The rules of table etiquette are a delicate matter, and not everyone knows in what order to correctly lay out knives and forks. But the question of whether the fork should lie up or down with its teeth rarely arises. If the fork is not wrapped in a napkin, then it is placed on the table with the teeth up.
Where to turn the teeth
The question about the teeth of the fork can really arise, since in modern restaurants and cafes, the table is not always set in advance in anticipation of guests. If all the appliances are prepared, and you sit down at the table, where everything is already laid out, then the fork will definitely lie with its teeth up.
But if you came to a cafe or just waited for your turn at a table, then it often happens that the waiter cleared the place just before you took it. Of course, he didn't have time to set the table, with the forks and spoons perfectly arranged in the right order.
The fork is supposed to be held lightly, with the help of the index and thumb slightly pressing it against the bent middle.
In this case, the cutlery is often brought wrapped in a napkin. This is a sign that your fork and spoon are perfectly clean and you can rest assured that your meal is hygienic. If the fork is wrapped in a napkin, then it can be put both upside down and down. Usually they are not visible at all, one can only guess by the outline of the bundle, where there are teeth. It turns out that putting the fork with its teeth down on the table is permissible only in one case: if it is served wrapped in a napkin.
Using a fork
The fork is usually used as the main appliance for most dishes, with the exception of soups, and the spoon and knife act as auxiliary devices. But sometimes the plug also acts as an auxiliary device. For example, if you need to cut off a piece of meat, then take a fork in your left hand (in your right, if you are left-handed, and in the future, all recommendations for left-handers should be read the other way around), and the knife in your right. Then cut a piece without spreading your elbows to the sides.
Next, you should also do according to the American or European styles. The American way assumes that you will still be the right hand to eat. Place the knife on the edge of the plate, and then take the fork in your right hand, bring it to your mouth with the teeth up. With the European method, you can either continue to grip the knife in your right hand, or not, but you will have to eat with your left hand. At the same time, the fork is kept with the teeth down.
In the simplest case, the fork is placed to the left of the plate, and the spoon and knife are placed on the right.
If you break away from food for conversation, then, according to etiquette, you cannot put a fork on the table. And here it is just important whether you hold it up or down with your teeth. There are two styles: American and Continental, or European. In American-style etiquette, the fork is held with the teeth up, and in the case of following European standards, with the teeth down.
Until you have finished the dish, it is not customary to place your fork on the table or plate. But if for some reason you still want to put the fork aside and finish eating later, then you cannot put the dirty appliance on the tablecloth. It is placed on the edge of the plate, diagonally. The direction of the teeth is not important in this case. If you want the waiter to replace your plate and cutlery, then place 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.
