Fork and Knife - Continental/European Style v. American Style.

Fork and Knife - Continental/European Style v. American Style.

Continental/European Style
1. Hold your fork in your left hand, tines downward.
2. Hold your knife in your right hand low to the plate, an inch or two above. Extend your index finger along the top of the blade.
3. Use your fork to spear and lift food to your mouth.
4. If your knife is not needed, it remains on the table. Hold your fork in your right hand, tines upward.
5. Knife in right hand, fork in left hand. Eat food with fork still in left hand. The difference is that you don't switch hands-you eat with your fork in your left hand, with the prongs curving downward. Both utensils are kept in your hands with the tines pointed down throughout the entire eating process. If you take a drink, you do not just put your knife down, you put both utensils down into the resting position: cross the fork over the knife.

American Style
1. Hold your fork like a pencil (never use it to stab at food), with the shank extended between your thumb and second and third fingers. Your fourth and fifth fingers rest in your hand.
2. For leverage, the index finger is extended along the back of the fork, as far from the tines as possible.
3. Hold your knife with the handle cupped in the palm of your hand, along with your third, fourth, and fifth fingers. Your second finger is placed on the back of the blade. Your thumb is held against the side of the handle.
4. Knife in right hand, fork in left hand holding food. After a few bite-sized pieces of food are cut, place knife on edge of plate with blades facing in. Eat food by switching fork to right hand (unless you are left handed). A left hand, arm or elbow on the table is bad manners.