# What is this piece of silverware for?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 6, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266 "2013-11-06T19:08:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/1 "2013-11-06T19:08:48Z")
I have an implement from a nice set of silver plate.
It is shaped like a spoon, but the “bowl” is flat, and incised in an intricate pattern. I assume the incising is to drain fluid from whatever you’re picking up with it.
It is not serving-spoon sized; it’s about six inches long.
What is it?
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### Author:  [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/2 "2013-11-06T19:13:47Z")
[Bon bon nut server](http://www.silverqueen.com/sterling-silver-flatware/individual.asp)? Alternatively: Sterling Handle Petit Four Server? Asparagus Serving Fork? Sardine server? There are also a couple other possibilities on that page.
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### Author:  [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/3 "2013-11-06T19:16:08Z")
Some possibilities: ramekin fork, tomato spoon, olive spoon, nut server, or small rice server. Victorian England (and the American counterpart) reveled in the creation of a utensil suited to one particular item to serve or consume one particular type of food, and the list goes on and on.
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### Author:  [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/4 "2013-11-06T19:28:44Z")
If you can’t find it on tomndebb’s site, also try [this list](http://www.replacements.com/piecetype/flat_piece.htm). I’m guessing [bon bon spoon](http://www.replacements.com/piecetype/flat4.htm) as well.
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### Author:  [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/5 "2013-11-06T20:02:49Z")
Thank you, **tomndeb.** That is exactly the kind of page I was looking for, but failed to find.
My implement doesn’t have a rim like the bob bon nut server. I believe it is in fact a tomato server. Ignorance fought!
Now, to go to Wiki and look up “bon bon nut.”
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### Author:  [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/6 "2013-11-06T21:18:04Z")
I was going to say it was an [absinthe spoon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absinthiana), but then reread your OP and see that it came in a set. In any case, you can still use it for an absinthe spoon although lighting it on fire is probably not the best thing for silverplate.
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### Author:  [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/7 "2013-11-06T23:04:42Z")
Holy spoons, Batman!
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### Author:  [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/8 "2013-11-07T04:28:35Z")
> [@tomndebb](#):
>
> Asparagus Serving Fork?
Of course. It’s important to have a back up in case your Individual Asparagus Tongs are in the shop.
I am, however, having a hard time picturing a point in the universe where corn on the cob and sterling silver Corn Butterers intersect.
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### Author:  [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2013, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/9 "2013-11-07T05:54:02Z")
NM
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### Author:  [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2013, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/10 "2013-11-07T05:57:09Z")
Absinthe spoon? Why would you need a spoon? A larger samovar type strainer is used to chill the absinthe over ice.
It is difficult for me to imagine the spoon described. If it has holes in the spoon base, it could be for straining tea for one cup.
I suppose the preparation or serving of absinthe could involve a spoon, but I forgot very quickly what all was involved. My granddaughter still laughs at me because I could not recognize a salt shaker on the table.
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### Author:  [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2013, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/11 "2013-11-07T06:27:43Z")
**Darryl Lict:** Ooh! Excellent idea! That may not be what it was before — but it could be what it is _ **now** _.
**Crawlspace:** Ha ha! Me too!
**Zoe:** You put a lump of sugar on the spoon, then pour the absinthe over the sugar, to better infuse it. Absinthe is made from a specific variety of wormwood – very, very bitter.
If you go to the page **tomndeb** linked to, and scroll down until you see “tomato spoon,” that is it almost exactly.
* * *
One more thing: Am I to understand that this “bon bon nut server” is for serving individual bonbons out of … I dunno, whatever an extremely formal dinner party hostess would be serving them out of?
Is there an implement to tie your cherry stem in a knot?
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### Author:  [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2013, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/12 "2013-11-07T14:52:38Z")
> [@Crawlspace](#):
>
> Of course. It’s important to have a back up in case your Individual Asparagus Tongs are in the shop.
>
> I am, however, having a hard time picturing a point in the universe where corn on the cob and sterling silver Corn Butterers intersect.
Next to my [chipped beef](http://www.replacements.com/piecetype/flat6.htm) fork.
Off to Wiki to find out what chipped beef is.
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### Author:  [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2013, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/13 "2013-11-07T15:06:52Z")
Miss Manners (Judith Martin) said that the Victorians had so many different silver eating implements that a formally set table looked as if either an elaborate dinner or a hysterectomy might take place there.
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2013, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/14 "2013-11-07T15:16:47Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#):
>
> Next to my [chipped beef](http://www.replacements.com/piecetype/flat6.htm) fork.
>
> Off to Wiki to find out what chipped beef is.
Heh. From your link:
> [@](#):
>
> Cracker spoons are used for the scooping and serving of crackers. The oversized bowl resembles an ice scoop.
And here I thought cracker spoons were . . .😛
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### Author:  [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/15 "2013-11-07T17:31:52Z")
> [@brujaja](#):
>
> Is there an implement to tie your cherry stem in a knot?
Tongue.
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### Author:  [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/16 "2013-11-07T19:15:44Z")
Was it forbidden in Victoria to touch food with anything but a utensil? Except maybe popcorn…?
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### Author:  [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/17 "2013-11-08T19:28:16Z")
Well, I know that it was considered very bad taste to refer to any part of the body that might be considered titillating – even if that body part was on an animal you were about to eat. Which is why we (mostly, used to) say, “light meat” and “dark meat” when talking about chicken instead of “breast” and “thigh.”
Also why they invented piano shawls, no shit. Those sexy piano legs! Ha hahahaa!
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/18 "2013-11-08T19:35:51Z")
Elaborate place settings were designed to weed out pretenders to gentility. There is no other reason, except maybe to separate the elite from their cash via excessive purchase of flatware.
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### Author:  [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/19 "2013-11-08T20:58:51Z")
It’s like the Victorian era Ronco:
“Tired of being served asparagus _like a commoner?_ With the Sterling Silver Individual Asparagus Tong, you will receive your asparagus\* properly\*.”
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### Author:  [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)
#### Post date: [November 9, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-piece-of-silverware-for/673266/20 "2013-11-09T00:42:05Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#):
>
> Next to my [chipped beef](http://www.replacements.com/piecetype/flat6.htm) fork.
>
> Off to Wiki to find out what chipped beef is.
When I was in the navy, our nickname for it was creamed foreskins.
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