There are basic rules of etiquette when eating, which are recommended to be observed while in a restaurant or at a party. If you follow these rules, you also need to know what cutlery is used when eating dishes.
How to eat first courses and appetizers in a restaurant
Use special cutlery at the table for various dishes: a fork and a knife. If one of them accidentally falls to the floor, do not lift it under any circumstances, but ask the waiter to bring a clean cutlery. Do not cut bread with a knife, break off small pieces. Snacks are eaten with a special snack fork and knife. Paste is spread on bread only when in the family circle. According to the rules of etiquette, in other cases it must be eaten, separating the pieces with a fork. Eat the ham with a knife and fork, rather than sandwiching it on the bread.
To eat soup properly, you need to "scoop" it with a spoon from yourself, and not vice versa. Hold the spoon with your thumb on top of the handle, as if holding it slightly. Spoon as much liquid as can be brought to your mouth without splashing anything. If the soup contains meatballs and dumplings, you must first eat the liquid component of such a soup, and then the solid one, using the same spoon that the soup was eaten with (and not other cutlery).
It is considered uncivilized to stir the first course with a spoon to cool it down. It is recommended that you just wait a little.
Regardless of whether you have eaten the entire soup or not, leave the spoon in the bowl. If the broth or soup was served in a cup, it should be drunk. A spoon should be used only to get croutons, pieces of meat, an egg.
Etiquette rules for the use of second courses and desserts
Eat hot meat dishes with a table fork and knife. All fish, both hot and cold, are eaten only with a fork. The fish can be served with special devices - a spatula and a fork. In this case, take the spatula in your right hand and hold the fork in your left. Hold a piece of fish with a fork and use a spatula to separate it from the bone. If two forks were served with the fish, use the right fork to separate the bones, and use the left fork to send the pieces of the dish into your mouth.
When eating fish dishes, a knife is used only for pickled herring.
Eat poultry and game with a knife and fork. When cutting such a dish, do not exert great effort, as this may cause a piece to pop out of the plate. Sometimes it is allowed to eat with your hands crayfish, asparagus, chicken-tobacco. It is not customary to cut all vegetables and potatoes with a knife; when using them, use only a fork. Using a knife, you can cut the crispy skin.
To use a knife and fork according to the rules of etiquette is necessary for sandwiches. To make them, place bread and butter on a plate, then gently hold the bread with your fingertips and spread the sandwich. Putting bread on the palm is not accepted. After the sandwich is oiled, pick up the sausage, cheese, or other ingredients with a fork. Then cut the finished sandwich into pieces and eat. In the same way, you need to eat bread (and other baked goods) with jam or jam. For dessert dishes (ice cream, puddings, etc.), use a dessert spoon. The fruit should be cut open and eaten by pricking the pieces onto a fork.
