Etiquette and Dessert Nut Picks

When the fruit knives and nut picks are brought in with the finger bowl, the knife, pick and finger bowl are placed in their proper spots at the place setting before the course is served. The fruit knife goes to the right, the nut pick above the plate and the finger bowl goes to the upper left, above where forks are generally placed.

Correct Placement of the Nut Pick at the Setting

Properly speaking, the pudding, pie, ice cream, etc…, is not the dessert, it is the sweet course, and the dessert is the course of fruit, nuts, or both, which is the last course of the dinner or luncheon. A little cheese and crackers may or may not be offered with this course. The dessert plate is used for the fruit or nuts, and the dessert spoon for the sweet course; and such a confusion of terms gives sanction to the common usage of calling a pudding, or the like dish, a dessert — whereas in most of our homes we have no dessert at dinner, but we have a sweet course.

Coffee is sometimes brought on with the dessert, sometimes it is served in the drawing-room. After the dessert is served the servants withdraw, and the guests may linger for a little while in conversation, though this lingering is best done over coffee in the drawing-room, when the company may break up into congenial groups. — Mary Davoren Chambers, Boston Cooking School Magazine, 1920

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