Table etiquette: cutlery

In order to “not lose face” at a dinner party, in a restaurant, or simply in the company of well-mannered people, it is important to know the basic rules of etiquette. Cutlery often raises questions: there are many of them and they are all different. The ability to distinguish a snack fork from a dessert fork, correctly use cutlery to show that the meal is finished and demonstrate your respect to its organizer - all these skills may be required at any time. Therefore, it is better to get to know them as early as possible.

How to use cutlery correctly

Etiquette is an entire art. Every little detail is important here. So, the proper organization of a meal begins with serving. Forks, knives and spoons should be laid out in such a way that it is easy for the dinner participant to take them without disturbing the neighbors at the table.

Important! The distance between cutlery should be no more than one centimeter. At the same time, you should not place them too close to each other. It is optimal if the distance is 6–8 mm.

As in the photo, the cutlery takes up almost the entire space around the plate:

1. The knives are located on the right. There can be three of them: for the main course, for fish and for a snack.
2. If there is soup in the lunch, then a spoon is placed on the right side (convex side down).
3. The space to the left of the plate is allocated to forks, the number of which coincides with the number of knives. The layout sequence is similar.Sometimes forks are placed on the right side of the plate. This is done if dishes are served that are eaten without the use of a knife.
4. The space above the plate is occupied by a dessert spoon and fork. These instruments are small in size and therefore placed horizontally. An important feature: if the handle of the spoon faces to the right, then the sweet will be served individually to each guest. Place a fork closer to the plate.

By the way! When a guest sits down at the table, he should be comfortable. You need to take the devices with the hand on which they lie.

Etiquette rules require more than just proper layout. It is important to learn how to use cutlery so as not to rattle it, disturb neighbors, or stain clothes and tablecloths.

To look decent, you don't have to think about every piece of food on your plate. It’s better to learn simple rules that will help you remain a gallant guest at any dinner:

1. Do not scoop a large amount of soup into a spoon. To prevent it from dripping, it is recommended to shake off excess liquid by pressing the device against the inner edge of the plate.
2. If you need to add soup, it is not recommended to take the spoon out of the plate, much less put it on the table.
3. First you need to eat the broth with a spoon, and then large pieces of meat and vegetables with a fork and knife.
4. It is important to hold the spoon correctly in your hand, holding it between your index finger and thumb.
5. The fork can be held in your hand in three different ways: like a ballpoint pen; placing it on the edge (with the index finger extended along the device, and the thumb and middle finger holding the handle); teeth down (position of fingers as in the second option).
6. No cutlery should be placed on the table. If a knife or spoon is not needed, it is better to place them on the lower plates.

During the meal, appetizers are served first. The utensils for them are located at the outermost ones (relative to the plate). These are the ones you need to take first.

Rules of conduct during a pause

Often a long lunch or dinner is interrupted for toast, important conversation, or other reasons. It is also necessary to take a break during the meal correctly.

Important! The way the cutlery is laid out during a break speaks volumes about the guest's intentions. This is especially true if the meal takes place in a restaurant. Thanks to such unspoken gestures, the waiter understands what is required of him.

The rules of etiquette suggest the position of cutlery, interpreted as “I am resting.” The instruments are placed on a plate, representing a watch dial instead. The fork should lie on an imaginary seven, and the knife on the five.

In some cases, the devices are stacked crosswise on a conventional five. In this case, the knife is placed on the bottom and the fork on top. This means that the pause is short and there is no need to remove the plate.

If you need to show the waiter that the next dish can be served, the fork and spoon should be folded crosswise in the middle of the plate (cutlery should be perpendicular to each other).

Etiquette rules after meals

The end of a meal is a special ritual. Thanks to the position of the instruments, you can show your attitude towards it.

So, you can express dissatisfaction in different ways:

1. Fold the tools crosswise. In this case, the blade of the knife must be passed between the tines of the fork.
2. Place the cutlery parallel to each other on different edges of the plate (blade and teeth facing the edge of the table). This situation will tell the waiter that the guest did not like the reception, and he demands a book of complaints.
3. Place the devices crosswise. In this case, the blade of the knife and the tines of the fork are turned towards the guest.This provision will demonstrate that the guest did not like the way he was served (at the same time, he may be quite pleased with the dish).

However, you shouldn’t show your indignation at small shortcomings. If the guest cannot demonstrate complete satisfaction from the meal, but does not want to be rude, he places the items parallel to each other (the blade and teeth point to the center of the table).

Another way: the fork lies straight (teeth away from the guest), and the knife is on the imaginary number five of the dial (the blade is similarly directed towards the center of the table).

Fortunately, situations where the guest is completely satisfied with the reception are not uncommon. To demonstrate pleasure you must:

1. Arrange the objects crosswise between the conventional five and four. The knife should be on top of the fork.
2. Place the instruments horizontally in the middle of the plate. The tines of the fork and the blade of the knife point to the right.
3. Place the cutlery on top of each other in a five-fold pattern (fork on the bottom). This means that the guest plans to visit the establishment again.

Cutlery is like a sign language; with its help you can not only demonstrate good manners, but also express your own attitude towards the meal. This knowledge is undoubtedly necessary for every person. However, they should not replace live communication: the ability to say words of gratitude to the waiter or the organizer of the reception is no less important than competent behavior at the table.