Got Etiquette Advice?

  Dear Polite One, What is the correct way to pick up the last pieces of corn, peas or other hard to " fork " food on your plate? Visitor Dear Visitor, No problem.  You guide the last little bits onto the fork with your knife or a piece of bread .   I love that "hard to fork foods" statement.   Take care, The Polite One More by The Polite One Mix or eat all of one item on a plate? How to get food onto a fork? Which direction do I pass the breadbasket?

  Dear Polite One, How does one eat bread and rolls during dinner? May it be eaten with fingers or a fork? Do I need to finish a piece of bread during a meal? Could I have the unused butter left in the bread plate when the dinner is finished?   Bread and Butter Rules Dear Bread and Butter Rules, Put the amount of butter you feel you will use throughout the meal on your bread plate.   If you are right-handed, take the bread in your left-hand break off a small amount of bread over the plate – about two bite's worth – with your right hand , transfer the bite to your left hand and butter that piece with a knife. Place your knife on the edge of your bread plate (or your dinner plate if there is no bread plate) with the sharp edge of the knife facing toward you. You don't use your fork to eat the bread and don't have to finish the bread or butter. Sincerely, The Polite One More by The Polite One Mix or eat all of one item on a plate? How do I eat toast dur...

  Dear Polite One, Could you tell me about the order of courses? Fish should be ahead of meat, right? Is salad eaten before or after the main course? Is bread eaten before the soup? Wondering Dear Wondering, If you are ordering a meal in a restaurant, you choose which course you would like to eat in any order you wish. Traditionally though, a fish course is served before a meat course in a formal meal.  When the meal is not formal, most Americans choose either fish or meat.   Not both.  Here, salad is the first course for the typical meal but is served after the entrée during formal meals.   Bread may be eaten any time during the meal.   But you don't have to eat any bread.    Sincerely, The Polite One More by The Polite One Which direction do I pass the breadbasket? Mix or eat all of one item on a plate? How do I eat toast during breakfast?

  Dear Polite One, What order to we eat the meal choices on our plate?   My husband was taught by his mother, and now wishes to teach our children, to eat a little of each choice per bite.   For example, he was taught to eat a bit of meat, potato, and veggie on the fork.   I prefer to eat just one item at a time.   Eating all the veggies first makes sense to me because they get cold faster.   Plus, one can taste each selection better if not mixing the food together.   What is your call? Debating food Dear Debating Food, There is no rule covering the order in which a person eats meal choices.  In fact, a person can eat all of one food before choosing another or choosing a bit of everything. The biggest mistake would be to take too large a bite.  If a person takes a bit of each serving onto his fork, the portion could be too large. So, if he could take a small bite that includes all servings, he is fine.   There is no 'rul...