Flatware

setting a table

placing flatware

Where to place the following items on the table:

• seven basic flatware table setting rules
• dinner knife
• fish knife and fish fork
• dessert fork and dessert spoon
• fruit knife and fruit fork
• butter spreader
• soup spoon
• teaspoon
• iced-beverage spoon
• seafood fork
• salad fork
• number of utensils laid on the table

forks

Descriptions of fork size, design, and intended use.

Five Typical Forks:

1. Dinner Fork;
2. Fish Fork;
3. Luncheon Fork;
4. Salad Fork or Dessert Fork; and
5. Seafood Fork.

Specialized Forks:

• Lobster Fork;
• Fruit Fork;
• Ice-Cream Fork;
• Pastry Fork;
• Strawberry Fork;
• Snail Fork; and
• Oyster Fork.

knives

Descriptions of knife size, design, and intended use.

From large to small:

1. Dinner Knife;
2. Steak Knife;
3. Luncheon Knife;
4. Fish Knife;
5. Dessert Knife;
6. Fruit Knife; and
7. Butter Spreader.

Serrated blades cut meat;
Dull blades cut soft food;
Pointed tips carve meat, pare fruit, and separate fish bones; and
Blunt ends spread food.

spoons

Descriptions of spoon size, design, and intended use.

In order of descending size.

1. Iced-Beverage Spoon;
2. Oval Soup Spoon;
3. Dessert Spoon;
4. Place Spoon;
5. Cream Soup Spoon;
6. Teaspoon;
7. Five O'Clock Spoon;
8. Ice-Cream Spoon;
9. Citrus Spoon;
10. Bouillon Spoon;
11. After-Dinner Coffee Spoon;
12. Chocolate Spoon;
13. Demitasse Spoon; and
14. Salt Spoon.

flatware buying guide

Purchase the perfect set of flatware following selection criteria in the following areas (among others):

• Flatware Metal
• Number of Sets of Flatware
• Number of Flatware in a Set
• Flatware Design Elements
• Flatware Size
• Criteria for Quality Flatware
• Matching Serving Utensils
• Shape of Knife Blades
• Flatware Cost
• Monogrammed Flatware

care of flatware

• Cleaning Silver
• Storing Silver