If you’re sitting with your family, ready to enjoy another delicious dinner, you probably don’t have to worry about which fork to use. Isn’t there usually only one fork at the left of your plate? Yes, it’s when you find yourself out in public at a fancy restaurant or at a formal sit down reception and you see three forks. Panic sets in! Your eyes start to roam hoping you can quickly spot someone near who seems to know what they are doing. Well, here are some tips that may help you.
My mother always said to start from the left, as if you were going to read, and work your way toward the plate. If you see three forks, the one farthest from the plate is the salad fork. The middle fork will be the largest. That one is for the main meal. Big fork…big meal. The last small fork, which has been patiently waiting, is the dessert fork. For me, that’s the most important fork!
Now, watch your etiquette! Remember NOT to put a dirty fork back on the tablecloth or placemat. That’s a no-no. Leave each used fork on the plate you were eating from. Placing it at a slant toward the top left of the plate is classy.
You may be dining with a friend and notice just two forks. Just remember, left to the largest fork is the salad fork and right to the largest fork is the dessert fork.
Of course if you drop a fork, please ask for another. Don’t pick it up and wipe it with your napkin or a part of your clothing. Try not to reach for and use one of your other forks or sneak a neighbor’s fork instead.
So, relax and enjoy your meal. Show your fork smarts.