An article posted by Bee Wilson on The Guardian website’s Life & Style blog is titled “Bring Your Own Cutlery: Why We Should All Carry Our Own Knives and Forks.” Following is a short excerpt from the interesting and informative article about the practice—and suggestion that the tradition continue—of bringing your own knives, forks and necessary cutlery to restaurants.

In China and Japan, a “bring-your-own-chopsticks” movement has sprung up. Could a similar trend take off here, or are we too wedded to disposable plastic cutlery? 

In medieval Europe, people used to carry their own personal knife – a sharp one – for every eating occasion. There was no expectation that cutlery would be provided, except perhaps for spoons. When the meal was done, the knife was wiped clean on a napkin and carefully returned to your person. The knife was worn so habitually that – as with a watch – you might start to regard it as a part of yourself and forget it was there. A 6th-century text reminded monks to detach their knives from their belts before they went to bed, so they didn’t cut themselves. Like many aspects of medieval life, this knife carrying now seems pretty weird.

But was portable cutlery really such a bad idea? Click here to read more.

Click here to get your own household cutlery.