Etiquette for Breakfast Fruit

Nowadays, unless in a formal dining situation, a knife and fork aren’t necessary for eating many fruits. They are great for practicing one’s knife and fork skills, however, as this woman is demonstrating with an orange. – “I found that one may turn the skin back part of the way, and hold the fruit in her fingers if she chooses, without shocking the proprieties.”

Charming Fruit Manners

“She has such charming fruit manners,” said a girl of a famous belle “She doesn’t know it, but she dips her strawberries in the powdered sugar, or holds her banana at breakfast, as if they were roses or violets - You forget that eating is a material process, and are sure it is poetry. 

“I had seen so many people eat their bananas with a knife and fork that I looked for banana etiquette. I found that one may turn the skin back part of the way, and hold the fruit in her fingers if she chooses, without shocking the proprieties.” – San Diego Union and Daily Bee, 1904

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia