It’s very easy to be called a savage because you wield a knife and fork. But at dinner parties, in a restaurant or at official events, you probably prefer to use the classic style. There is a European (continental) style and an American style. Which one do you prefer?
Steps
Part 1
European (continental) style- We will analyze the table setting at the end. Now concentrate on how to hold cutlery and learn how to use them! Use correctly, of course.
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To cut the dish on your plate, hold the knife in your right hand. The index finger should be straight and at the base of the blunt side of the knife blade. The remaining four fingers clasp the handle. While the index finger is located on one side of the knife (blunt side), the thumb holds the knife on the other side (by the handle). The end of the knife handle should touch the base of your palm.
- The knife is used equally in both styles. The rules are designed for right-handed people in both styles. If you are left-handed, follow the instructions provided, taking into account your peculiarity (thus, you will hold the knife in your left hand and the fork in your right hand).
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Hold the plug in your left hand. The teeth should be pointing down. The index finger is straight and is located on the back of the fork, at its base, but not so close as to touch food when using the device. Other fingers wrap the handle.
- This method is called the "hidden handle" method. All because your hand hides the whole pen.
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Bend your wrists so that your index fingers are pointing down towards your plate. Thus, the ends of the cutlery will also be turned down. Your elbows should be relaxed, not hang in the air or be uncomfortable.
- While you are eating, your elbows should be placed outside the table. But if you decide to take a break - not necessarily stick to this rule.
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Hold the food with a fork, exerting pressure on the device with your index finger. If you need to use a knife, cut off the food at the base of the fork with a sawing motion. Meals such as pasta require little effort, but you may have to try a little to cut the meat. Usually make one or two cuts at a time.
- Hold the fork so that the teeth are bent towards you, the knife should be farther from you than from the fork. You can keep it at an angle - most importantly, make sure you see the knife to know where you are cutting. You should see the knife behind the fork.
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Using a fork, place a small piece of the dish in your mouth. Teeth must face down. The back of the fork looks up.
- Take the fork in your left hand, even if you are right handed. Experimenting, you will find that this method is more effective than the other.
Part 2
American style-
When you cut the food, hold the fork in your left hand. In contrast to the continental style, you need to hold the American fork like a pen. The handle must be held with the thumb and forefinger, the middle and thumb hold the base, and the index finger is located on top. And in this case, the teeth are turned down.
When you cut, hold the knife in your right hand. The arrangement of the fingers of the right hand is the same as in the previous version - the index finger along the base, the others - clasp the handle.
Cut the food. Hold the piece with a fork (the teeth are facing down), carefully cutting off the food with sawing movements. The fork should be closer to you than to the knife. Cut one or two pieces before continuing.
Now change hands. The most important difference between this style and the previous one: after you have cut a piece, put the knife on the edge of the plate (blade for 12 hours, handle 3) and take the fork in your right hand. Turn the fork so that the teeth are facing up! Tadam.
- This method was common in America when it first became America. This method was also used in Europe until a more effective approach was found. In the US, such a jump did not occur, although there are differences everywhere.
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If you do not cut anything, hold the plug in your right hand (the teeth are facing up). If you eat a dish that does not need to be cut, hold the plug in your right hand all the time. The teeth can be directed down if you want to cut a piece, but basically they are always turned up. However, remember that these rules should be observed only formally. This refers to the situation when, for example, the president is sitting opposite. Otherwise, don't worry about it.
- Your appliances should never touch the table. If you use only a fork, make sure that the knife lies on the edge of the plate. When you put the fork, put it on the edge of the plate so that the teeth are located in the center.
Part 3
Additional tableware-
Understand how the table is served. In 95% of cases, you will use only a knife, a fork and a spoon. But there are times when there are other accessories. Here are the possible options:
The fork should be located to the left of the plate and the knife to the right. If you have more than one fork: the extreme one is used for salads, and the one closest to the plate is for the main course. A fork for the main course is more than a fork for a salad.
(88516) - Zhanna Abdugalimova, December 01, 2007
Each of us has many important meetings in life, and a lot depends on the results. What to do if you decide to hold such a dinner party in your house or apartment. After all, if the guests are important and the decision of certain issues depends on them, then I want everything to be at the “height”, strictly in accordance with the canons of etiquette. And while the next dish is being prepared in the oven, we spread an elegant tablecloth on the table and proceed to the placement of cutlery so that it is not worse, and even better than in the most expensive restaurant. It is possible to arrange beautifully the instruments on the table just for a loved one, thus making a surprise and emphasizing the importance of this moment in your life.
Cutlery on the table should be located in accordance with the scheme.
1 - a plate for bread, 2 - napkin 3 - small fork for snacks, 4 - fork for fish dishes, 5 - a large dining fork for meat dishes, 6 - snack plate, 7 - fake plate, 8 - a large dining knife for meat dishes, 9 - fish knife, 10 - tablespoon for soup, 11 - small knife for snacks, 12 - dessert spoon, 13 - dessert fork, 14 - a glass for strong alcoholic drinks served to snack, 15 - a glass for dry white wine served to fish dishes, 16 - a glass for dry red wine served to meat dishes, 17 - a glass of champagne served to the dessert 18 - a glass of mineral water
According to the number of guests, fake plates are placed on the table, and snack bars are placed on them. Napkins, folded triangle, cap, or otherwise, put on plates.
Knives put the tip to the plate.
Forks put the convex side down.
Cutlery used in accordance with their location - starting with the extreme and ending with those that are next to the plate.
The knife and fork are held so that the fingers do not touch the blade or teeth. If you stop using the device from time to time, put it only on the edge of the dish, but not on the tablecloth. If you have used only a fork, then the knife should rest on the right edge of the plate, where it least interferes.
If there is a pause in the meal (but the feast is not finished yet), the device is placed on the plate crosswise - the knife is pointed at the left, the fork is raised upwards with a convex part - so that the knife handle is five o'clock, and the handle of the fork - at seven o'clock. The place of crossing should fall on the teeth of the fork and a third of the knife. You can put the fork and knife handle on the table, and the other end on the plate. At the end of the meal, both devices are placed on the plate parallel to each other, their handles "show for five hours."
Glasses are served near the plate, closer to the middle of the table, parallel to its length or arc, starting to the left of the largest one in size. Either the glasses are set in two rows so that the large glasses do not cover themselves smaller in size.
Plates with sliced even slices of bread are placed in different parts of the table so that all guests can easily reach it. Bread taken from common plates is placed on bread plates that are located to the left of the dummy plates.
Castors and other devices for spices are arranged at the rate of one device for three or four people.
Various cold snacks on dishes and plates are evenly placed on the table so that guests can easily get them.
The basics of behavior at the gala reception evolved over the centuries, they are the same in any restaurant and are understood by the attendants.
Properly laid knife, fork, spoon - the main signs for the staff during the meal.
Sometimes, if you do not follow the rules and briefly leave the place, then returning, you can find an empty table, the fact is that you gave signs to the waiter that you finished the meal.
There is a long etiquette regulating how tableware should lie and understandable to employees of an institution. The waiter thought you had finished the meal and was cleaning the dishes. Therefore, it is important to learn all the signs that are used in restaurants and at ceremonial events.
Basic signs such as putting cutlery after a meal, all five. Remember them easy and simple.
Pause
Various hot appetizers at a gala reception or in a restaurant change periodically. But sometimes, you need to take a pause between meals. In this case, the knife and fork must be folded towards each other, their handles abut the table top, you should remember that the knife should be on the right, and the fork on the left. Then the waiter will not remove your plate, and you will continue dinner when you return.
The second dish: waiting
Many people notice that the second one is always waiting longer, this is explainable: it takes time to prepare it. It is tedious, and the question is how to put a knife and fork when a salad or snack is eaten. Here a gesture that is important for the restaurant workers will help, especially when you are in a hurry: the objects should be folded crosswise on the plate, this sign will be immediately understood by the waiter.
A compliment to the chef
Did you like the food in the restaurant and you want to pass the compliment to the chef? Remember the rule, as in this case you should put a fork and a knife after eating: parallel to each other, the end of each device should look to the right, and the handles - to the left. The attendants will understand that restaurant ethics is familiar to you, and will tell the chef that his dish is highly appreciated by the visitor. Perhaps you will receive a compliment from the chef in the form of an additional dessert.
Completion of lunch and request to submit an invoice.
Lunch is over, you are ready to pay, it is worth showing it. You need to correctly place on the table the fork and knife with which you ate. In restaurants, this will understand any waiter serving the table. They are placed parallel to each other, handles towards you, and the ends - from you and always upwards. This shows that lunch or dinner is complete, and you want to pay.
The dish did not have to taste
Among the rules, like putting a knife and fork after a meal, there are gestures that are not always pleasant for an institution, it would be good to know them. For example, you do not really like the food, and you want to tactfully convey this to the staff. It is enough to drive a knife through the teeth of a fork. Everything is simple and easy to understand.
European rules are not much different from American ones. If you dine at the reception and say a toast, do not put the devices on the plate, but leave them on the table and you will not be mistaken. How to put dining objects after eating photos of such gestures will help you to remember them better.
Items not used during the meal just leave where they were.
Etiquette at the table can be easily mastered. To do this, read about how to properly hold the fork and knife, in what order to use them as the serving dishes.
You go to a restaurant where you need to adhere to the rules of table etiquette. Otherwise, you risk falling into an awkward position. The easiest and most reliable way is to observe those people who have a perfect knowledge of this knowledge.
But, if you have never eaten with a knife and fork, then simple viewing will not help much. After all, you need to confidently and correctly hold the fork and knife in your hands. And this is only possible with some training.
Today we will do it. To begin, we will learn how to keep cutlery, and also we will learn to eat, using them at home. It is never too late to master these basics!
So, modern rules of table etiquette .
- We hold the knife in the right hand and the fork in the left. We remember that the main thing in this duet is a knife, and the fork will be an assistant.
- Table etiquette prescribes to hold the fork in your left hand always. At the same time, her teeth should be directed downwards, and the end of her handle rested on the palm of her left hand.
- In the case when we use only a fork - we hold it in the right hand with the teeth down.
- At the same time, all cutlery should be kept only by the upper third of the handle, and in no case by the blade of the knife, not by the teeth of the fork or vault of the spoon.
- All cutlery: knives or forks, should be located to the right of the plate. They take them and hold them with their right hand while eating.
- Respectively, the instruments to the left of the plate are taken with the left hand.
- If dessert devices lie on the table with handles to the right, they need to be taken with the right hand. Those that are located handles left - left hand.
- If you want to get drunk or pause while eatingthen the fork and knife should be put on a plate / \\ like this, and not leaned against it. Fork teeth up.
- Chicken with small bones (wings) and fish eat with their hands.
How to hold a fork, knife, spoon.
How to hold a knife
1. The index finger should lie on the handle and thus press on the blade of the knife.
2. The end of the knife handle should rest directly on the palm of the right hand.
3. At the same time, the thumb and middle fingers will hold the beginning of the handle of the knife by the sides, and the index finger should be on the upper surface of the beginning of the handle.
4. With the index finger, the knife handle is pressed down when cutting the desired piece of food.
5. Bend the rest of the fingers toward the palm.
How to keep a knife
1. The knife can not be held, like a pencil, between the index finger and thumb.
2. The knife should never be sent to the mouth.
How to hold the plug: 3 ways to use.
Option 1 - Knife and fork:
1. The fork should be kept in the left hand teeth down.
2. The end of her pen should rest a little on the palm.
3. At the same time, the thumb and middle finger should clasp the fork by its edge, and the index finger from above, pressing the handle of the fork down.
4. The rest of the fingers should be slightly bent and loosely pressed to the palm.
5. The plug should always be directed towards the mouth so that it forms a horizontal line. The most optimal position is to tilt it slightly down.
In the photo, the fork in the left hand teeth down.
How to take food with a fork:
1. In order to keep a piece of food on the plug or send it into the mouth, you need to keep your index finger on the handle, slightly pressing it down. The thumb and middle finger are used for balance.
2. Want take a side dish? In this case, put it on the teeth, and then turn the plug. The fork handle should remain between the thumb and forefinger.
3. It is necessary to break something with a fork? It turns with its edge and by crushing the food breaks.
4. It is necessary chop a hard piece on the teeth of a fork? She turns straight, and pressing the fingers on her nakalyuyutsya desired piece.
5. The fork can be used as a spoonpicking up fine food from a plate over the teeth of a fork.
6. While eating a fork with a knife must be kept at an angle to the dish. Otherwise, you risk dropping them with food.
7. In case when it is impossible to chop food, for example, side dishes (mashed potatoes, cereals, salads, etc.), the fork can be used as a spoon, as if underlining food from below. At the same time, the teeth of the fork must be turned upwards. In this position, the fork should lie with the flat part of the handle on the middle finger, with the thumb hold the handle of the fork on top, and the index finger on its side. When it is impossible to take food from a plate with only one fork, it is allowed to help it with a knife, holding it in your right hand.
How not to use the plug:
1. A fork, like a knife, should never be held like a pencil.
2. Never need to fill the teeth of the fork completely with food. Since it will fall or you have to open your mouth wide.
3. It is unacceptable to keep the fork in a clenched fist.
4. You can not try to impale her food.
2 option - a fork, like a spoon:
1. Small pieces of food and some side dishes for fish or meat (mashed potatoes, for example) cannot be eaten with a fork. In such cases, it can be used as a spoon.
2. You need to turn the fork teeth up so that on your middle finger you lay a flat part of the beginning of the handle of your fork.
3. The pen itself should rest with its end against the base of the index finger.
4. The plug itself is held with the index finger on its side, and the top is held up with the big one.
5. The rest of the fingers are again pressed to the palm. Food in this case is picked up with a fork, helping, if necessary, with the tip of a knife.
3 option - a fork in the right hand.
In the case when the dish can be cut into pieces without using a knife, only the fork is held, which is held with the right hand.
How to hold a spoon
1. The spoon is held in the right hand.
2. The handle of the spoon is held between the thumb and forefinger.
3. The end of her pen lies on the base of the index finger, and its beginning is on the middle.
4. The thumb presses the spoon against the middle finger from the top, and the index finger is held to the side.
5. She can mix hot drinks to cool.
6. For stirring should be done 1-2 turns non-energy.
Spoon use errors:
1. Overflowing the spoon causes the soup to overflow onto the plate. May drip on the chest or on the tablecloth.
2. Rumble with a spoon while stirring the liquid.
3. Very active stirring of the drink.
How to use a knife and fork on table etiquette when eating certain dishes and products.
When you can or can not use cutlery: a fork and a knife.
Bread.
Cutting bread at the table with a knife is impossible. This is bad form.
That's right - it is to break off small pieces from it.
Ham or large cuts of meat.
A fish.
It can not be cut with a knife.
An exception is if pickled herring or hard smoked fish is served as fish on the table.
Special cutlery is served to the fish dish: a fork and a special spatula for separating bones, or just two table forks.
How to use a fork and a special spatula:
the fork is taken in the left hand and used directly for food, and the shoulder blade in the right.
How to use two simple plugs:
instead of a blade, the second fork performs the same function.
Crabs and crayfish.
Do not use the fork and knife. Sometimes it is allowed to use a conventional fork to extract crayfish, sea mollusks or meat crabs. In all other cases, a special plug will be provided, which will be much more convenient to use.
Poultry meat
Allowed to use the knife and fork.
Green salad leaves.
Can not be cut with a knife. For these purposes it is better to use a plug.
Indeed, it may occur, since in modern restaurants and cafes a table is far from always served beforehand in anticipation of guests. If all the devices are prepared, and you sit down at a table where everything is already laid out, then the plug will definitely be lying teeth up.
But if you came to a cafe or just waited for your turn at a table, it often happens that the waiter took up a place just before you took it. Of course, he did not have the time table, ideally correctly spreading the forks and spoons in the right.
It is supposed to hold the plug easily, using the index finger and thumb, slightly pressing it against the half-bent middle.
In this case, instruments are often brought wrapped in a napkin. This is a sign that the plug is perfectly clean and you can be sure that your meal is hygienic. If the plug is wrapped in a napkin, then it can be put both up teeth and down. Usually they are not visible at all, one can only guess from the outline of the convolution, where are the teeth there. It turns out that putting the fork with the teeth down on the table is permissible only in one case: if it is served wrapped in a napkin.
Use fork
The fork is usually used as the main device for most dishes, with the exception of soups, and the spoon and knife serve as auxiliary. But sometimes the plug acts as an auxiliary device. For example, if you need to cut a piece of meat, then take a fork in your left hand (in your right, if you are left-handed, and further, all recommendations for left-handers should be the other way around), and the knife in your right hand. Then cut the piece, without spreading your elbows to the sides.
Further, should also be done according to American or European styles. The American way implies that you will still be right-handed. Put the knife on the edge, and then hold the fork in your right hand, hold it to your mouth with the teeth up. With the European method, you can either continue to squeeze the knife in your right hand, or not, but you have to use your left hand. The fork, at the same time, keeps the teeth down.
In the simplest case, the fork is placed on the left side of the plate, and the spoon and knife are placed on the right.
If you have broken away from the food for conversation, then you can’t put the fork on the table, according to. And here it is just important, up or down teeth you will hold it. There are two styles: American and Continental, or. In the American style, the fork is held with the teeth up, and in the case of European norms - the teeth down.
Until you have finished the dish, it is not customary to place the fork on a table or on a plate. But if you still want to postpone the fork for some reason and finish it later, you can’t put a dirty appliance on the tablecloth. It is placed on the edge of the plate, diagonally. The direction of the teeth in this case is not important. If you want the waiter to replace your plate and devices, then put them on the edge of the plate in parallel, so that if you imagine the plate as a dial, the cuttings would be in the area of the number 4.
