When I use the word fencing, I’m not referring to the sport or what you have in the back yard.  This is a term used in dining skills.  I just had a reader ask me a great question.  She asked me what is the proper way to eat peas.  We have all experienced frustration when we are eating peas or rice.  We want that last bite, but how do you gracefully get the peas from your plate into your mouth?

I teach this in my classes and serve peas in this session to demonstrate.  The first thing you want to do is to turn your plate with the peas or rice facing you.  Take the knife in your left hand with the blade down on the plate.  You then use your fork which is in your right hand (assuming you are right handed), and you push the food against the knife and onto your fork.  The blade of the knife serves as a barrier.  One point to remember is not to rest the knife in this position when fencing.  For those of you who do not know what I mean by resting, I will write about that in another article.  Keep holding the knife while fencing.

Try this and see how easy eating those peas and rice is when you hold the knife in a fence position.  The knife like the fork and spoon serve different purposes depending on the food we are eating.  Fencing is just one of the ways a knife can be  used.  I hope this was helpful and answered the question.

Questions or comments are always appreciated.

Ginny Brown
The Etiquette School of Northeast Georgia
Hoschton, Georgia (Hamilton Mill area, Dacula, GA)
Email Ginny Brown
678-889-4814 office
770-296-4159 cell

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