Are you eating cake wrong? Etiquette expert reveals the 'posh' way to do it
- Replies 10
Marie Antoinette is said to have exclaimed, 'Qu'ils mangent de la brioche,' which roughly translates to: 'Let them eat cake.'
(Actually, the quote is not about cake – it's about brioche, a rich, buttery bread that has strong associations with decadence. So… pretty much the same thing?)
Anyways, since cakes are a fairly typical option for dessert at formal (and even royal) events, it is helpful to be familiar with the 'correct' way to eat them.
You know, just in case you receive a surprise invitation to a dinner with the Queen of England…
Luckily for us, an etiquette expert is here to teach us the 'posh' way to eat cake. You may not be aware of this, but the technique actually depends on the type of cake you're eating.
Lucy said that how you eat depends on what kind of cake you have. Credit: TikTok.
When it comes to dining etiquette, Lucy Challenger has already been featured quite a few times here at the SDC. She is here once more, and this time she will be demonstrating the 'proper' way to eat cake while seated at a formal dining table.
'Depending on the type of cake you are served, will depend on how you eat it,' she said.
According to her, if you are served a dry cake (such as a pound cake), it's best to use your fingers to break it into bite-sized pieces first before eating it with your hands.
When you are served a moist cake (such as an ice-cream cake), on the other hand, you should use a fork and a spoon. 'The fork is used to hold cake, and the spoon is then used to cut and convey the food to your mouth,' she said.
And if you believe that the strict rules of proper etiquette end there, you'd be very much mistaken. These guidelines appear to apply to every dessert.
You should use a spoon to eat the dessert if it comes with any sauces, such as custard, or any other toppings like that. To eat berries, which are frequently provided with custard, you could use a fork.
For desserts such as cake, pie, or crepes that are served à la mode (with ice cream on the side), you have the option of using either a fork or a spoon, or both, to eat them.
For hard desserts, such as poached pears, the utensils should be used differently. This time, the spoon would be used for cutting, while the fork would be used to bring the food into your mouth.
When eating a birthday or layered cake that is served standing up, you should remember to turn it over first using a fork and spoon before using either tool to eat it.
After those tips, Lucy went on to introduce another piece of cutlery to the cake-eating arsenal. This new piece of cutlery was the dessert fork, which has a unique shape that helps with cutting as well as spearing food.
'To eat my cheesecake, I take my dessert fork,' said the etiquette expert. 'I cut into the cheesecake, separating a small bite-sized portion. And now, depending on the density of the cheesecake, I spear the cheesecake with my fork and then place it into my mouth to eat.'
'Remember, typically in British formal dining, we don't scoop with a fork. However, it is perfectly acceptable to scoop using a dessert fork,' she added.
'In between bites, you can place the fork neatly down by the side of the plate, then you can continue to enjoy your cheesecake when you're ready.'
Lucy received compliments on the video from viewers who are passionate about proper manners and found that the detailed instructions really resonated with them.
One user wrote in the comments, 'Oh how lovely, some of my friends from law school are having a dinner party tomorrow, I will be hosting, and dessert will be cheesecake.'
Meanwhile, a second user joked: 'I find the most challenging part about cheesecake is having time between bites to set the fork down.'
What are your thoughts, folks? Do you find these etiquette tips helpful? If you have more you would like to share with us, let us know in the comments!
(Actually, the quote is not about cake – it's about brioche, a rich, buttery bread that has strong associations with decadence. So… pretty much the same thing?)
Anyways, since cakes are a fairly typical option for dessert at formal (and even royal) events, it is helpful to be familiar with the 'correct' way to eat them.
You know, just in case you receive a surprise invitation to a dinner with the Queen of England…
Luckily for us, an etiquette expert is here to teach us the 'posh' way to eat cake. You may not be aware of this, but the technique actually depends on the type of cake you're eating.
Lucy said that how you eat depends on what kind of cake you have. Credit: TikTok.
When it comes to dining etiquette, Lucy Challenger has already been featured quite a few times here at the SDC. She is here once more, and this time she will be demonstrating the 'proper' way to eat cake while seated at a formal dining table.
'Depending on the type of cake you are served, will depend on how you eat it,' she said.
According to her, if you are served a dry cake (such as a pound cake), it's best to use your fingers to break it into bite-sized pieces first before eating it with your hands.
When you are served a moist cake (such as an ice-cream cake), on the other hand, you should use a fork and a spoon. 'The fork is used to hold cake, and the spoon is then used to cut and convey the food to your mouth,' she said.
And if you believe that the strict rules of proper etiquette end there, you'd be very much mistaken. These guidelines appear to apply to every dessert.
You should use a spoon to eat the dessert if it comes with any sauces, such as custard, or any other toppings like that. To eat berries, which are frequently provided with custard, you could use a fork.
For desserts such as cake, pie, or crepes that are served à la mode (with ice cream on the side), you have the option of using either a fork or a spoon, or both, to eat them.
For hard desserts, such as poached pears, the utensils should be used differently. This time, the spoon would be used for cutting, while the fork would be used to bring the food into your mouth.
When eating a birthday or layered cake that is served standing up, you should remember to turn it over first using a fork and spoon before using either tool to eat it.
After those tips, Lucy went on to introduce another piece of cutlery to the cake-eating arsenal. This new piece of cutlery was the dessert fork, which has a unique shape that helps with cutting as well as spearing food.
'To eat my cheesecake, I take my dessert fork,' said the etiquette expert. 'I cut into the cheesecake, separating a small bite-sized portion. And now, depending on the density of the cheesecake, I spear the cheesecake with my fork and then place it into my mouth to eat.'
'Remember, typically in British formal dining, we don't scoop with a fork. However, it is perfectly acceptable to scoop using a dessert fork,' she added.
'In between bites, you can place the fork neatly down by the side of the plate, then you can continue to enjoy your cheesecake when you're ready.'
Lucy received compliments on the video from viewers who are passionate about proper manners and found that the detailed instructions really resonated with them.
One user wrote in the comments, 'Oh how lovely, some of my friends from law school are having a dinner party tomorrow, I will be hosting, and dessert will be cheesecake.'
Meanwhile, a second user joked: 'I find the most challenging part about cheesecake is having time between bites to set the fork down.'
What are your thoughts, folks? Do you find these etiquette tips helpful? If you have more you would like to share with us, let us know in the comments!
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though I have one friend who thinks she's Australia's equivalent. I love dragging out my cake forks and splayds for her just to show I haven't lost my class, lol 
