A man has left TikTok stunned after digging into a bowl of spaghetti bolognese with his bare hands – but there’s a method to the apparent madness.
Emmanuel, 21, a food influencer from south east London, has been left thoroughly scrubbing his hands after sharing a controversial video of himself and his girlfriend dining at a restaurant.
The couple visited Don Ciccio Osteria in Hampstead late last week, where they tucked into classic Italian cuisine such as the aforementioned ‘spag bol’, mushroom tagliatelle, lamb’s lettuce and more – all without using cutlery.
The bizarre clip has left 11,600 followers (@MotivatedByE) baffled, but Emmanuel has a very good excuse for ditching the knife and fork.
Apparently, it makes food taste better and boosts your senses.
“[The experience] involves ditching the knives and forks and eating with your bare hands instead – it’s crazy right,” Emmanuel says to the camera.
“This experience went way more positive than I expected – the textures, the new crazy methods of eating foods and the flavours gave us a unique sensory overload.”
Emmanuel then scoffs lamb’s lettuce by the handful and digs into his pasta dishes strand-by-strand.
He then bites into a juicy beef tomato, before moving onto the star of the show, the spaghetti bolognese – which he gobbles ever-so politely, despite the finger-licking method.
He says: “I’ve always been hands-on with my food, but only ever done so in the privacy of my own home.
“I suppose it’s not exactly polite or good manners to shovel food into your mouth with your hands.”
One person commented: “I really loved the concept of this!! Great video.”
Another follower dubbed it the “new food trend”.
Someone else added: “Just like back home.”
Dubbed ‘Hands-Glee’, this new foodie trend claims to elevate your dining experience – and it’s even supported by research.
In a recent study, conducted with 2,500 Brits in October 2022 by restaurant booking platform, TheFork, a staggering quarter of Brits were revealed to “secretly” eat with their hands.
And, if given permission, one in four would jump at the chance to unleash their desires while eating out.
While it’s commonplace in others cultures, people in the UK are concerned that they will be “frowned upon” – with 20% claiming this is the reason they stick to cutlery.
Professor Charles Spence, experimental psychologist at the University of Oxford, said: “Eating with your hands is scientifically proven to improve texture and the flavour of food, as well as a whole host of health benefits.
“It’s something more people should know about and get to grips with.
“Many of the world’s most popular foods are eaten with the hands – think burgers, tacos, tortilla wraps and wings, so why can’t other foods be as well?
“Eating with our hands helps to make us more mindful about what we are eating and heighten our dining experience, rather than just thoughtlessly using cutlery like we always do.
“The fork gets in the way and separates you from your senses.
“Drop the fork this October and give eating with your hands a try to feel and taste the difference, safe in the knowledge you won’t be the only one.”
Emmanuel, who frequently shares his “obsession” with food on social media, having racked up millions of views with clips of his mum’s homemade comfort dishes and fast food feasts, is encouraging others to try the trend.
Anyone keen to give up their cutlery is in luck, too.
TheFork is offering a ‘Hand-Glee’ experience in 20 London restaurants from 25 October – where you can literally get your hands on anything your mouth desires.
