Flatware Pieces

• Bouillon Spoon:  Shaped with a short handle and a round, shallow bowl to hold more liquid, this spoon is another option for a soup spoon.
• Butter Knife: Sometimes called a butter spreader, this knife has a rounded point so as to not tear the bread when spreading the butter.
• Cocktail Fork:  Traditionally used with the standard five
• -piece place setting and is used to eat smaller appetizers.  Generally it is seen with a three-tine construction.
• Demitasse Spoon:  Similar to the standard teaspoon, this dainty utensil is perfect for stirring coffee or tea drinks, and petite enough to set on the saucer when finished.
• Dessert Fork:  Even smaller than a salad fork, this utensil is used for eating desserts.
• Dessert Spoon:  The oval bowl of this spoon is wider and deeper than a teaspoon and is designed to offer a generous bite.
• Dinner Fork:  Simply put, this is an all-purpose fork, and no traditional five-piece place setting is complete without it.  To be used during the main entrée of a meal.
• Dinner Knife:  A traditional piece of the five-piece place setting, this all-purpose utensil is used to cut food or to spread butter or jam.
• European Dinner Fork:  Larger than an all-purpose dinner fork, it is considered to be more formal and is typically found in most high-class restaurants.
• European Dinner Knife:  Nearly a third larger and heavier than a traditional dinner knife, it is considered to be more formal and is typically found in most high-class restaurants.
• Fish Fork:  Like its counterpart, the fish knife, this small fork allows the user to separate segments of meat from the bones of the fish.
• Fish Knife:  A small table knife with a spatula-like blade to aide in separating the segments of meat from the bones of the fish.
• Salad Fork:  Although similar in shape to a dinner fork, this is typically a smaller version and used for eating salads or other small items before or after the main entree of a meal.
• Soup Spoon:  The wider bowl of this spoon makes it perfect for eating soup with solid foods mixed in.
• Tablespoon:  Resembles the teaspoon but is larger and typically used as a serving utensil.
• Teaspoon:  A standard piece of the five-piece place setting, the teaspoon is perfect for stirring coffee or tea, or for eating cereals and desserts.

Types of Flatware

18/10 vs. 18/0 Stainless Steel

Understanding the difference between the two may seem a daunting task, but really it’s not so technical.  The 18/10 and 18/0 description refers simply to the percentage of chromium (a metallic substance that helps increase hardness in the flatware) and nickel (an element that helps the flatware resist corrosion) present in the stainless steel.  Always 18% chromium, 18/10 stainless steel contains 10% nickel and thus, 18/0 stainless steel contains no nickel.

While the initial cost of 18/10 stainless steel flatware is sure to be higher than purchasing 18/0 stainless steel, restaurant owners may see that come back to them over time.  Its durable construction is easy to maintain and the rust-resistant flatware keeps its brilliant shine wash after wash after wash, .

18/0 stainless steel flatware is a less expensive alternative.  The economical design of this flatware has a soft shine but is subject to staining and fading over time because of the lack of the addition of stain-resistant nickel to the stainless steel.

 Selecting Flatware for Your Establishment

Now that you have a basic understanding of flatware, let the fun begin!  Picking out flatware can be fun, and here are a few tips you can reference while choosing:

1. Your flatware should complement the dinnerware you have chosen for your restaurant.  Are your plates casual or formal?  Modern or traditional?  Somewhere in between?  What about your glassware?  What is the overall atmosphere of your establishment?  All of these questions should be asked and answered before you decide on your flatware style.
2. Flatware style is as important to the overall ambiance of your restaurant as the personality of your glassware, dinnerware, decor, and music.  Combined, they total the restaurant character you are portraying to the public.  Which style feels comfortable to you based on the atmosphere you have already chosen?  Round or flat handles?  Brushed or polished finish?  Intricate or simple patterns?
3. Next, hold the flatware in your hand.  The pieces should fit your comfort level and should never be a chore to handle.  Generally, the lighter the flatware the more economical, but keep in mind the endurance of the heavier product may cut costs over time.