In a formal setting, how do you know which silverware to use?

Answer 1

good rule of thumb is start with the outside pieces and work your way in. In other words - soup spoon/salad forks first. Then these are usually taken away with the first course plates. The first knife is the butter knife - and it is placed in the upper corner of your bread plate throughout the whole meal.

Hint: Soup spoons are larger. Salad forks are smaller than the regular dinner fork. Teaspoons are smaller and have a longer stem. Butter knives are usually smaller or differently shaped than your dinner knife. When your actual main course comes - you should have a dinner knife, dinner fork and dinner spoon left to eat with. Your dessert silverware is usually brought out with the dessert - spoon or fork.

Never place your used silverware on the table, tablecloth - place them on the outer upper part of your plate.

If you have any doubts, just watch your host/hostess and use what utensils they use. Main thing is - don't worry so much. No one should be watching you that closely.

Answer 2

You always work from the outside in. In other words; use the silverware placed furthest away 1st for 1st course. Then the next one in. I took homec in school and have been to many formal parties.

Answer 3

You use the fork farthest from the left.You use the knife farthest from the right.The soup spoon will rest next to the knives.If oysters are served,a tiny oyster fork will rest in the bowl of the soup spoon in a diagonal position.Each utensil will correspond to the course of the meal.If the oyster fork is present,use it to eat the oysters.Soup will follow next and you use the soup spoon.Then you use the fork farthest to the left and the knife farthest to the right for the following course.And just work your way inward.The dessert fork and spoon will arrive with the dessert plate.

Answer 4

Watch your host and outside in are both correct, and often at the same time. There are instances where the host goofs, but guests often follow suit to save embarrassment for their host. And there are ways to use the flatware, such as scooping soup awy from you instead of toward, cutting pie with the edge of a fork instead of spearing it, and so on.

Watching the host is also very important for when NOT to use the flatware. Fowl is generally eaten by picking it up with your fingers.

Answer 5

Always go from the outside in. In other words, use the fork/knife/spoon furthest from the plate on both the left and right sides of the plate first, then use the next closest, etc. If you run out of utensils before you run out of courses, use the last one you have available for the remaining courses. If you have a spoon or fork above your plate, that is for dessert.

Answer 6

Good rule of thumb for this is to start on the outside and work your way toward your plate.

Answer 7

My mother taught me
Get a book or google it, but basically you startfrom the outside and work your way in as you go through courses

Answer 8

Sure, it's very simple: Start from the outside and work in.

Answer 9

i just grab the salad with my hands. j/k

always start with the outer ones and use the one closer to the plate for the next course

Answer 10

Begin from the outside and work your way in! You can also check with: http://www.onlinestainless.com/hints/proper-table-setting.htm