I am glad I am not alone! I was brought up to eat your food before it gets cold, so I have always eaten fast. Now I don't like my food cold, so I still eat fast. It's not a problem because my boyfriend eats fast too. He just eats more than me so I am still usually done first.
It has been embarrassing on occasion though. Once I was having dinner with a new friend. Our food came and I began to eat. After about a minute she looked at me and said "Would you mind putting down your fork for a minute and talking to me?" I was confused and also embarrassed. I looked at dinner as something to eat. She looked at dinner as an event - a time to eat, talk, and enjoy each others company. We have been friends for close to 30 years. I still eat fast, but not when I'm with her.