I'd have to try it first. I'm so uncultured. *blushes*.

keiraz 4 years 46 weeks

ew I hate lamb

bengalspice 4 years 46 weeks

I've never had pupusas, but assuming it's the same idea as dal puris ... and I probably would crackup too if someone tried to eat one of those with a knife and fork.

sfbutterfly24 4 years 46 weeks

food like that taste way better when you dont use utensil!!! Side note I think it is freak HILAROUS when people eat pupusas with a fork and knife and then look at me like I am crazy for digging in!!!

ilanac13 4 years 46 weeks

aside from the fact that i don't eat lamb, i don't thin kthat i would be able to eat it w/o utensils. my fiance might though...he's more of a pick up the piece of chicken with his fingers and dig in type.

Jude C 4 years 46 weeks

That looks delicious. I would totally eat it like a cavewoman. Now I'm craving lamb!

CaterpillarGirl 4 years 46 weeks

I eat with my fingers all the time, but if my great grandmother were alive and saw me do it, she would snatch me bald.

mini_pixie 4 years 46 weeks

My folk's favorite restaurant for birthday dinners & special occasions is El Mansour (on Clement in SF)- a great, traditional Morroccan restaurant. We have been going there as long as I can remember- the food is great, and so is the belly dancing! But they never used to give out utensils with the meal. The last time we were there, they did drop off a stack of forks, but that was the first time in 25 years- and none of us used them :)

desidesi 4 years 46 weeks

i was at a christmas party where they brought around platters of little lambchops just like that for appetizers. you ate it and had to find a place to dump the bone, hehe delicious

partysugar 4 years 46 weeks

Hey guys I didn't mean to offend anyone with the use of the word savage! I was just trying to make a point. I know that many cultures don't use utensils but I also know that many people prefer to use utensils. As mentioned above I greatly enjoyed the lamb and was merely hoping to stimulate conversation.

jspeed 4 years 46 weeks

mmm, I love both lamb and couscous so much that I would definitely eat them with my hands. A lot of foods actually taste better that way!

looseseal 4 years 46 weeks

I'd try it. It looks too yummy not to try.

SugarFreak 4 years 46 weeks

Bring it on! Lamb + eating with my finger? Sounds like a good time to me :)

laPetiteJuJu 4 years 46 weeks

Even though I eat with a fork and knife most of the time, I'm completely open to eating the food of different cultures in the way they eat it - whether that is with a pair of chopsticks or my hands! Besides, if you wash your hands first, there shouldn't be any "ick" factor!

ElizabethRae 4 years 46 weeks

Agree with the others. Using the word savage is offensive. It is a part of certain cultures. As to the question, yes I would eat like that if the setting was appropriate.

Dollylo 4 years 46 weeks

I don't eat lamb but, when I go to my bestfriend's house for a traditionnal meal (she's marroco), i do eat without ustensiles! ;) That's the way to do in some place and for some meal! ;)

Nak Nak 4 years 46 weeks

I have to agree...not a fan of the use of the word "savage." The way it is used is actually pretty offensive. Otherwise the dish looks delicious!

mnp 4 years 46 weeks

Like bengalspice said, I think is offensive that people think eating with a knife and fork is the only civilized way to eat, too. I think eating with your hands is great. You get to experience the food in a completely different way bu being able to feel the texture of the food. Besides, who eats fried chicken or tacos with a knife and fork? =P

sweetpeabrina 4 years 46 weeks

I would totally do it! I think I'd be confused at first as to the "proper" way to eat but once I got the hang of it, I'd munch on.

bengalspice 4 years 46 weeks

I can't imagine eating with your hands as being savage. In fact, I think it's really offensive when people claim that eating with a knife and fork or spoon as being the only civilized way to eat. I once went to a sushi place near Columbia University where the people at the table next to me were cracking jokes about how Asians were smart enough to invent gunpowder, but they weren't smart enough to invent a fork to eat with ... But I guess some Americans find two sticks much more complicated than a piece of metal. Plus ... I get a kick out of seeing the reaction my friends have to me slurping up daal [lentil soup] and rice with my hands.

Le Luxe 4 years 46 weeks

Ick. I refuse to eat lamb.

shoneyjoe 4 years 46 weeks

I too object to the use of the term "savage". That was one of the more complicated parts of growing up - we had a babysitter who was from the midwest, but we're a Chinese family. So a lot of Chinese customs (slurping noodles, lifting the ricebowl to your lips, etc.) were actually banned as "bad table manners", though in reality she thought we were less civilized. Do you bring your own silverware to Ethiopian restaurants?

Shopaholichunny 4 years 46 weeks

I agree with sunnynight! I too am Filipino and if I want to eat with my hands on the table I do. It's our culture! :D

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