Do I have to eat everything with a knife and fork? Fingers are perfectly accepted for hors d’oeuvres without sauces, artichokes, corn on the cob, avocados, spare ribs, bread, and (in the South) fried chicken. Clams, oysters, shrimp, and lobsters usually require that shells be removed, so you need hands and a seafood fork. Pasta […]
Which fork do I use first? First, observe the place setting above. This is the standard for an ordinary meal. If there are several forks, knives and spoons, start with the one furthest from the plate. The exception is the soup spoon which is placed to the right of the knives. If there are a […]
There is no equivalent to Itadakimasu! in America, so the general rule is that when the hostess raises her fork to begin eating, it is acceptable to commence. If she says, “Please go ahead,†then do so without being urged to do so three times. At home, some families make it their custom to “say […]
