How to take the bread: with a fork or hand?

Since childhood, we are taught to treat bread with care and even with respect, because it accompanies almost every meal. The expression "bread - all over the head" even became a shabby pretext. But we were never taught how to deal with bread according to the rules of etiquette, and yet such a simple and widespread item of the refectory table has certain rules of use.

On the table, the product should be served on a common plate - a bread box, be it a bun or fresh sliced ​​bread. From the common plate it should be taken with special tongs. If there are none, you can replace the tongs with a napkin. It is permissible to take bread with clean hands, the main thing is not to touch other pieces - this is unhygienic.

In no case can not take bread with a fork or knife, and even more so pin it. It is necessary to choose such pieces of bread that can be eaten without residue, and if necessary take more.

The selected piece should not be immediately pulled into the mouth. It must be put on a plate for bread - a pie, it is on the left side of the main plate. It may happen that in a school or at home the pie plate will not be on the table. Then you can put the bread on a serving plate or a salad bowl, and already on your plate break off small pieces. It is categorically impossible to put bread on the table, but it is permissible to put bakery products on a napkin next to the main course in a bistro.

To spread butter, you need to use your knife to take some butter from the butter dish and put it on the edge of your plate. Only after that you can smear it, holding the bread on the plate with two fingers, but not on the weight or on the palm. More than this knife in the grease can not climb for reasons of hygiene.

It is not necessary to spread butter over a large piece of bread - take such a piece that you can eat in one bite. It is better then to prepare the next piece in the same way, if the first is not enough.

To make a sandwich while eating on your own, you need to put a slice of bread on a plate. Sausage, meat, fish, cheeses and vegetables for a sandwich should be applied with a fork from a common plate to your own, and there you should already collect everything in one dish. Ready sandwiches, sandwiches and toasts should be eaten with a knife and fork, dividing them into small pieces. The same rule applies to burgers: no matter how many “floors” there are in them, do not try to open your mouth wide. It is necessary to divide the “floors” into parts that are comfortable to use.

Etiquette educators state that, like in all rules, there are exceptions in the etiquette of eating bread. It is allowed to bite pastries, if it is customary in national peculiarities. For example, if you serve dishes of Ukrainian or Russian cuisine, you can safely bite the bread without breaking into small pieces.

These few simple rules will help to behave properly in a status institution. To show a good side, the actions at the table should be natural. To do this, you can practice during home feasts.

On how to properly take and break bread at the table, see the following video.