Until Mad Morten came along, I actually wasn’t aware that there was such a thing as a “resting position,” and a “finish position” for cutlery when dining. I’ve found such etiquette fascinating ever since and realized that these customs aren’t necessarily of use only in high society. As our personal image consultant Kimberly Law shows, no matter what kind of dinner party you hold, it helps you to be a better host when you know your guests are finished with their dishes and ready to move on without having to ask. I’ve found in my travels to Europe that they’re in regular practice and not reserved for fine dining. If you make it a habit of eating over the kitchen sink (I’m definitely guilty of that now and again), then these practices may seem a bit on the superfluous side, but give it a try; you may find that you enjoy this touch of sophistication and start eating this way instead. I did!

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