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The important language of cutlery How do you use cutlery at the table?Placing knives, forks and spoons correctly What else should you consider?

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At a glance

Explaining the language of cutlery as per Knigge
Meaning of cutlery symbols
Tips and tricks for placing cutlery correctly
Other important rules of etiquette

The important language of cutlery

Would you like to learn how to place cutlery correctly? Knife, fork and spoon? Perhaps you just wanted to take a pause during your meal at a restaurant, but the waiter cleared your plate? You might perhaps have put your cutlery down incorrectly. But you are not alone. The rules of cutlery are less well known today than they used to be.

The rules for setting cutlery down correctly are over 200 years old. A German writer, Adolph Franz Friedrich Ludwig Freiherr Knigge, created the language of cutlery, which ensured the smooth running of dining, particularly in restaurants. The correct position of cutlery allowed you to communicate with service staff without having to interrupt your conversation.

A Vapiano bowl from Villeroy & Boch with salad on a wooden table, next to it a knife and fork from NewWave.

Placing cutlery correctly

How do you use cutlery at the table?

In addition to cutlery etiquette, it was also important for the author to have a set order at the table. According to Knigge, the fork should be placed to the left and the knife to the right of the plate (with the cutting edge facing inwards). The spoon should be placed to the right of the knife. A cake fork and a small spoon should be placed above the plate. If there are several courses, and therefore several pieces of cutlery next to the plate, the rule of thumb for the order is from the outside to the inside.

Incidentally, forks and knives are always set, but not always used. According to etiquette, cutlery should be used appropriately. Potatoes, for example, should be cut with a fork (not mashed!) and not sliced with a knife. This custom dates back to when dull knife blades were not yet made of stainless steel. Later, knives had steel blades which were sharper, but potatoes, eggs, fish and asparagus were afforded an unpleasant steel taste.

Info

Basically, knives are intended for cutting and not for pushing food

Etiquette, tips and tricks

Placing knives, forks and spoons correctly

Would you like to know how to place your cutlery according to etiquette, so that restaurant staff understand you implicitly? We have summarized everything you need to know.

The best way to explain how to place your knife, fork and spoon correctly during and after a meal is the language of signals, based on time. The fork and knife usually represent the hour and second hands.

If you want to take a break from your meal and prevent restaurant staff from clearing your plate, in the meantime, it is important to place your fork and knife correctly. Place the cutlery uncrossed on your plate so that the knife blade and fork backs touch the middle of the plate, with the handles resting on the edge – in the “twenty past eight” position.

When it comes to placing cutlery correctly, the spoon is an exception. The dinner spoon is normally served on a saucer, on which you should also place it when you take a break or after eating.

Place your cutlery correctly when you have finished eating

How should you place cutlery correctly after eating? In addition to the correct position, it is important not to place cutlery in bowls or cups. It is also a faux pas to place cutlery on its side, with part of it on the plate and the handles on the table. Cutlery should only be placed on the plate after use.

How do I place the cutlery if the meal was not enjoyable?

Did you not like the food? Then you can tell the service staff using the unofficial "twenty to eight" cutlery signal. To do this, you must place the cutlery with the knife and fork crossed over to form a triangle. In this case, however, it may also be better to speak to the service staff in person and offer constructive criticism!

What is the meaning of crossed cutlery on the plate?

How should you place your cutlery correctly, according to etiquette, if you want to tell the waiter that you want to continue using it for the next course? Place the prongs and blade of the knife and fork on top of each other in the center of the plate, the handles at five and seven o'clock on the edge of the plate.

What does the "six thirty five" position mean?

If you want to show that you have enjoyed your meal, place the cutlery in the “six thirty-five” position. Place the knife and fork parallel to the bottom left. The waiter will know that they can clear the table and praise the chef!

The twenty past four position after eating

How should you position cutlery correctly when you have finished eating? If you want to tell the waiter that you have finished and to clear away, place the spoon, fork and knife on the plate with the handles facing downwards to the right. Based on a clock face, the cutlery is in the “twenty past four” position.

cutlery etiquette

What else should you consider?

You now know how to place cutlery correctly and you also have a sense of the language of cutlery. But there are other etiquette rules for using cutlery.

First of all, it is important that you never take anything from a platter or serving bowl with your cutlery, which is considered discourteous and unhygienic. Separate, specially designed forks and spoons are used for this purpose. If these are not available, you can request them from the restaurant staff.

Another no-go is gesturing with cutlery: it is considered bad manners to make vigorous movements with cutlery at the table. You should therefore always place your cutlery on your plate before engaging in animated conversation.

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