How to eat fruit at the table. Rules for eating fruits and berries according to table etiquette. How to choose a quality product when purchasing

Bananas have long been no longer considered an exotic fruit, because they are easy to buy at any time of the year. This amazing product can not only complement lunch, but also replace it, saturating the body with useful microelements.

But how to properly peel a banana so you can just eat it or serve it beautifully?

Traditionally

Bananas are usually peeled in two ways:

• From a cutting

Take the fruit with the stalk facing up, tear it off in a downward direction, continuing to separate the peel halfway. Separate the remaining strips in the same way. As a result, about half will be cleaned, which can be eaten immediately. If the whole peel needs to be peeled, the peel is separated all the way and the edible part is removed from the outer shell.

• From the tip

Press on the tip until the crust bursts. You can pry it off with your fingernail or a sharp object. Clean in strips (usually three for medium sizes) from top to bottom until halfway through or all the way through.

Advice! If you don’t know which side to peel the fruit from, do it as convenient as possible. By the way, the first connoisseurs of the fruit – monkeys – peel the banana from the tip.

Before serving, it is very convenient to cut the product crosswise into several pieces without peeling. This way, everyone can take the piece they like and peel the fruit without effort.

Non-standard options

Using the following methods you can clean the product in an unusual and quite spectacular way. In any case, it’s not boring, it’s somewhat surprising for others:

• Cut lengthwise from the stem to the tip into four parts, carefully following the curve. This produces unique slices that resemble chopped melon. Subsequently, the yellow crust is very easily removed.
• Take an unripe (important!) banana, place the curved part towards you, then break it in half, as if trying to straighten it. Clean the halves as usual.

• Cut off the ends on both sides, cut the crust lengthwise with a sharp knife on two opposite sides. Remove it starting from either end.

• Take the fruit with both hands at a distance of about 5 cm. Carefully turn the fruit in opposite directions, as if you were to twist it. The shell will burst and can be easily removed.

A mature and soft product is not suitable for the latter method - when twisted, the pulp under the peel will turn into porridge.

Banana pulp can not only be eaten, but also used as a cleansing face mask, and the peel is often used as an excellent fertilizer for vegetable crops. This is one of those few fruits that you can eat without worrying too much about keeping your hands clean, which is why banana is an indispensable product on a walk or picnic.

At home, sitting comfortably in front of the TV, you can fill a fruit bowl with apple cores or banana skins. At a party, and even more so, in a restaurant, such an act will not work... In order not to end up without dessert, I suggest you take a short course in fruit and berry etiquette, an irreplaceable thing in your culinary self-education, capable of putting you in the most favorable light even for a moment. a romantic date, even at an official banquet.

Apples and pears. An apple is taken from a common vase in the left hand and with a fruit knife over a plate, the skin is thinly cut in a spiral, starting from the stalk. The cut skin is moved with a knife to the edge of the plate (farthest from the eater), and the peeled apple is placed in the middle of the plate. After wiping your left hand with a napkin, use a knife and fork to cut the apple in half. One half is set aside a little, and the second is cut into slices. Holding the slice with a fork, cut out the core with a knife and place it on the cut skin. At an informal gathering of friends, you can pick up slices with your fingers, but in restaurants and in formal settings, the apple is eaten with a fork. Pears are eaten the same way.

Peaches and apricots. Peaches and apricots are eaten differently. The peach is taken from the vase by hand and over a plate, using a knife, the part of the skin that is freely removed is peeled. Use the end of a knife to move the peeled skin to the edge of the plate, and place the peeled peach in the middle of the plate. A large peach is taken in the left hand and cut in a circle to the pit, then broken. The bone is removed with a knife. Pitless peach halves are not eaten whole, but cut off piece by piece. An apricot is much smaller than a peach, so it is not cut into pieces, but rather one half is placed in the mouth.

Plums. Large plums are broken in half with your fingers and the pit is removed. A small plum is squeezed at the ends until it bursts, and then the pit is removed.

Grape. Grapes are picked not with instruments, but with hands. Hold the brush with two fingers and tear off the berries one by one. It is customary to eat grapes whole. If for some reason you cannot eat grapes with seeds or skin, it is better not to treat yourself to them in public at all. Sometimes grapes are served without branches to each guest in bowls. In this case, it is eaten with a teaspoon or dessert spoon. At the same time, the bones are carefully spat onto the tip of a spoon, and then transferred to a stand plate, and if there is none, then to the edge of your plate.

Orange. The orange is taken in the left hand and the peel is cut off from the side of the peduncle with a knife over a plate. After this, circular cuts are made in the skin with a knife, without cutting it from the side of the stalk. The more cuts you make, the easier it is to peel the orange. After this, the orange is placed in the middle of the plate and, holding it with your hand, the peel is opened up to the stalk along the cuts. Thus, you get a peeled orange in the middle, and on the sides there are peel petals in the form of a flower. Then, having wiped their fingers on a napkin, they take a knife and fork in their hands, use them to separate a slice of orange and, if it is large enough, cut off half, free it from the seeds with the end of the knife, and put it into the mouth with a fork. If a seed accidentally gets into the mouth, it is removed from the mouth onto the tip of a fork and transferred to the edge of the plate.

There is an easier way to handle an orange, a less formal one, let's say. First, cut the peel crosswise, then remove it, and divide the orange itself into slices with your hands.

Tangerines. The tangerine is taken with the left hand and peeled with the right hand over a plate. Then the slices are separated and eaten without using cutlery.

A pineapple. Pineapple is served peeled and cored, cut into circles or slices. Sometimes sugar or powdered sugar is served separately. Eating pineapple with a knife and fork. Pineapple in syrup, cut into slices, is usually served to everyone in bowls, and eaten with a teaspoon or dessert spoon.

Bananas. Bananas are served with the ends cut off. Taking the banana by the stalk with your left hand, with your right hand using a knife, or without it, peel it and place it in the middle of the plate, and the peel on the edge of the plate. The banana pulp is eaten with a knife and fork, cutting into slices.

Watermelons and melons served in slices with peel. The slice is placed on a plate, skin side down, and the flesh is cut into pieces using a knife and fork. The pulp can also be eaten with a teaspoon until the skin becomes firm. Or a slice of watermelon is placed on a plate with the pulp facing you and the rind away from you. Eat with a knife and fork in small pieces, having previously freed them from the seeds with the tip of the knife.

It can be found on shelves all year round, and is inexpensive, tasty and healthy. It is used not only for snacks and as an additive to desserts, but also for cosmetic purposes, which few people know about. Let's take a closer look at the product.

Calories and nutritional value

Among athletes, banana is considered a complete snack, and all thanks to its increased nutritional value. 100 g of this product contains 96 kcal, and this is almost 7% of the daily norm. There are 21 g of carbohydrates alone, which is equal to almost 16.5% of the required dose for normal human activity.
In addition, the product is rich in proteins and dietary fiber, almost 70% of its composition is water, and even less than 1% fat. Due to this, the fruit satisfies the feeling of hunger and helps the body remain full of energy.

Vitamin and mineral composition

This product is very useful due to the large amount vitamins in the composition- these are A, C and group B. There are also such chemical elements, like iron, sodium, phosphorus and potassium.

Important! It is worth remembering that all the usefulness of the fruit can be negated by a large amount of sugar in the composition (its glycemic index is more than 41) - therefore it is not recommended to consume more than three fruits per day.

What are the benefits of bananas?

In addition to the fact that a banana can saturate and provide energy, it is easily digestible and does not burden the gastrointestinal tract. It contains pectin and fiber, which improve the digestive process.

In this fruit the amount vitamin C no less than in citrus fruits, so frequent use helps maintain immunity and fight diseases. It is also important to take it for the prevention of cancer.
By eating this fruit, you will ensure the beauty and health of your nails and hair. It will have a positive effect on vision and the cardiovascular system - vitamin A will take care of them.

If you want strong bones, normal muscle tone, and a healthy liver and brain, you will need potassium and magnesium, of which there is enough in a banana.

Separately, it is worth highlighting the effect of the yellow fruit on the nervous system - a person becomes calmer, more active and even happier due to the sweet taste and the presence of the amino acid tryptophan.

For men

This fruit is directly related to male enhancement. Moreover, magnesium not only increases potency, but also improves the quality of semen - the production of motile sperm is stimulated. Therefore, the product is recommended for use by those who want to become a parent as soon as possible.

The duration of erection also increases. Banana acts as an aphrodisiac - it increases libido and allows you to get aroused much faster.

For women

For women, fruit comes first increases sexual desire. But that's not all. Premenstrual and menstrual days will become easier to bear if you eat at least one fruit a day. The pain will dull, and the bleeding will become less profuse.

And, of course, beauty directly depends on diet. If it contains banana, then you don’t have to worry about problems with your skin, hair or nails. This product will replenish the amount of vitamin B in the body.

For children

A dessert and source of vitamins, banana is the number one fruit for children. Moreover, doctors allow it to be introduced into the baby’s diet almost from 6 months. Naturally, from 6 to 8 months, extremely small doses should be given; you can simply give the child to chew on it. A little banana can be added to the porridge if it is without sweeteners and the child refuses to eat it.

Important! This fruit should not be introduced first as complementary foods - otherwise the baby may refuse to eat other, unsweetened foods after it.

This product is very useful for the development of the baby’s body - vitamins and minerals are involved in the formation of muscles, bone tissue, brain and blood.
Another plus is that the fruit is soft and tender; even if you accidentally bite off and swallow a small piece, it's almost impossible to choke on it- it will just slide down your throat. It is also one of the most non-allergic products.

Can I have bananas?

Like any product, bananas have their limitations. It will not be useful for everyone, and in rare cases it can even be harmful. Therefore, we will figure out when it should be removed from the diet.

Pregnant

You can eat bananas and even need them. It is this fruit that will help expectant mothers survive the not-so-pleasant state that accompanies pregnancy - toxicosis. Banana suppresses nausea and gives strength.

The fruit will also help heartburn- thanks to its delicate consistency, it lubricates the stomach, removing inflammation. And other troubles, such as constipation or heaviness in the stomach, will also quickly cease to bother you.

The constant desire to eat can lead to unwanted weight gain - and snacking on a banana can save you from this.
Iron, of which there is a lot, will increase hemoglobin levels and prevent the appearance of anemia in the fetus.

Nursing mothers

A woman whose child is breastfed should eat well. Therefore it is worth forget about Soviet diets, which provide a meager diet. This applies to cases where children do not have unexplained allergies to certain foods, including bananas. They help restore strength after childbirth and provide milk rich in beneficial elements.

In this case, the amino acid tryptophan helps mother and child sleep normally. It enhances the production of the joy hormone, and this is important for a sleep-deprived and tired mother. A banana can either strengthen or weaken the baby's stool, so it is better not to overdo it with the number of fruits - one per day will be the norm.

It is very rare to be allergic to a banana, but still, in the first months of a baby’s life, it is better to carefully monitor his reaction.

Losing weight

But for those who set themselves the goal of losing excess weight, it is better to avoid bananas. Or use them until 12 noon- so that sugar goes into creating energy, not fat reserves. It is also better to limit yourself to one fruit per day.
This product is perfect for those who cannot imagine life without sweets. It is best to add it to plain yoghurts, cottage cheese or oatmeal.

Did you know? Record amount eaten in one hourbananas- 81 pieces.

For diabetes

The American Diabetes Association allows people with the disease to consume these fruits. As for doctors from the CIS countries, opinions differ radically. Therefore it's better consult your doctor and clarify the amount of fruit allowed per day. You also need to understand that the type of diabetes can also influence the doctor’s decision - if the disease is complex, it is better to avoid bananas.

The main thing is to eat fruit evenly so that there are no unnecessary surges in blood sugar throughout the day. It is better to eat one fruit, and not as part of desserts, yoghurts or cottage cheese.

How to choose a quality product when purchasing

Choosing a tasty and ripe fruit is not so difficult if you follow these rules:

1. We pay attention to the shape of the fruit - it should be streamlined, in no case ribbed. Usually these fruits are without dents or protruding parts.
2. Matte, smooth and yellow peel without darkening, cracks, or dents.
3. The color should be uniform - yellow. A green tint indicates that the fruit is unripe, but if it sits in the sun for a while, it will be ready to eat. Darkening yellow indicates that the fruit has been lying on the counter for a long time. The taste of this fruit is not very pleasant.
4. The smaller the fruit, the better - in the homeland of this fruit, only dwarf bananas are generally eaten, and large ones are used as animal feed.
5. The grayish color of the fruit indicates frostbite - this is not worth taking. But black dots are not scary, but it is still better to eat the fruit on the day of purchase.

How to store at home

Bananas are perfectly stored in a room or kitchen on a windowsill or in a vase. They are thermophilic and in the sun they can even be filled with vitamin D. But there are certain standards at which the fruit is best stored:

• temperature up to 13 °C;
• indoor humidity not lower than 90%;
• The fruit will be preserved better in a bunch.

Unripe fruits can be stored in such conditions for about a month.

You should not store fruits in the refrigerator - this will not preserve them better, but will only darken and lose their taste.

Features and rules of use

Banana is one of the products that do not need instructions for use. But there are some rules that should be followed.

Did you know? Banana is a berry. It grows on grass stems up to 10 m high.

Should bananas be washed before eating?

You cannot know under what conditions fruits were transported from hot countries - where they lay, whether dust and dirt fell on them. So take a minute and wash the skin of the fruit. This will protect you from unwanted bacteria that may get on the pulp.

How much can you eat per day

You can safely afford to eat up to 3 bananas per day. This will be especially useful for athletes, active people, and those who need to fuel their brain with energy. Children should not eat more than one fruit. It is also necessary to limit the amount for those who:

• losing weight;
• eats other fruits and does not move much;
• has problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

In these cases, you should not eat more than one fruit so as not to harm the body.

When is the best time to eat bananas: morning or evening

Nutritionists recommend eating any fruit, including bananas. before lunch. Then the body will be filled with energy and will be in good shape, so it will become easier to work. And at night you don’t need extra strength, and extra weight won’t be a pleasant bonus.

What can be done and where to add

Bananas work best in smoothies, milkshakes and desserts. This fruit is compatible with others, moreover, mixes from it will always be tasty. If you blend banana, strawberries and plain yogurt in a blender, you get a delicious snack. With dairy products, this fruit is always a winner.

Banana will be a good filling for cakes and other desserts. You can bake it in a pie, fry it for pancakes, or simply put it on a peanut butter sandwich.

Semolina or other porridge will become sweeter and tastier from this fruit - children will love it.

How can it be used for cosmetic purposes?

This fruit is ideal for cosmetic procedures - it is easy to mash and add anywhere. It will nourish the skin with beneficial substances, moisturize and soothe it. Organic acids will help normalize skin oiliness and get rid of acne.

Before using the mask:

• make sure that the skin does not show an allergic reaction - spread the mixture on your wrist and hold for five minutes;
• take only ripe fruits and mash them not with a fork, but with a blender - without lumps, the mixture will lie better on the skin;
• On sensitive skin, do not keep the mask on for more than 10 minutes.

Refreshing mask

Mix half a banana with a teaspoon of lemon juice. Leave the mixture for 15 minutes and rinse with cold water. Instead of lemon can also be used orange. If you then wipe your face with chamomile, the pleasant sensation on your face will not leave you until the end of the day.

Toning and nourishing mask

Take half a banana, two teaspoons of milk and one yolk. Mix until a thick paste forms and apply for 15 minutes. Mineral water will complement the tonic effect of such a mask - unlike running water, it will not dry out the skin. Instead of milk, you can use sour cream or kefir.

You can also mix half the fruit with oatmeal and lemon juice - this mask soothes inflammation, tones and nourishes the skin.

Rejuvenating mask

Take the pulp of half the fruit, two tablespoons of yogurt without filler and honey. Mix the ingredients and apply to clean skin of the face and neck. After 10 minutes, rinse with warm water and moisturize the skin with day cream.

If you use this mask several times a week, the skin will tighten and will not be bothered by dehydration.

Contraindications and harm

Gastrointestinal diseases and diabetes mellitus in most cases require exclusion of the product from the diet. But the doctor decides that. Varicose veins and thrombophlebitis can also become contraindications to consuming the fruit.

So, we found out that banana is good for both children and adults. This is one of the few fruits that rarely causes allergies, so it can also be given to infants as a sweet addition to cereals. And if you enjoy it in the morning, you will have enough strength and energy not only for work, but also for sports activities.

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Fresh fruit serving as dessert may be placed in the center of the table before guests are seated, but fruit may also be served by the maid at the beginning of dessert. Guests can also pass the fruit platter to each other. When fruit is served as dessert at a formal lunch or dinner, a fruit knife is placed on each fruit plate. It is brought in on the bottom plate of the hand dish. In less formal circumstances, at the beginning of a meal, a knife and fork are placed on the table - just above the main plate, parallel to the edge of the table.

With baked and boiled fruits, as well as for fresh fruit compotes, a dessert-size spoon is usually served, but teaspoons are often used. Dessert spoon and fork are often served with large fruits that are cooked whole.

Fruit bowls are seven to eight inches in diameter. A salad bowl can be used instead. Diced and baked fruits are served in dishes, usually made of glass and on a coordinating bottom plate.

As a rule, cheese or dry biscuits are served with fruit. Usually only cheese is offered, but a cheese plate may contain several types of food in addition to cheese. The cheese plate is served after guests have finished eating their fruit. The cheese portion is placed on the fruit plate rather than directly on the cookies. A small amount of cheese can be placed on the cracker using a fruit knife or fruit fork.

Apricots. Fresh apricots are picked by hand and eaten by biting off the flesh. Do not take the apricot kernel into your mouth.

Marinated or seasoned apricots, served with a meat dish, are placed on the dinner plate. They are cut and eaten using a fork or knife and fork. The kernels are not taken into the mouth.

Apricot compote is served in a small dish on the bottom plate. Apricots from compote are cut with a spoon. A small apricot is taken into the mouth completely, the kernel is removed with a spoon and placed on the lower plate.

A pineapple. Pineapple can be served unpeeled. In this case, it is cut into wedge-shaped slices. Small slices can be eaten with a fork, while large ones can be managed with a knife and fork. Fresh pineapples are cut and left for a while in sugar, honey or possibly liqueur. They are eaten with a spoon, just like canned pineapples.

Oranges. An orange, cut in half unpeeled, is eaten with a spoon. Before this, the seeds are removed with the tip of a spoon; If the seeds do get into the mouth, they are removed with a spoon. The remaining orange peel and pulp should not be picked up or squeezed to squeeze out the remaining juice.

Whole oranges (except Temple oranges, which are as easy to peel as a tangerine) are not recommended for dessert at the table because peeling them looks unsightly, especially without a fruit peeler. If you do serve oranges, cut the peel into quarters with a fruit knife and pull it back so it looks like flower petals. This opens access to the inside of the orange, and the orange itself is eaten by hand. The seeds are also removed by hand. If you don't have a fruit knife, peel the orange completely, breaking off small pieces of peel. Spiral peeling is a hassle, especially without a sharp enough knife.

Watermelons. Watermelons are usually served cut into semicircular slices or wedge-shaped pieces. Their large size requires the use of a dinner plate. Watermelon is eaten with a fork or knife. Before putting a piece into your mouth, remove the seeds from it with a fork. If the seeds do get into the mouth, they are removed with a fork, although it is also acceptable and much safer to get rid of the seeds with your fingers.

Bananas. When bananas are served whole, do not peel them only partially, bringing them to your mouth with the peel still hanging down. Eating bananas in this way is only permissible on a picnic. At the table, bananas can be peeled either completely or partially, after which you should place the banana near the plate and, breaking off pieces, eat it with your hands. If guests are offered a knife and fork, you can cut small pieces of bananas and eat with a fork, as they do in Europe.

Grape. Individual grapes separated from the bunch should not be served in a fruit dish. Individual parts are torn off or cut off with grape scissors from the bunch and served on a dessert plate. Only after this do the individual grapes come off. You should not bring small bunches to your mouth and bite off grapes with your teeth. It is better to use grapes with hard skins, since soft skins tear easily and a pile of skins from used grapes is a very unattractive sight.

In Europe, grapes are not washed before serving because this spoils the color; Grape pieces are dipped into a hand dish or even water glasses.

Cherries. Fresh cherries are served with cuttings. The stalk is removed after the berry is placed in the mouth. The bone is removed with your fingers.

The compote cherries are eaten with a spoon. The bone is removed from the mouth with a spoon and placed on the edge of the bottom plate, not on the back of the dish.

Grenades. There is only one answer to the question of how to eat this fruit: eat this fruit without company. Pomegranates should not be placed in a fruit dish except for decoration. The pomegranate is cut into wedge-shaped pieces, a piece of the fruit with seeds is bitten off, and the seeds are then removed into the hand. It doesn't look good at the table.

Grapefruits. The grapefruit can be peeled and divided into segments; the thin shell is removed and the slices are served on a dessert platter. If half a grapefruit is served, it is placed on the dessert plate. Before the grapefruit is placed on the table, the white pulp is usually removed, the peel is peeled, and the membrane separating the segments is removed; Sugar, honey, sherry, and liqueur are often added. Grapefruit should be cooked carefully so as not to puncture the peel, which could cause the juice to spill onto the plate. If you do not cut the grapefruit exactly into slices, then it is better not to cut it at all, although if the grapefruit is served hot, it should definitely be divided into slices. Grapefruit is eaten with a teaspoon or a pointed grapefruit spoon. The bones are removed from the mouth with a spoon.

Pears. Fresh pears are cut into four parts. The core is removed. The pear is eaten with your hands or with a fruit fork. Usually the pear is peeled, but this is not necessary. Only at picnics is it permissible to hold an uncut, unpeeled pear and bite off pieces of it.

When served uncut, pears are best handled with a knife and fork.

A large, very juicy Komis pear is cut in half and served unpeeled with the core removed. This pear is eaten with a spoon, like halving a cantaloupe, leaving the skin intact.

Melons. A classic addition to melons of all types is a slice of lemon. Many people season melon with salt and black pepper, so you should not remove them from the table if melon is served for dessert. It is best to serve the slices well chilled.

Melons are often made into balls, marinated in honey or sugar and perhaps also wine and liqueur. Melons in the form of balls are served on a dessert platter; these balls can be piled in a cantaloupe half. The balls are eaten with a spoon.

Cut into slices - semicircular or wedge-shaped - melons are served in a dessert plate unpeeled. Melon is eaten with a dessert spoon or dessert knife and fork.

Thin slices can be peeled and served on a dessert plate in this form; These slices are eaten with a spoon or with a knife and fork.

Semicircular and wedge-shaped melon slices with depressions in them are often filled with sherbet, ice cream, berries, green grapes and other fruits.

Strawberry- the only berry that is served with the stalk. Strawberries are placed on a dessert plate either with powdered sugar only, or with sugar or sour cream (not with sweet cream). They eat it with their hands. You can place separate containers with powdered sugar and sour cream on a plate; Sugar and sour cream can be placed in small quantities on a plate, but not on the berries themselves. Each strawberry is taken by the stem, dipped in sugar or sour cream and eaten after biting a couple of times.

Bones. The general rule is that whatever is put into the mouth with a fork or spoon is removed from the mouth with the same object; everything that is put into the mouth with the hands is also taken out with the hands. An exception is made for small and slippery seeds, which are removed from the mouth with the fingers, but under no circumstances should the palm be used. If processed fruit is served in a dish, then the seeds and seeds are placed on a plate under the dish.

Mango. This delicious fruit is so full of juice, holds its seeds so tightly, and leaves such permanent stains on the tablecloth, that it is best served already peeled and cut into wedges. Sliced ​​mango is eaten with a fork.

Tangerines. Tangerines are an excellent component in a dish with various fruits. The peel is easy to peel off. One slice is detached at a time and eaten with the hands, usually taking a couple of bites. The seeds are returned to the plate by hand.

Nectarine. Large nectarines (smooth peaches) are cut and eaten using a dessert knife and fork. Small nectarines are eaten with the hands, biting off piece by piece, like plums. Do not put the bone in your mouth.

Peaches. It is best to serve fresh peaches with an easily separated pit, since the pulp firmly attached to the pit makes the process of removing the pit very unsightly. Small peaches are cut in half, large peaches are cut into several parts. Peaches are usually peeled (although this is not necessary) and eaten by hand or with a fruit fork. Only at a picnic they hold a peach in their hand, biting off it little by little. Do not remove fluff with a napkin.

Pickled peaches go on the dinner plate, but not on the butter plate; pieces are eaten with a fork.

Whole peaches boiled in syrup are best eaten with a fork and spoon.

Plums. Fresh plums are picked up by hand and eaten, biting off one piece at a time. The bones cannot be put into the mouth. It is best to serve plums already pitted - both fresh and processed.

Figs. Fresh figs are picked up with the fingers and eaten after several bites.

Dates. Dates are best eaten by taking a couple of bites so that there is no need to put the pit in your mouth. If dates are taken into the mouth whole, the pit is removed using your fingers.

Persimmon. When this fruit reaches maturity, it becomes so soft and juicy that it is convenient to handle it at the table only with a dessert knife and spoon. The persimmon is placed on a plate with the tail side down. The peel is cut from top to bottom into four parts. The peel can be eaten, but is usually not done because it has a strong taste, even though the flesh is as sweet as honey. After removing the peel, the pulp is cut into pieces and the seeds are separated. Less commonly, the top part of the persimmon is cut off and the pulp is then scooped out with a spoon. You can cut the peel, and then, before serving the persimmon, pull the pieces from the pulp, like flower petals. The persimmon is then eaten with a knife and fork.

Prunes. Raw prunes made from sun-dried plums are sometimes served in a fruit dish. Prunes are taken by hand and eaten, biting off little by little. Do not put the bone in your mouth.

The prunes from the compote are cut with the edge of a spoon; the bone is left on the dish. If small prunes are taken into the mouth whole, the pit is removed with a spoon and placed on the edge of a plate under the fruit dish.

Apples. The apple is never held entirely in the hand, biting off piece by piece. If served with a fork and fruit knife, the apples are cut into quarters, cored, peeled and eaten with a knife and fork. Apples are commonly eaten in the above manner in Europe. If only a fruit knife is served, the apple is peeled and cut into pieces so that it can be swallowed after a couple of bites; The pieces are eaten with hands.

Berries. IN On most formal occasions, peeled berries are served in small glass dishes placed on a dessert plate. On less formal occasions, the berries are served in a dish without a lower plate. Berries can be served directly on a dessert plate if sour cream is served instead of sweet cream. Powdered sugar is often served instead of sugar.