I know it can be a little intimidating when you sit down at the table and there are 17 knives, forks, and spoons in front of you and you don't have a clue what to do with any of them. But no fear, I'm hear to help! I've been noticing a lot lately that people really only know the purpose of one fork, one knife, and one spoon. And, I think once you become a post grad, you should at least have a basic understanding on what each utensil is good for. I'm not saying you have to remember it all right now, and there is not going to be a test later. Don't forger, you can always pop in and reference this post whenever necessary. So here is a little run down on what you should know!
{a} Charger (aka service plate): This plate is larger than all other plates and placed on the table as simply decoration. All other plate you are served, such as your appetizer, salad, and dinner plate, will be placed on top of the charger.
{b} Bread Plate: Please keep your bread, and only your bread, on this plate.
{c} Dinner Fork: A somewhat unusual spot for the dinner for is in the middle of the three forks. If the salad will be served last (yes, that does happen.), the order should go appetizer fork, dinner fork, salad fork. If dinner will be the last course before dessert served, then it will go closest to the charger plate.
{d} Appetizer Fork: The appetizer fork will always be the first fork you see, assuming there is not a shellfish course that proceeds it. However, if oysters are being served, the oyster fork will appear on the right side of the spoons.
{e} Salad Fork: The salad fork will appear closest to the charger when salad is the last item to be served. Otherwise, it will follow the appetizer fork and proceed the dinner fork.
{f} Salad Knife: This knife is to be used for your salad only. Not your butter, or your dinner. Of course, if salad will not be served last, then the knife closest to your plate will be your dinner knife.
{g} Dinner Knife: Fairly explanatory, it should be used for your dinner. Let me put this simply, the forks and knives should match up with each other. Meaning, if dinner will be served before the salad, then the dinner knife is what you will see first. If the salad will be served before dinner, then the salad fork is what you will see first.
{i} Soup Spoon: This spoon will be used to pour delicious soup into your mouth. But, please, respect your other guests, and don't slurp. It's really not a pleasant sound.
{j} Oyster Fork: Yum! Who doesn't love oysters? Kind of strange I know, but the oyster fork is always placed on the side with your spoons and knives and comes out before your appetizer as a shellfish dish.
{k} Butter Knife: Ahh finally! The butter knife! Don't be confused and grab your dinner or appetizer knife for buttering your bread. Use the butter knife silly! Oh, and a little tip on buttering your bread at the table. The proper way to do so is to put the butter on your bread plate and break off a piece of bread as you eat it, and butter that bite before eating.
{la}Water Glass
{lc} Red Wine Glass
{ld} White Wine Glass
{le} Champagne Flute
{m} Dinner Napkin: The dinner napkin will always be folded and placed on top of the charger, or in place of the plate if a charger is not being used. And, for goodness sake, please don't tuck the napkin into your shirt or dress. It's just a slight bit tacky. The proper way to place your napkin in your lap is to fold it into a triangle and place the crease near your knees.
{Note} While they are not in this picture, there are usually a fork and spoon above the charger. The spoon is a dessert spoon and is to be used for all desserts not of a cake consistency. So I bet you're wondering what you eat the cake with. Well obviously, the fork that's just chillin' there. Yes, it is actually called a cake fork and is to only be used for your cake. Nothing else.
To put it simply, just work from the outside in on both sides. For each course, just pick up the utensil that is farthest from your plate. Kind of easy right?
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