Dear ladies and gentlemen: in our dining etiquette classes so many of you tell me the fork you see on the cover photo is for fruits. However, it is not completely the case. I propose you to discover how to use it next time you go to fine restaurants.
ven if in China it is sometimes used as a fruit fork it was traditionally made for eating…snails! And more generally everything which has a shell. I propose you to review the proper etiquette here.
Eating snails
Snails, “Escargots”, are a famous dish of the French cuisine. First, you need to go over the animal itself: forget the sticky image you have. It may actually have a delicate flavour.
The plate
Snails are generally served by 6 or 12 of them, in a plate similar as this one.
They will be still in their shell, most probably served with butter or other condiments.
The snail tong
Then you will grab the snails using the snail tong, take it with your left hand.
If the restaurant doesn’t serve you a snail tong, you may take the shell with your fingers. If the shell is not dry, you may use a napkin or tissue to avoid leaving your fingers dirty.
The snail fork
Hold the snail with the snail tong in your left hand, take the snail fork in your right hand.
Gently insert it into the shell to take the meat. You may dip it into sauce or condiments that have been served with. Finally enjoy its taste!
You will also note, this fork is still used to eat see fruits having a shell, such as winkle.
The oyster fork
What about this one then?
This is an oyster fork. For using it, take the oyster (which has already been opened) in your left hand. Take the oyster fork in your right hand, you will use it to detach the flesh. Then you may either pick it with the fork and eat, or simply push it in your mouth!
Don’t forget, etiquette are codes and rules evolving over the time. The custom of eating fruits with this two tines works is more and more common in China, so maybe one day we will say “this work is to eat fruits, it used to be for snails”!
