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Biochemkris · 06-23-2008, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lissy Longbottom

Cale raised his hand. He knew a thing or two about utensils...but only a thing or two. "Don't you use the utensils on the outside and work towards the inside? For example, the outside fork is for your salad, right?" he asked. "But, on your right hand side, the knife on the inside is used for the first course."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

Gentlemen, choosing the correct silverware from the variety in front of you is not as difficult as it may first appear. Starting with the knife, fork, or spoon that is farthest from your plate, work your way in, using one utensil for each course. The salad fork is on your outermost left, followed by your dinner fork. Your soupspoon is on your outermost right, followed by your beverage spoon, salad knife and dinner knife. Your dessert spoon and fork are above your plate or brought out with dessert. There is also a chance you will encounter a fish fork and fish knife from time to time depending on the menu. Normally the set up will contain no more the 3 forks, 3 knives and 3 spoons, excluding the dessert silverware. If you remember the rule to work from the outside in, you'll be fine.

There are two ways to use a knife and fork to cut and eat your food. They are the American style and the European or Continental style. Either style is considered appropriate. In the American style, one cuts the food by holding the knife in the right hand and the fork in the left hand with the fork tines piercing the food to secure it on the plate. Cut a few bite-size pieces of food, then lay your knife across the top edge of your plate with the sharp edge of the blade facing in. Change your fork from your left to your right hand to eat, fork tines facing up. (If you are left-handed, keep your fork in your left hand, tines facing up.) The European or Continental style is the same as the American style in that you cut your meat by holding your knife in your right hand while securing your food with your fork in your left hand. The difference is your fork remains in your left hand, tines facing down, and the knife in your right hand. Simply eat the cut pieces of food by picking them up with your fork still in your left hand.

Do not push your plate away from you when you have finished eating. Leave your plate where it is in the place setting. The common way to show that you have finished your meal is to lay your fork and knife diagonally across your plate. Place your knife and fork side by side, with the sharp side of the knife blade facing inward and the fork, tines down, to the left of the knife. The knife and fork should be placed as if they are pointing to the numbers 10 and 4 on a clock face. Make sure they are placed in such a way that they do not slide off the plate as it is being removed. Once you have used a piece of silverware, never place it back on the table. Do not leave a used spoon in a cup, either; place it on the saucer. You can leave a soupspoon in a soup plate. Any unused silverware is simply left on the table.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicoT

Nicholai had sat down and placed his serviette in his lap. An expression of bored disdain flickering on his face. He looked down the table as another student began to lecture.

"There will never be more silverware than needed; so you do not need to worry about a salad or a shrimp fork or a soup spoon if those are not served," Nicholai added. Before scowling down the table, "The American style is vulgar and only appropriate in America." He adjusted his serviette slightly, before turning to his dummy and adjusting 'her' serviette appropriately also.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

"Oh, but when you're done in America, you've got to put your utensils diagonally across the plate, while the proper- er, the continental way is to place them in an X-pattern across the plate. Also, you can never let yer oars touch the water... I mean, you can't rest your utensils halfway on the plate with the handles touching the table. Bad form." Will remembered, inwardly thanking his mum for all the times she'd smacked his hand for doing that. Personally, he didn't know what all the fuss was about. As long as you chewed with your mouth closed, didn't talk with your mouth full, and didn't like, play with your food, why did there need to be all these rules about table manners? It was just eatin', after all... elbows on the table or not, you were there to fill your gut.

"This is all very good. I'm glad I don't actually have to go through all of this as most of you seem to know what you're doing. I hope you don't mind but, I'm not going to force you to sit through a meal here but, I do expect you to follow these guidelines in the great hall. Now, before I dismiss you as your host are there any other questions pertaining to table manners or etiquette in general? I assume you all know to open doors for ladies and the like..."

06-23-2008, 04:55 PM	#79 (permalink)
Biochemkris Technical Assistance Tebo Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The Bowels of SS Posts: 25,873	Technically technical all the time Bookaholic Quote: Originally Posted by Lissy Longbottom Cale raised his hand. He knew a thing or two about utensils...but only a thing or two. "Don't you use the utensils on the outside and work towards the inside? For example, the outside fork is for your salad, right?" he asked. "But, on your right hand side, the knife on the inside is used for the first course." Quote: Originally Posted by Wayfarer Gentlemen, choosing the correct silverware from the variety in front of you is not as difficult as it may first appear. Starting with the knife, fork, or spoon that is farthest from your plate, work your way in, using one utensil for each course. The salad fork is on your outermost left, followed by your dinner fork. Your soupspoon is on your outermost right, followed by your beverage spoon, salad knife and dinner knife. Your dessert spoon and fork are above your plate or brought out with dessert. There is also a chance you will encounter a fish fork and fish knife from time to time depending on the menu. Normally the set up will contain no more the 3 forks, 3 knives and 3 spoons, excluding the dessert silverware. If you remember the rule to work from the outside in, you'll be fine. There are two ways to use a knife and fork to cut and eat your food. They are the American style and the European or Continental style. Either style is considered appropriate. In the American style, one cuts the food by holding the knife in the right hand and the fork in the left hand with the fork tines piercing the food to secure it on the plate. Cut a few bite-size pieces of food, then lay your knife across the top edge of your plate with the sharp edge of the blade facing in. Change your fork from your left to your right hand to eat, fork tines facing up. (If you are left-handed, keep your fork in your left hand, tines facing up.) The European or Continental style is the same as the American style in that you cut your meat by holding your knife in your right hand while securing your food with your fork in your left hand. The difference is your fork remains in your left hand, tines facing down, and the knife in your right hand. Simply eat the cut pieces of food by picking them up with your fork still in your left hand. Do not push your plate away from you when you have finished eating. Leave your plate where it is in the place setting. The common way to show that you have finished your meal is to lay your fork and knife diagonally across your plate. Place your knife and fork side by side, with the sharp side of the knife blade facing inward and the fork, tines down, to the left of the knife. The knife and fork should be placed as if they are pointing to the numbers 10 and 4 on a clock face. Make sure they are placed in such a way that they do not slide off the plate as it is being removed. Once you have used a piece of silverware, never place it back on the table. Do not leave a used spoon in a cup, either; place it on the saucer. You can leave a soupspoon in a soup plate. Any unused silverware is simply left on the table. Quote: Originally Posted by NicoT Nicholai had sat down and placed his serviette in his lap. An expression of bored disdain flickering on his face. He looked down the table as another student began to lecture. "There will never be more silverware than needed; so you do not need to worry about a salad or a shrimp fork or a soup spoon if those are not served," Nicholai added. Before scowling down the table, "The American style is vulgar and only appropriate in America." He adjusted his serviette slightly, before turning to his dummy and adjusting 'her' serviette appropriately also. Quote: Originally Posted by XanaSnape "Oh, but when you're done in America, you've got to put your utensils diagonally across the plate, while the proper- er, the continental way is to place them in an X-pattern across the plate. Also, you can never let yer oars touch the water... I mean, you can't rest your utensils halfway on the plate with the handles touching the table. Bad form." Will remembered, inwardly thanking his mum for all the times she'd smacked his hand for doing that. Personally, he didn't know what all the fuss was about. As long as you chewed with your mouth closed, didn't talk with your mouth full, and didn't like, play with your food, why did there need to be all these rules about table manners? It was just eatin', after all... elbows on the table or not, you were there to fill your gut. "This is all very good. I'm glad I don't actually have to go through all of this as most of you seem to know what you're doing. I hope you don't mind but, I'm not going to force you to sit through a meal here but, I do expect you to follow these guidelines in the great hall. Now, before I dismiss you as your host are there any other questions pertaining to table manners or etiquette in general? I assume you all know to open doors for ladies and the like..." __________________ Blast from the past!