Many people know how to navigate place settings and know when to use each utensil. How to hold those knives, forks and spoons, where to put them when you are not using them and what to do with them at the end of the course or the meal may still be a challenge. Glancing around you while dining out and trying to get a clue from others may not solve the problem. A quick study of people eating out will reveal that there are almost as many ways to hold a knife or fork as there people using them.
The fork is held between the first knuckle of the third finger and the tip of the index finger with the thumb to steady the handle. This is much the same way that you would hold a pencil although observation will tell you that there are variations on that as well.
The knife is held between your thumb and third finger with the index finger resting on the top of the blade. If this seems awfully basic, look around. You’ll find people gripping the knife like a dagger and holding the fork like a miniature cello.
There are two differing styles of eating: American and Continental. The difference between the two is primarily how you hold the knife and fork while...