Fork, Knife, Spoon Where Do You Go???

My kids had to recite 'fork, knife, spoon' so many times that they finally learned that is the order utensils are placed on the table. Of course forks are to the left of the plate and the knife and spoon to the right. Just get it in your head and you will never forget it! Always set the utensils properly on the table even for hot dogs, burgers, or sloppy joes! If you slip one time it could be the only time your child(ren) are observant!

Please, please set the table nice for your family. Why should guests deserve better treatment than your own family? Besides if you don't do things properly when it is just family, when you have dinner guests your children will not have proper table manners.

Allow me to share a funny story. My first holiday married @ my in-laws it was my duty to set the table. My Mom-in-law, Joye Smith, gave me the utensils, china, and cloth napkins. Of course I had been taught to set a table correctly; however, I got nervous and absolutely couldn't remember. Had cell phones been in that day I would have gone to the bathroom and called Mom. I was about in tears because I KNEW there was a correct way but was so nervous that I couldn't remember. Of course at that time I didn't know if setting the table correctly was a Smith tradition or not. I stressed, got all nervous, probably broke out in hives, too. I prayed ever so briefly and silently that the Lord would help me. Well, I looked up and hanging on the wall near the dining room table was a beautiful picture of the Lord's Supper. Whew....I was in business again!!!! I had a sample to follow!!! I shared this little story with my Mom-in-law last week for the first time. We both got a big laugh!! The positive thing about my story is if I wouldn't have known the right way I wouldn't have even worried about doing it wrong!





Use the image as a sample. Excuse the wine!!! No, we haven't gone to drinking....Think of one being for sweet tea and the other for water!!!


Dinner plate: This is the ‘hub of the wheel’ and is usually the first thing to be set on the table.
Two Forks: The forks are placed to the left of the plate. The dinner fork, the larger of the two forks, is used for the main course; the smaller fork is used for a salad or appetizer. The forks are arranged according to when you need to use them, following an ‘outside-in’ order. If the small fork is needed for an appetizer or a salad served before the main course, then it is placed on the left (outside) of the dinner fork; if the salad is served after the main course, then the small fork is placed to the right (inside) of the dinner fork, next to the plate.
Napkin: The napkin is folded or put in a napkin ring and placed either to the left of the forks or on the center of the dinner plate. Sometimes, a folded napkin is placed under the forks.
Dinner knife: The dinner knife is set immediately to the right of the plate, cutting edge facing inward. (If the main course is meat, a steak knife can take the place of the dinner knife.) At an informal meal, the dinner knife may be used for all courses, but a dirty knife should never be placed on the table, placemat or tablecloth.
Spoons: Spoons go to the right of the knife. In our illustration, soup is being served first, so the soupspoon goes to the far (outside) right of the dinner knife; the teaspoon or dessert spoon, which will be used last, goes to the left (inside) of the soupspoon, next to the dinner knife.
Glasses: Drinking glasses of any kind – water, wine, juice, ice tea – are placed at the top right of the dinner plate, above the knives and spoons.

Other dishes and utensils are optional, depending on what is being served, but may include:
Salad plate: This is placed to the left of the forks. If salad is to be eaten with the meal, you can forgo the salad plate and serve it directly on the dinner plate. However, if the entrée contains gravy or anything runny, it is better to serve the salad on a separate plate to keep things neater.
Bread plate with butter knife: If used, the bread plate goes above the forks, with the butter knife placed diagonally across the edge of plate, handle on the right side and blade facing down.
Dessert spoon and fork: These can be placed either horizontally above the dinner plate (the spoon on top with its handle facing to the right; the fork below with its handle facing left); or beside the plate. If placed beside the plate, the fork goes on the left side, closest to the plate (because it will be the last fork used) and the spoon goes on the right side of the plate, to the right of the dinner knife and to the left of the soupspoon.
Coffee cup and saucer: The coffee cup and saucer are placed above and to the right of the knife and spoons. At home, most people serve coffee after the meal. In that case the cups and saucers are brought to the table and placed above and to the right of the knife and spoons.

Hopefully these little guidelines will help someone!!! If you haven't mastered table setting copy, cut and paste and print this blog. Store it in your kitchen near your plates or utensils. Start today setting the table correctly. NEVER set it wrong again!!!! Also, refrain as often as possible from using paper products. I only do that for large parties. I love pretty dishes and cloth napkins!!! Your family and guest will, too. (Well, if it's a teen's job to do the dishwashing he or she may complain! lol)



"Let All Things Be Done Decently and In Order." I Corinthians 14:40.