Cutleries

Butter Knife

§  Any non-serrated table knife designed with a dull edge and rounded point.

§  Used only to serve out pats of butter from a central butter dish to individual diners' plates.

Dessert Fork and Spoon

§  At an informal meal, when two utensils are provided for dessert, the utensils are laid on the table or presented on the dessert plate.

§  The dessert spoon (or dessert knife) is laid on the table above the dinner plate in a horizontal position, handle facing right.

§  The dessert fork is laid beneath the dessert spoon (or dessert knife), handle facing left.

§  The dessert utensils may also be presented on the dessert plate in the same way as formal service.

Coffee/Tea spoon

§  The teaspoon, after-dinner coffee spoon, and demitasse spoon are placed on the saucer behind the cup handle. The spoon handle faces the diner in a four o'clock position, ready for use. But when a teaspoon is used as an eating utensil, such as cereal at breakfast, it is laid on the right side of the place setting.

Seafood Fork

§  The seafood fork is laid on the right side of the soup spoon. It is the only fork placed on the right side of the place setting. The fork tines are placed in the bowl of the soup spoon with the handle at a 45-degree angle. It may also be laid next to the soup spoon in a parallel position.

Soup Spoon

§  The soup spoon is placed on the right of the outside knife.

§  Use for soup course

Fish Course Knife

§  The fish knife and fish fork are placed on the table in the order of use. When fish is served as an appetizer course, the fish knife is laid to the right of the dinner knife and the fish fork to the left of the dinner fork. But if fish is served as the main course, the fish knife is placed to the right of the dinner plate and the fish fork is laid to the left of the plate.

Meat Course Knife

§  The meat knife is a specialized knife not made as part of a set of flatware.

§  It is approximately 8¼ to 9 inches long and has a sharp tip and a serrated edge to cut thick portions of meat.

Salad Course Fork

§  The salad fork is laid on the table in the order of progression. When salad is a first course, the salad fork is laid to the left of the dinner fork. If salad is served after the main course, the salad fork is placed to the right of the dinner fork