To place a soup spoon on a table setting, it should be positioned to the right of the knives.
According to standard cutlery placement etiquette, forks are typically set to the left of the dinner plate, and knives are placed to the right of the plate with their blade edges facing inwards towards the plate. Following this rule, the soup spoon is then positioned on the right of the knives. This means it is the outermost utensil on the right side of the plate in a formal setting where soup is the first course served.
Standard Cutlery Placement Highlight
Understanding the placement of other utensils helps clarify the soup spoon's position.
- Forks: Located on the left side of the plate.
- Knives: Placed on the right side of the plate, with the blade facing the plate.
- Soup Spoon: Positioned to the right of the knife(s).
Visualizing the Layout
Imagine the plate is in the center. To its right, you place the main course knife (blade facing left), and if you have multiple courses requiring knives, they are placed to the right of that in order of use, from the plate outwards. The soup spoon goes to the right of all knives used for the main setting.
Example:
Let's consider a basic setting with a dinner knife and a soup spoon:
- Plate (Center)
- Right of Plate:
- Dinner Knife (Blade facing left)
- Soup Spoon (To the right of the knife)
This layout ensures that utensils are placed in the order they will be used, starting from the outside and working inward towards the plate.
By following the guideline that soup spoons are placed on the right of the knives, you adhere to a fundamental aspect of formal table setting.
