Etiquette Boss: A cut above

FLATWARE ETIQUETTE – Part 1

I constantly tell my students that true etiquette is about making others comfortable instead of uncomfortable. Using one’s knowledge to make others uncomfortable is called snobbery.

However, our gracious behavior in making others feel comfortable needs to be extended to ourselves as well. We need to attend to our comfort in the little things we do daily, such as the texture of our knives and forks.

Flatware impacts our meal enjoyment as much as fine porcelain plates. Cheap flatware, better known as 18/0 flatware, has a distinctly different feel in the mouth compared to a piece of 18/10 flatware.

If there is an 18/10 mark on a spoon, it means that the spoon is made of 18 parts chromium and 10 parts nickel. An 18/0 mark on the box means that the contents are made of 18 parts chromium, but 0 parts nickel. Tin and other cheaper metals are used in production.

The edge of an 18/0 spoon is thin and sharp as it enters the mouth, and will bend if pressure is applied to cut frozen ice cream. It will eventually become dull and scratched.

The best flatware set (in the affordable category) is that which is marked ‘18/10’ or ‘18/8 stainless steel’ on the box. The nickel helps to prevent scratches, gives that smooth feel, and deep glossy look that will last for years. Of course, sterling silver flatware would be the preferred choice of those with very deep pockets.

YOUR BEST APPEARANCE:

In John Heinerman’s Anti-Aging RemediesShe then said that soap was much too harsh for her skin. Instead, she diluted mild dishwashing detergent and used that as her soap.

She said that she only used cold running water to rinse, and instead of gently patting her dry skin, she rubbed it vigorously with a towel to further stimulate circulation. She ate very little meat and lots of fresh fruit and rice.

Phillipa Morrish is the president of Etiquette Training International.