Table etiquette is a set of good manners that are followed during a meal. There are differences in table manners across cultures, but the general rules are the same for all educated people.
Instructions
Step 1
In accordance with the rules of etiquette, the cutlery located to the right of the plate must be taken and held with the right hand, and the one on the left with the left. It is customary to hold a spoon between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand while eating; after the end of the meal, it should be put in a plate. Scoop the soup from the plate with a spoon towards you, slightly tilting it. Hold the handle of the spoon with your thumb and forefinger, while it should rest on the middle finger.
Step 2
Using both a fork and a knife, hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right. Hold the handle of these devices with your thumb, forefinger and middle fingers, while it rests on the palm of your hand. Even if extra effort is required to cut the food, do not put your fingers on the edge of the fork. Hold the fork and knife horizontally over the plate at all times, even when using only the fork. If the cutlery needs to be put aside while eating, they should be placed along the edges of the plate or criss-cross on it, with the knife hand facing to the right and the forks to the left. Hold the handles of knives, forks and spoons so that they do not touch the parts that come into contact with food. After the end of the meal, place the knife and fork on a plate next to it.
Step 3
When chopping potatoes and vegetables into pieces, hold the fork in your left hand, and hold the food with a knife. Eat omelets without a knife, holding a fork in your right hand. Eat mashed potatoes as follows: hold a fork with the prongs up, use a knife to put a small portion on it. Pierce the potato strips with the tines of a fork and push in deeper with a knife.
Step 4
In the classic version, meat dishes should be eaten with a knife and fork in hand at all times. The American version prescribes, having cut the meat with a knife and a fork into small pieces, put the knife on the right edge of the plate, and put the fork in the right hand and start eating.
