Sanders: I eat pizza ‘without the fork’

Bernie Sanders joined the debate over utensil use when eating pizza, siding with those who call for a hands-on approach.

“This is a tough ‘gotcha’ question you’re asking me,” he told reporter Joe Toohey Thursday during an interview with Fox News’s local affiliate in New York City. “I myself prefer it without the fork. I have to admit it.”

Fellow presidential hopeful Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) inspired mockery earlier this week by using a knife and fork on his pie, instigating a discussion about the best way to consume the Italian staple.

{mosads}“I know we’re probably going to lose millions of votes here, but nonetheless, I’m for picking it up and eating it,” Sanders said.

Kasich had joked that his wife prefers more refined table manners after pizza purists scorned his silverware.

“The pizza came out scalding hot, and so I used a little fork,” he said Thursday.

“You know what she said – ‘I’m proud of you, you finally learned how to use a utensil properly,’” Kasich quipped. “Look, not only did I eat the pizza, I had the hot sausage. It was fantastic.”

New York-style pizza is famous worldwide, with the gigantic hand-tossed pies often served in wide slices to go. Sanders, a New York native, argued that he readily embraces his heritage on the campaign trail.

“I was born in Brooklyn, my wife was born in Brooklyn and we’re very proud of that,” he said.