A question for my American acquaintances:
How do you handle fast food during consumption? What processes do you go through?
As a Canadian travelling for business and pleasure, I have noticed there are significant differences between table etiquette between the two regions. Mostly I am interested in the handling of take-away sandwiches (like burgers, burritos, or doners). The manner of handling "wrapped" food seems to be different.
I have tried to emulate it in the past, but have noticed my Canadian peers getting looks of disgust and not even being aware that there is a difference.
As a general rule, I'll avoid trying to eat such food in a fully-mobile take-away mode. For example, only under some duress would I dream of trying to control a wrapped burrito with one hand and eat it, while also driving a car. Normally, because i feel the wrappers, however remolded, tend to be unreliable, I'll eat this kind of food in the restaurant, at a table, over a tray, unwrapping it fully and (ideally) using utensils to consume, or (failing access to utensils) my fingers.
(Northeast, urban American, New York City)
The skilled use of the wrapping to avoid finger/food contact is what has always struck me as significant.
(Mostly observed in Urban regions, but both midwest and north eastern)
There is also a greater diversity of wrapping techniques and technologies used. I suspect this is partially due to a greater diversity of restaurants in the US, while Canada is focused on a few large chains.