The ABC’s of Setting a Table?
Nothing tells others that you are refined and sophisticated quite like knowing how to set a dinner table. If you know how to properly lay down a dinner set and all the associated items, you are telling others that you are not only knowledgeable, but that you care enough about them to provide not only a fine meal, but fine surroundings. In this article we will be outlining the steps required to set a dinner table for your family and friends.
Setting a Basic Table
These basics will help you to get started to setting a great dinner table. You can just leave it there, or build on the basics depending on how formal a gathering you are planning to have.
a) Determine how many people you are going to be having over. You will need one place setting for each person, so make sure that they have their own space around the dinner table.
b) The dinner plate needs to go in the center of the place setting. This dinner plate will be the center of attention, as all the other items will be placed around it.
c) The flatware (i.e.: fork, knife and spoon) will be arranged around the dinner plate in the order in which it will be used. The fork is placed to the left of the plate, while the knife and spoon are placed to the right. The knife is placed right next to the plate with the cutting edge pointed inwards. To the immediate right of the knife is the spoon.
d) The water glass now needs a home. It goes directly above the knife.
e) Napkins make a welcome addition. They go under the forks.
Setting for an Informal Dinner
An informal dinner party means that you just need to go with the basics, and add a few things to them. Here are a few things that you need to keep in mind:
a) If you are going to serve a salad, the salad fork is placed to the left of the dinner fork that you laid down during the basics.
b) If you happen to be serving soup, set the bowl directly on top of the dinner plate, and place the soup spoon to the right of the spoon you laid down during the basics.
c) If you have salad or bread and butter knives, they go directly to the left of the forks. If available, a butter plate is placed above the dinner plate with the butter knife placed on top of the butter plate.
d) The cup and saucer go directly above the spoons. The cup handle is pointed towards the right. If you have wine or water glasses they go to the left of the coffee cup.
Formal Dinner Settings
You have now graduated to the most elaborate setting of all…the formal dinner setting. Don’t worry, we have you covered. Just build on the informal dinner setting which in turn builds on the basics. Here’s what you need to know:
a) Are you planning on serving both white and red wines? If so, you will need two wine glasses per place setting. They go next to the water glass.
b) Immediately to the right of the knife go the beverage, soup, or dessert spoons. If you like, they can be brought to the table when the soup or dessert is being served.
c) Centerpieces look very nice and add a bit of class. Look around to see if you can find an appropriate one. If you are artistic, you could always make your own.
That’s it. You’ve done it! Sit back and admire your dinner set and all your great work. Looks nice, don’t you think? Now all you will need is to cook up some great dishes, and open the front door. Let the party begin!
Learn more about Formal Dining. Stop by Debbie Saunders’s site where you can find out all about dinner sets and how they can class up your dinner table.
