And when it's cold outside, few things sound as appealing as a hearty onion soup with a layer of baked Gruyere so thick it almost requires a fork and knife, especially when it's part of a prix fixe lunch.

WSJ: Onion Soup and Old New York

Of course, the unenlightened could stumble sometimes, burning their tongues, or jabbing in a fork after only one minute of silent contemplation, which bent the prongs and sprayed the soup over the keyboard.

ECONOMIST: Momofuku Ando

We taught them to pass the salt around the table rather than over it, how they should place their knife and fork on their plates at the end of a meal, and the proper way to lean their soup or cereal bowl when spooning out the last drops.

FORBES: Manners And Signs Of The Digital Times