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Content

  • The language of cutlery and what it means
  • How to use cutlery at the table?
  • Setting knives, forks and spoons correctly
  • What other points should you consider?

At a glance

  • Explanation of the language of cutlery according to Knigge

  • Meaning of the various cutler codes

  • Tips and tricks for correct cutlery setting

  • Other important rules from etiquette

The language of cutlery and what it means

Would you like to learn how to set cutlery correctly? What to do with your knives, forks and spoons? Perhaps you’ve been in a restaurant and the waiter has cleared your plate away when you just wanted to take a short break from eating? This could be because you placed your cutlery incorrectly. But don’t worry – you're not alone. The rules around cutlery are less well known nowadays.

 

The rules for the correct positioning of cutlery are over 200 years old. German writer Adolph Franz Friedrich Ludwig Freiherr Knigge devised a form of cutlery language designed to smooth interactions, especially in restaurants. The correct positioning of cutlery lets you communicate silently with the serving staff, without having to interrupt your conversation.

A Villeroy & Boch Vapiano bowl with salad on a wooden table, beside a NewWave knife and fork.
A Villeroy & Boch Vapiano bowl with salad on a wooden table, beside a NewWave knife and fork.

Top product categories

  • Dinnerware Sets
  • Flatware
  • Drinkware

Ideas & Information

  • Kitchen ideas
  • Cleaning Dinnerware
  • Table decoration
  • Gifting ideas

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