Which one's the salad fork; which one's the dinner fork?

[Bossy Monkey]

Poll question: Which one's the salad fork; which one's the dinner fork?

Inspired by a DUer mentioning a fork in an amusing manner, and by the fact that I can never remember which one's which.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. OK, everybody, listen up:

Here's the simple etiquette lesson for today: Normally, the salad fork goes on the very outside of the place setting, with the dinner fork inside, next to the plate. They are placed like this because we normally have our salads first, and then the dinner entree. We always use the utensil on the outside FIRST. That's it!


:toast:


:hi:

[Bossy Monkey]

2. Then 6 out of 7 people above are wrong, or my waiter always is. I'd bet on

the latter.:D

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. My parents taught me to always start on the outside of the silverware

setting, and work in. That makes it pretty easy and nearly foolproof. Once in a while, I run across something weird, like a fish fork which sits above the plate, and I NEVER know what to do or when to do what with that!

Oh well.....

[orleans]

7. i couldn't have said it better

(except to add: the skinny shrimp fork--doesn't that go to the left of the salad fork? because we eat the shrimp cocktail first, then the salad, then the entree?)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. Hey, orleans! Thanks for the compliment!

As to shrimp forks, I really don't know. I rarely eat shrimp cocktail...Perhaps this could be checked in some etiquette book. I know I have one somewhere, but I'm not sure where!

:hi:

[orleans]

12. you're welcome.

and as for the looking it up in the book....eh...do it later. maybe. in the meantime, the salad fork question got answered. (besides, sometimes i like to pick and eat salad with my fingers--if it's only lettuce. makes me feel less pretentious. and drives everyone else crazy.)

:evilgrin:

[Az]

9. All Unitarian Universalists know this by heart

Its because the only way a UU can be damned to Hell is if they eat their dinner with their salad fork.

Hey, other religions can have dietary laws so there is no reason UU's can't too. :evilgrin:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. Hi, Az, thanks for posting!

I just KNEW there was a reason that I used to belong to the UU church!

BTW, I've enjoyed reading your posts recently. Where have you been hiding?

:hi:

[Az]

11. I drift in and out

Depending on the theme of the day.

[MrSlayer]

3. Does it even matter?

Just use whatever forking fork you forking want forker.

[Bossy Monkey]

4. I'm definitely putting this on the poll. Chortling out loud here nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. You are right; it probably doesn't matter in everyday life.

But when you find yourself at a fancier dinner, you just might want to know so you won't feel foolish...if you were inclined to feel that way. If you don't care, and don't make a fuss, then no-one will notice or care!

:hi:

[Historic NY]

13. I always use the salad fork.............

at my friends restaurant because the dinner fork is so much larger and heavier than those I have at home. No one ever notices even the waiter when I sneak the salad fork off the plate. Beside my theory is with the smaller fork I will eat less and take longer time to finish.
:crazy: