Come sit with me for awhile…
and see what I’m bringing to the table

For those of you who really never gave the pecking order of silverware placement a second or even first thought .   .   . I’ve decided to give you a quick lesson.

It has always been quite surprising to me, to go to the home of what I believed are relatively educated and well traveled people, only to find out that the table setting is either incomplete, incorrect, or worse yet . . . set with more silverware then there are courses being served.

Right about now some of you are saying, I’m not so sure that I know the correct pecking order of knives, forks, and spoons. Worry not .   .   . I’ve got you covered! Now for a short course in silverware 101… come on… this will be painless, and the shortest silverware 101 course known to man… promise… read on…

You’ve got your forks to the left of your plate, dinner on the inside, and salad on the outside. When serving dessert that requires a fork, but no salad is being served, reverse the position (dinner on the outside, then dessert closest to the plate). But .  .  . of course there is a but .   .   . don’t I always seem to have at least one but? If serving salad,, and desert, with each needing a smaller fork, here is what I suggest, and use. The second small fork be put just above the dinner plate, tongs facing down.*

Knife closest to the right side of your plate, and soup spoon to the outside if serving soup for dinner. When serving soup and desert, place smaller spoon closest to plate, then the knife**,  and the soup spoon after.
A teaspoon will also be needed when serving coffee or tea. So you don’t overload the table and guests, I put my teaspoon on the table, right above the dinner plate, along with a dessert  fork if used.

When putting silverware directly on the table without a cloth, or place mat, I usually place silverware tongs, and spoon rims facing down, so that they don’t rock, and roll. The second benefit  to putting your dessert fork/spoon, and tea spoon above the dinner plate, tongs facing down, is so that it acts as a gentle reminder that these two pieces of cutlery are not being used during the main courses.

** The edge of the knife should always face in toward the plate.

O K . . . so some of you say, I already knew all of the above.

Well perhaps you did but .   .   . I’ll  bet that there are many out there, that have just taken notes !!!

PS … as promised .   .   . a very short course.

Till next week…

I WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS and QUESTIONS  .   .   . sharons3@me.com

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the popular Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and…