Eating Pizza in England

There are times I’ve felt out of place. One of the easiest ways to feel out of place is being an American and visiting a foreign country. Even by visiting an English speaking country, an American can feel out of place and not understand every word. For instance, if you see a jumper in America, you better call 911 or a clean up crew to wash blood and guts off the street. If you see a jumper in England, you might ask if the jumper (sweater) comes in a different size or color.

I traveled to England years ago, not specifically to eat pizza, but there I was in London near Hyde park in a pizzeria. I looked over the menu until I found the type of pizza I would feel comfortable eating. There it was, “American Pizza.”

The pizza arrived at our table a few minutes later. I thought it was someone eles’s pizza. This was a whole pizza. It wasn’t cut. No slices, neither triangles or rectangles or squares. No slices at all. What was I to do? Didn’t they know pizza in America is cut into pieces so we could eat it with our hands?

I looked around the pizzeria at everyone else and they were using knives and forks. That was so alien to me. But not wanting to look out of place, I picked up my knife and fork and began to cut. While in Rome you do as the Romans. The same could be said of London, England. But I could only go so far to fit in. There are also times you just want to do what is comfortable and this was one of those times.

When I finished cutting, I looked down at my plate and there they were, 8 almost perfectly sliced triangles. While everyone else ate with their forks, I ate my “American” pizza in what I always thought was the “American” way. I picked up each slice and ate it that way.

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