As you can easily guess by the name, the dessert fork is designed to eat desserts. This device is not required for daily use, at home you can completely do without it, using a spoon or even your hands. But if you have to attend a gala event, where dessert will be served among other dishes, you should learn to use this cutlery.
A dessert fork is needed in order to avoid unpleasant embarrassment with flowing fruit juice, crumbling crumbs and falling off cream cake. A cutlery such as a dessert spoon is much more widespread, but there are a number of dishes that you need to eat with a fork.
How to distinguish a dessert fork from others?
If you are afraid to get confused at the restaurant, prepare for the event in advance. During extended multi-component dinners, several forks may be on your table. There are four main varieties. Do not worry, they are different, they can easily be distinguished from each other.
- The table fork has a traditional shape, small or medium deflection, large sizes and 4 teeth. It is intended for main dishes and is used in company with a knife.
- The fish fork is smaller and narrower, it has 3 or 4 prongs. This appliance can be paired or used with a fish knife. It depends on the type of fish and the format of the event. Some dishes are more convenient to eat with two forks.
- Salad is like a small spoon with teeth. It has a curved shape, making it convenient to scoop up salad.
- Well, a dessert fork will be served when a dessert or large fruit appears on the table, which needs to be cut into pieces. Most of these forks have 3 prongs, but there are also products with two or four.
The dessert fork, the photo of which you see in this article, can be used for most desserts.
Buffet Fork for Baking
At some events, which are held in the buffet format, they also serve not quite ordinary devices. They are a kind of dessert forks, the extreme right tooth of which is sharpened and lengthened. This is done so that you can cut pieces of cake or cake, holding a saucer in your hands. After all, it is impossible to use a knife in such a situation. Remember: this appliance can only be used when the plate is not standing on the table. If you can sit down and put it down, take a knife.
Fruit fork
Another common variety of dessert fork is equipped with only two cloves. They are pretty sharp. Such a fork is intended for fruits and berries. Cakes and cakes are not eaten by her. If a classic dessert fork with three prongs can be served on a table on which there is both fruit and pastries, then the double-toothed berry fork acts as an additional device. She does not play solo parties at feasts with many dishes.
Serving Rules
This appliance is placed behind a plate, towards the center of the table. A dessert spoon is placed behind it. The fork handle always points to the left. A dessert knife can be placed between the fork and the plate or on the dessert plate, to the left of the main plate.
It is acceptable to hold the fork in your right hand, but the vast majority of the dishes for which it is intended cannot be eaten carefully without a knife. Therefore, when you use both devices, hold them in the same way as dining rooms: a knife in your right hand and a fork in your left. An exception may be a soufflé, a cocktail salad made from small pieces of fruit and cream, soft cheese desserts in a bowl. For these airy, delicate dishes, a dessert fork can be used on its own. Where this device lies and how to recognize it among other forks, you already know. It remains to remember what dishes it eats.
What to eat with a dessert fork
Sponge cakes, puff pastry, sand cakes and cakes crumble very much, so you should not bite off a treat. Cut a little with a knife, eat with a fork. Watermelons, pineapples and melons, when served, are cut into large portions, put on a plate one at a time. Slices are cut from a piece, also one at a time. The seeds of watermelon are removed on a plate with a fork and knife. The dessert fork should be in your left hand, do not forget this. Do the same with grapes. Berries need to be cut in half, choose the seeds, and put the halves on a fork. Small berries without bones are not eaten with a fork.
Informal atmosphere
Strict ceremonial is not always worth it. For example, if you go on a picnic in the circle of close friends or family members, and it will be served cakes and watermelons, dessert forks, spoons and knives can not be used. It is permissible to eat a treat, taking it in the hand and biting off small pieces. In this case, do not cut the treats too large to be conveniently held in your hand.