An integral part of any celebration is delicious foodand drinks. But serving them correctly is a whole art. For those who want to understand the basics of table etiquette and not lose face in front of guests, 10 simple steps to the perfect festive table setting We all love holidays, but most often as guests. But the hosts of celebrations, none of which are complete without a feast, have to sweat: they need not only to prepare delicious dishes and select drinks, but also to serve them correctly. Moreover, table etiquette is no less strict and confusing than the famous oriental tea ceremony. Today we are sharing with you 10 tips, following which you can easily set any festive table. And all that remains for us is to wish you bon appetit!
Decide on the status of the celebration Holidayscan be different: Valentine's Day with your loved one, New Year with your loved ones, birthday in a large company, a lavish wedding to which all the relatives are invited. The number of guests, their status, the scale of the celebration and the occasion directly affect the table setting, from the choice of service and decor to the arrangement of cutlery. There are no special rules and strict restrictions for informal and intimate celebrations, but the table setting for official banquet-type celebrations is strictly regulated.
And with the time of day Yes, yes, the time of day is notless important than the number of guests and the degree of formality of the celebration! Table setting for breakfast, lunch and dinner is different, and the dishes you will need will be different: for example, for the morning meal you will need a deep plate for porridge and a tea set, but you will hardly need a fish fork and wine glasses, which are essential for the evening table.
Lay a tablecloth Setting any tableIt all starts with the tablecloth, which sets the overall stylistic tone. Linen or lace, plain or with a bright print - choose the one you like and which will match the theme and status of the holiday. The main thing is to remember to wash and iron it before serving, and also make sure that there is no damage on it. Also, a traditional tablecloth can be supplemented (and in some cases replaced) with a popular runner, fabric napkins and placemats.
Arrange the plates Plates for the main coursedishes and appetizers or soup are placed one on top of the other, the largest one is located at the bottom. The number of plates depends on the menu, but, as a rule, only two are placed at a time, since it is assumed that the dishes will change. The plates should be placed at a distance of 2-3 cm from the edge of the table.
Lay out the cutlery After the platesarranged, we proceed to the most difficult part - setting the cutlery. The variety of forks, knives and knives can frighten and confuse anyone, but it is enough to remember a few simple rules:
- knives are placed on the right with the sharp part of the blade towards the plate, forks are placed on the left with the tines facing up;
- The spoon is placed on the right and, if served with spaghetti, replaces the knife;
- dessert spoon and fork are placed behind the plate;
- for a formal feast with a large number of dishes laid out at once two pairs of knives and forks;
- if the menu has fish dishes, it is desirable to add a special fork for fish.
Take care of the glasses The next item is glasses,glasses, shot glasses and other drinking utensils. A standard daytime or evening festive table setting includes a glass for water and glasses for red and white wine, but the set of dishes depends primarily on what drinks will be served. Glasses are placed to the right and slightly above the plates. Sometimes a water glass is placed on the left, and a wine glass on the right. If there are more than three beverage containers, they are placed in two rows.
Add everything you need Depending onFor your table menu, you may need: a pie plate, a butter knife, a dish for bones, a container with water if you plan to serve dishes that need to be eaten with your hands (kebabs, pizza, some seafood), a soup bowl for formal home serving, a gravy boat, etc.
But don't overdo it In trying to do everythingto foresee and follow the rules of etiquette there is a risk of adding completely unnecessary items to the table that will only take up space or, even worse, embarrass guests. The principle is simple: if you do not plan to serve two types of wine, you do not need to put two wine glasses, if there are no fish dishes on the menu - you do not need to put a fish fork.
Take care of your guests If your holidaya large number of guests are invited, you need to not only plan their seating in advance, but also make sure that everyone can find their place immediately and without problems. Here, everything depends on your imagination and budget: you can get by with beautifully designed and hand-printed cards, or you can order personalized tableware especially for the celebration.
Consider the time of year AfterThe table setting is over, it's time for decoration, which we recommend making seasonal: it always looks cool, and you can endlessly draw inspiration from nature. Choose colors that suit the season and add the appropriate elements: in autumn, these could be, for example, pine cones or nuts, and in winter, spruce branches. Read more about how to decorate a festive table in our articles , , and .
A few more examples of serving for inspiration:
