I’ve never given much thought as to what I should do with my knife and fork when I finish eating a meal. I typically just put the knife across the top of my plate and let the fork tines lay somewhere on my plate. But apparently a hundred years ago people worried about proper etiquette. Here’s what it said in a 1924 magazine:
What to Do with the Knife and Fork at the Close of Dinner
At the close of dinner, or at the close of a course, the knife and fork should be laid side by side, fork with the tines up, knife with the sharp edge nearest the fork, and a little to the right side of the dinner plate, and at right angles to the edge of the table. This should be the signal that the guest has finished the meal, or the course, and is ready to have his plate removed.
American Cookery (November, 1924)
I decided to see what this looked like, and tried to follow the directions (though used a clean plate rather than one with food scraps after I’d eaten). It looks really strange to me. And, why aren’t there any directions for what to do with the spoon?
When saying ‘the knife and fork should be laid side by side’ they might have added ‘on the plate’! This is exactly what I was taught for manners when I was a child, some 60 years ago, and still do out of habit…
PS – The spoon goes a similar position on the cup’s saucer or in the bowl that was used. 🙂
Thanks for explaining. The way you describe the placement of the silverware makes a lot of sense.
I read the instructions to mean that the cutlery should be laid as described – but on the plate. Like Barbara, this is what I was taught, and still do.
I obviously misread the instructions in the old magazine. I took “to the right of the plate” literally and somehow failed to realize that it meant “on the plate.”
I think you have the fork and knife parallel to the edge of the table, rather than at right angles. I was always taught to put them on the plate, they only went back on the table if we were saving the fork for dessert.
That makes sense. I wish that the author of the short piece in the old magazine had fleshed out the description of where to place the fork and knife better. I hadn’t thought about how forks are positioned when someone wants to keep them for dessert. I do exactly the same thing as you and put it back on the table.
It’s always welcome when the host tells us to ‘save our forks!’
Agree
I learned that the cutlery should be placed on the plate at the 5 o’clock position to signal you are finished. .
I can’t remember anyone ever telling me what to do with my fork and knife when I was finished eating. I may have learned it in a home economics class and forgotten it, but I can’t remember us ever talking about it.
We were in a mother/daughter charity group and did dinners and events. The girls learned etiquette and so did I.
Sounds like a fun group, as well as a good way to learn etiquette.
I think they mean to place on the right edge of the plate, not on the table itself. That’s still the practice today.
That makes sense. Next time I go out to eat with a group of people I’m going to watch and see what they do. 🙂
And I certainly wouldn’t want to put the dirty knife and fork on my tablecloth. I’ll stick to leaving them on the plate.
I agree that it doesn’t seem like a good idea to put a dirty knife and fork on the tablecloth – though I may do that when saving a fork for dessert.
And I do always enjoy your posts, even though I rarely respond. I can’t believe how the days get away from me! I have a hard time fitting in my efforts to find a publisher for my manuscript. And then there are the constant crazy things that take up techie time for my computer.
I am determined to place frequent entries on my blog just to show potential agents/publishers that I’m alive and well and active in a way that might help with book sales if they took me on.
So, just checking in to let you know I enjoy what you do
Mona
Thanks for the kind words. I greatly appreciate your support over the years. It’s so easy for time to slip by. Best wishes with your manuscript. I look forward to reading your book soon.
How strange. Why would they suggest leaving dirty fork/knife back on the table? I was taught to leave both on the plate, in the middle, close together. Leaving them apart, would be considered a hint to the host, that you’re asking for seconds… 🙂
It’s fascinating that the placement might suggest whether you are finished eating or hinting for seconds.
It is! 🙂
Sheryl a right angle to the edge of the table would be different than what you’ve demonstrated – you have them parallel to the edge. A right angle is 90 degrees where the table edge is the the top of the T and the eating utensils are the middle… And this should be on the plate as the hostess would be appalled if her guests were to soil the linens!
I think I understand now. I clearly misintpreted what the author said.
Those rules are confusing no matter what! 🤭
Where to leave your utensils when your done eating?…..In the dishwasher!
Works for me. 🙂
Never thought of that. At a restaurant I always put utensils on the plate and slide it away from me.
Like you, I never thought about it until I saw this short piece in the old magazine. And, I often do same as you when I finished eating – I put the utensils somewhere on my plate (and don’t think about how I’m positioning them) and then slide it away from me. I am especially likely to do this if I’m eating a meal prior to a meeting or speaker.
We were amazed years ago when living in the US for a while, to find that Americans did it differently to us Aussies. When we are finished, we put our knife and fork side by side, in the middle of the plate, pointing up to the top of the plate. But it happened another way in America – maybe it was horizontally up at the top of the plate? Anyway very different to us. So many differences around the world, in such little ways. cheers
That’s really interesting. Like you, it’s fascinating how many little differences there are across the world (and, I’m also sometimes surprised by some of the similarities).