Watch CBS News

Mamma Mia! De Blasio Defends Eating Pizza With Knife And Fork

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- What do you think, bad pizza form?

During a visit to Goodfellas Pizzeria on Staten Island Friday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio ate three slices using a knife and fork.

As WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported, the Boston-born mayor switched over to eating pizza by hand when he got to his fourth slice.

Goodfellas co-owner Scot Cosentino was asked about the mayor's use of silverware.

Mamma Mia! De Blasio Defends Eating Pizza With Knife And Fork

"You know, I think he's just trying to be polite, alright. So we'll talk to him on the side about that," he told Lamb.

Social media sites were soon filled with pictures and comments of de Blasio's pizza faux pas, 1010 WINS reported.

The mayor defended his knife-and-fork technique.

"In my ancestral homeland, it is more typical to eat with a fork and knife. And so, I have been in Italy a lot and I picked up the habit for certain types of pizza. So when you have a pizza like this, it had a lot on it, I often start with a knife and fork but then I cross over to the American approach," de Blasio said.

The mayor met with Staten Island small business leaders at the pizzeria.

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.