Every housewife can create a cozy atmosphere during a meal. Table setting is not a difficult science, it is enough to know the basic rules of etiquette. Any dish will seem tastier at a smartly decorated table.
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Why is table setting necessary?
For some reason, it is generally accepted that you only need to set the table correctly in a restaurant. Nothing of the sort! Table setting is a sign of respect for guests, a sign of good taste of the hosts. It will be useful for everyone to learn how to properly lay cutlery on the table. You need to be able to create a festive atmosphere at breakfast, lunch, dinner.
By the way! Scientists have proven that the production of the hormone of joy during eating improves metabolic processes in the body and promotes the absorption of nutrients.
Types of cutlery
Throughout the history of mankind, many devices for eating have been created. In the process of evolution, they have undergone changes. Now in the arsenal of many housewives there are sets of cutlery for festive table setting made of stainless steel, cupronickel, silver.
Spoons
The dining room spoon is the largest in size. The dessert spoon is ¼ smaller. The tea spoon is almost half the size of the dining room spoon, but larger than the coffee spoon. The sour cream spoon is easily recognized by its round, pot-bellied shape. The sugar spoon is made in the form of a scoop or with a fancy figured handle, so that it can be recognized immediately among other spoons.
Important! There are spoons for fruit compotes, they have an elongated handle, instead of the usual spatula, a ladle for scooping out fruit. Externally, a fruit spoon resembles a miniature ladle. Another curiosity is a spoon with an elongated handle for making mixed drinks.
Forks
Standard forks with elongated tines are used for appetizers and main meat dishes. Fish forks have shorter tines to make it easier to remove bones. Sometimes a fish fork has a depression in the center. Dessert forks vary in size: a cocotte fork has only three tines, while a lemon fork has only two.
Knives
For appetizers, main courses, desserts always come with a fork. The meat knife should be sharp or with small serrations, reminiscent of a nail file. The fish knife is more rounded, blunt. The cheese knife is of medium width with a forked tip, for butter - wide and blunt. The steak knife is shaped like a small kitchen knife, it has a sickle-shaped blade, a massive handle. The fruit knife is small, the blade is sharpened on both sides, more reminiscent of a miniature cake spatula with a sharp tip.
Forceps
To set the dessert table, use baking tongs, they are convenient for grabbing pastries, pieces of cake. It is customary to serve cane sugar (it is always in the form of cubes) with small tongs. They are placed in the sugar bowl or on the tablecloth nearby. There are also tongs for lobsters, snails, they are used to crack the shell.
By the way, for serving salads it is convenient to use tongs, which have a spoon on one side and a fork on the other. They are convenient for grabbing the required portion of greens, stringing large pieces of vegetables or fruits.
Other cutlery
A cake spatula is appropriate on the dessert table. A small flat spatula is needed for caviar. Special scissors, shaped like pruning shears, are needed for game. Chopsticks are acceptable only on an oriental-style table when guests are offered Chinese cuisine.
Rules for setting cutlery
The immutable rules of table setting are cleanliness and neatness. Each piece of cutlery made of non-ferrous metals is polished to a shine the day before the celebration. The tablecloth is bleached, starched for rigidity, and ironed.
The dishes are arranged so that there is enough space for cutlery. There are as many spoons and forks as there are dishes.
Choosing a tablecloth
For special events, a light tablecloth made of natural fabrics is recommended: linen or cotton. The tablecloth should cover the entire tabletop, hanging down on the sides by 20-30 cm.
Important! Stains are easier to remove from starched fabric, they are not absorbed into the fibers, they remain in the starch grains, which are easily washed out of the fabric.
Plate when serving
The bottom large plate is placed 5-7 cm from the edge, on top of it are placed dishes for second courses, and even higher – snack dishes. A deep soup bowl is placed on it. Broths are served in special deep cups. A pie plate is placed on the left at a distance from the edge, a tea cup with a saucer – on the right, at a distance of 3 cm from the dessert knife. Plates on the table play a key role, they are the basis of serving.
Placement of spoon, fork and knife
Knives are placed to the right of the plates, with the blades toward the edge, forks to the left. The number of forks should correspond to the number of knives. The place of the soup spoon is next to the outermost knife. Cutlery for those dishes that are served earlier is placed closer to the edge of the plate, the rest are placed next to it, taking into account the order in which the food is served. With an extensive menu, which includes meat and fish appetizers or a second course, the meat knife is placed first, then the fish knife. The placement of the tea spoon and coffee spoon is the same, on the saucer, the butter knife or the knife for cutting pies is on the pie plate.
Where to put a napkin
Large decorative napkins are placed under a large plate. A woven lip wiping napkin is placed or laid out on the top plate. If the napkin is rolled into a tube, or formed into a ring, it is better to place it next to the forks, closer to the plate.
Drinkware
Glasses, goblets, glasses for wine, juices and drinks, shot glasses are placed to the right of the plates, away from the edge, and arranged according to height, from right to left.
Types of table setting
Each type of meal requires a special atmosphere. An ordinary lunch is, of course, different from a festive dinner. When only dessert is served, the table should not seem empty.
Table setting for breakfast
An individual decorative napkin is placed for each family member. A snack plate is placed in the center, and cutlery is placed. On the left is a place for a pie plate. Next to it is a glass for juice or water. A coffee or tea pair with a spoon is placed on the right.
For a common breakfast, it is acceptable to serve sliced bread in a beautiful small bread bowl, butter in a butter dish. Cold cuts are laid out in an elongated dish, cheese is usually not cut, it is served as a whole piece on a flat plate or serving board, everyone cuts off as much as they need for breakfast. Paper napkins are placed in a napkin holder next to the spice set.
Lunch and dinner
Lunch involves frequent changes of dishes, the dishes are arranged so that it is possible to approach each person sitting at the table from the left side. After laying out the cutlery, a place is chosen for the soup tureen, a ladle is placed next to it on a ceramic stand so that there are no stains on the tablecloth. Common hot dishes are laid out so that everyone can reach the plate independently, usually 4 portions are put on a common plate. Cuts, appetizers are calculated for 6 people or are placed individually for each.
Proper table setting for dessert
The service will make the dessert table elegant and refined. It is beautiful when there is a teapot, candy bowls, sugar bowl, cracker bowls with cookies in the same style on the table.
In front of each person is placed a dessert plate, next to it a couple for a hot drink. The following are appropriate:
- wine glasses;
- juice glasses;
- water glasses.
Jam and preserve bowls are placed next to the dessert plate on the right, away from the edge of the table. It is better to buy lace napkins. Tea bags are placed in baskets or on saucers, coffee is placed in jars, and a spoon with a long handle is placed on top. Boiling water is best served in a large porcelain teapot. Lemon slices are laid out on a special tray.
Table setting for the holiday
A festive table differs from a lunch or dinner table by its good tableware and elegant salad bowls. The minimum distance between chairs is 50 cm. If the hot dish is double, additional cutlery is placed.
Children's table
For children's matinees, a brightly colored tablecloth is acceptable; it may not cover the entire table, it is often placed diagonally so that children do not shift the cloth at the corners. The number of plates is limited, a snack bar is enough. Salads are served at a minimum, the emphasis is on portioned dishes that do not need to be cut. They are placed in front of each person individually in bowls or on saucers.
By the way, fruit salad can be served in orange halves, after removing the core.
The Importance of Choosing the Right Table Color Scheme
When setting the table, the tablecloth is chosen according to the type of event. For everyday life, a variegated or single-color fabric with an acrylic coating is acceptable, the main thing is that it matches the color of the dishes.
Shades of red stimulate appetite, cold blue tones calm it. Yellow and orange create a good mood, green has a calming effect.
It is better to decorate a romantic dinner in dark colors so that burning candles look advantageous. There is no need for unnecessary details on the table that interfere with communication: vases with flowers, multi-tiered fruit stands.
A formal event requires moderate, muted tones, crystal tableware. Themed parties will be memorable if the tablecloth contrasts with the color of the tableware.
Additional decorations when serving
The decor should not be conspicuous, it serves as an addition to the serving of dishes. Inappropriate:
- high compositions;
- vases with huge bouquets blocking the view;
- strongly scented bouquets, which may cause allergies in guests.
Decorate with napkin holders, candlesticks. Originally folded fabric napkins are an ideal option for decorating a festive table. Flowers made of vegetables and fruits, edible compositions are appropriate for any dinner, they will find a place on the dessert table.
Knowing the secrets of serving, you can turn a traditional meal into a wonderful meal, where everyone will enjoy not only the food, but also the view of the feast. It is so easy to give joy to loved ones! Make every family lunch, dinner special.
VIDEO: How to set the table correctly and beautifully.
50 options for beautiful and unusual table setting:
