Hmm, yoda_daro claims that this is a test to determine their sexuality...
![Orientation test online](https://i0.wp.com/ic.pics.livejournal.com/viatcheslav/15374888/379952/379952_original.jpg)
Proper table setting, corresponding to the event, occasion and time of day of the feast, will allow guests to feel satisfaction from both the event and the meal itself.
Proper table setting not only emphasizes the delicate taste of the hostess, but also shows her respect for guests and household members.
The table is served taking into account the occasion, menu, theme and time of day. At the same time, the goal of any serving is to provide guests with a comfortable and pleasant pastime and convenient access to all the dishes presented.
The first step is to choose and lay the tablecloth. For a rectangular table, take a tablecloth 50 - 60 cm longer than the tabletop. If the table is round or oval - 100 - 110 cm wider than the diameter of the tabletop.
Calculate the length of the tablecloth so that its edges are 30-50 cm below the bottom surface of the table.
For a homely dinner, you will need a plain white tablecloth, but other soothing pastel colors will do.
IMPORTANT: It is good if the color and texture of the tablecloth is in harmony with the color and texture of the curtains, upholstery of sofas and armchairs in the room. In any case, the tablecloth should be ironed flawlessly.
When the table is set, arrange the cutlery. First of all - glass and porcelain plates and dishes. Behind them are knives, spoons, forks and other necessary utensils.
Glass and crystal glasses, piles, glasses are placed last.
The scheme of the correct sorting of the festive table
Lay out the devices in this way:
IMPORTANT: When serving cutlery, it is necessary to take into account that they will be used from the outer edge and change items depending on the serving of new dishes. For convenience, objects should be placed at a distance of about 1 cm from each other.
Plates are placed on the table first, and glasses, piles, glasses are the last.
Arrange the plates in this order:
IMPORTANT: Depending on the type of first course, choose a plate for it. If cream soup or broth will be served - take a bowl, if thick soup or borscht - a large deep plate.
Put a glass of wine on the right, a glass of water on the left, but they must be in one line. Two rows of drinkware are allowed if a grand event is being prepared with a large variety of dishes and drinks.
IMPORTANT: Tableware must be prepared in advance. To do this, it is washed, dried, carefully wiped with a towel. The main thing is that the dishes look perfect before serving. Divorces, streaks, cloudy or opaque appearance of it is unacceptable.
Napkins are an essential attribute of any feast. No matter how beautifully folded paper or linen napkins are, do not forget that they, first of all, serve for the convenience of guests.
Therefore, any napkin should be located in the most accessible place, and even the most intricate napkin figure should be easy to unfold.
The drawings and videos show how to quickly and beautifully make a flat or three-dimensional figure from a napkin.
IMPORTANT: Volumetric figures from fabric napkins will keep their shape well, and the napkins themselves can be easily washed off dirt if they are starched.
To starch a linen napkin:
IMPORTANT: According to the rules of etiquette, beautifully folded napkins should be at solemn feasts. For other events, napkins can simply be placed neatly in a glass or coaster.
To properly set the table for breakfast, follow the following scheme:
IMPORTANT: On a breakfast table, a saucer for jam or honey, a butter dish, a salt shaker and a sugar bowl would be appropriate.
There are several options for setting the table for dinner, since the dinner itself can consist of a different number of dishes:
Dinner, whether it is a formal dinner or a quiet family dinner, is always associated with warmth and comfort. Therefore, it is important for the hostess not only to properly set the table, but also to complement the serving with the appropriate details.
IMPORTANT: Table setting for dinner is similar to lunch setting, but differs in the absence of a deep plate and a spoon for the first course. This dish has no place on the table in the evening.
The festive table is usually set not only for members of their family, but also for invited guests.
There are several rules for serving a festive table, following which any hostess will be able to show her ability to meet guests at the highest level:
IMPORTANT: The following order of serving dishes at the festive table is generally accepted: appetizer, first course, fish dish, meat, sweet dessert and fruit, tea or coffee.
The presence of thematic decor in the center of the festive table will emphasize the efforts of the hostess and give the feast coziness and warmth.
Banquets are arranged in honor of some major holiday, such as an anniversary or wedding. The very concept of "banquet table" implies that the event will be held in a specially rented banquet hall, the guests will be served by waiters.
Banquet attributes are:
The banquet table should correspond to the situation, the occasion and the general mood. The main rules for its serving:
IMPORTANT: For a banquet table, every little thing is important, so serving takes a very long time.
The restaurant has two serving options:
The name of the serving "preliminary" speaks for itself - the serving will require addition after the guests choose the dishes and place an order.
Items that must be present on the guest's table according to the rules of preliminary serving:
Dessert time is the end of the main feast. All dessert appliances are served shortly before the dessert itself is served. A fork is placed to the left of the dessert plate, a spoon to the right.
Dessert is served on serving plates. If it is chilled, it can be served in bowls or bowls.
Serving a sweet table has no fundamental differences. They put a plate, put cutlery in front of it. A deep plate is placed on top of a flat plate - for liquid sweets.
To the right of the plates are wine glasses and glasses. On the shelves you can lay out fruits or various cakes.
Before inviting guests to the table, it is covered with a tablecloth, preferably in soft colors.
A tea cup larger than a coffee cup is placed on a saucer. The spoon is placed on the saucer. A dessert plate is placed to the left of the cup. For sugar, special tongs are used.
The main rules for serving a tea table are the same as the basic serving rules described earlier, however, a few recommendations will help create a more comfortable environment for guests invited to a tea party:
IMPORTANT: Tea drinking is a time of laid-back intimate conversations. Even if the tea table setting is not perfect, the positive attitude of the guests and the kind cozy atmosphere will brighten up the evening and make small flaws invisible.
Buffet is held at official receptions, corporate holidays, presentations.
The peculiarity of its holding is that many people can attend the event, but neither a large hall nor special financial costs are required for this.
IMPORTANT: They arrange a buffet in the evening, it lasts a maximum of 2 hours. The purpose of the event is to communicate, make acquaintances. It is considered bad manners to be one of the first to eat and the last to leave the buffet table.
Features of table setting for a buffet table:
Birthday is such a holiday that can be celebrated both in a narrow circle of relatives and closest people, and in a noisy company of friends, buddies and good acquaintances.
Depending on what kind of holiday the birthday person wants to arrange, you should choose the venue, menu, type of service.
From childhood, you need to teach the child the basics of etiquette. In adulthood, this knowledge will come in handy more than once. So that when studying the rules of behavior at the table and the basics of serving it, the baby does not have any difficulties, you can conduct classes in a playful way and use special pictures.
Knowing and putting into practice the rules and features of table setting, you can feel confident when inviting guests or setting the table for a family celebration.
Joint feasts at a cozy, beautifully decorated table will bring positive emotions to the hosts and their guests, and perhaps such feasts will turn into a good good family tradition.
Table setting according to all existing rules is always a sign of attention from the owner of the house to his guests. Unfortunately, a properly laid table is not so often seen today, especially at home. However, table setting is a true art, once mastered, you bring beauty into your life. That is why it is so important to know the rules of table setting - to be able to create a festive atmosphere in your home every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and on holidays to surprise your guests with fantasy decoration, intricately folded napkins and luxurious tableware.
The table should be served according to the following plan: tablecloth; dishes; cutlery; glasses, wine glasses, glasses; napkins; table decoration. At first, table setting may seem like a really complicated science to someone, but after some time, when table setting according to the rules becomes a habit, it will seem to you that this task is easier than ever!
Table setting begins with spreading tablecloths on the table. It would seem, what could be easier? Threw the tablecloth over the table - and it's ready. In fact, there are certain rules in this regard.
First, the tablecloth must be perfectly ironed and presentable. There is nothing good in setting the table with a crumpled tablecloth or oilcloth. The smoothed tablecloth, or rather its corners, should fall opposite the table legs, covering them evenly. There are also requirements for lowering the tablecloth from all sides - at least 25 cm and, in no case, not lower than the seat of the chair.
Such requirements were not introduced by chance, since too small a tablecloth descent on the table looks ugly, and too large - it causes inconvenience to guests. After you have covered the table with a tablecloth, it's time to start arranging the plates.
The purpose of most of the plates from the table above can be easily guessed by their name, however, there are also dishes that are not entirely obvious. The patty plate is used to serve croutons, patties or bread. The chill plate is used to serve various appetizer dishes such as oysters, salads or stews. The bowl plate, as you can easily guess from its shape, is used to serve several types of salads or side dishes at once. It is also used to serve fondue. Fried eggs are served in an egg plate, jam, jam or honey is placed in a socket, and a bowl is designed for serving fresh berries, jelly and fruit salads.
What kind of plates you put on the table on a festive or weekday evening depends on the number of dishes served. Serving for a two-course dinner involves one plate, for a four-course dinner - another.
Naturally, the plates on your table should be perfectly clean and dry. It is advisable to polish them to a shine before serving.
According to the rules, a snack plate (see the table above) is located in front of each chair. Do not put it on the very edge of the table, it does not look very presentable! The patty plate is placed to the left of the diner, as you can see in the photo above.
If you set a table with several dishes, in this case you place small canteens under the snack plates, etc.
After arranging the plates, you should immediately lay out all the necessary cutlery. Knives are placed to the right of the plates, forks to the left. A tablespoon is placed near the knife. For a festive dinner of several dishes, the cutlery should be laid out as follows, starting to the right of the plate: a table knife, a fish knife and a snack knife. You put a butter knife on a patty plate. If it is supposed to serve first courses, a soup spoon is placed between the snack and fish knives. If fish is not provided on the festive table, a tablespoon is placed instead of a fish one. To the left of the plates are forks corresponding to the knives in the same order in which the knives are laid out: canteen, fish, diner.
Also, do not pile cutlery one on top of the other, the distance between forks and spoons should be about 1 cm.
To the right, behind the plates, we put the glasses from largest to smallest. Depending on what drinks will be served on the table, glasses for water, white / red wine, champagne, a glass for juice, a glass for spirits and glasses are sequentially set. When placing glasses, hold them by the stem so as not to leave fingerprints on the glasses themselves.
What is a festive table without napkins? Napkins are not only a wonderful table decoration, but also a very practical thing. Napkins are linen and paper. Cloth napkins are not intended for wiping hands or face, there are disposable paper napkins for this purpose. Fabric napkins, on the other hand, are usually beautifully decorated by good housewives so that guests can put them on their laps.
Regardless of whether you have a festive dinner or a daily breakfast, a properly served table involves decorating it with flower arrangements, fruit vases, the same cloth napkins, dishes with bright vegetables, etc.
In this article, you will learn about what types of cutlery exist, their advantages and disadvantages, the pros and cons of the material from which they are composed. Also, we will talk about the care of cutlery, and how to properly lay out cutlery and much more.
There is a wide variety of cutlery, which consist of various materials, they can be: wood, aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, cupronickel or silver.
Cutlery serves to handle dishes, food at the table. Often the usual, standard cutlery that you see in the picture: a spoon, a fork and a knife - they are used for first and second courses, as well as for the process of laying out dishes if there are no serving utensils.
In addition, there are specialized cutlery for different dishes - appetizers, fish, dessert, fruits, etc.
Snack set consists of a fork and a knife- shown in the picture on the right. Compared to a regular, standard canteen, it has a smaller size and is included in serving hot snacks such as pancakes, meats, etc.
fish appliance shown in the figure on the left. Suitable for cutting fish dishes. a fish fork has four short prongs and a recess for separating fish bones, and a fish knife has a short, wide blade. Ordinary table forks are also often used for fish dishes.
The dessert device includes a spoon, a fork and a knife of small sizes. Often dessert devices have an original, unusual design that emphasizes their elegance. A dessert fork is needed for sweet dishes, pies, charlottes, etc. A dessert spoon is used to eat dishes with a loose consistency - mousses, puddings, fruits in syrup, etc.
For fresh fruits - pineapples, apples, pears, watermelons, melons - a fruit device is used, including a fork and knife. Canned fruits can be eaten with one fork.
For serving coffee and tea, special devices are also used - coffee and tea spoons, and for ice cream - flat blades with curved edges.
Serving utensils (accessories) are sometimes referred to as cutlery, although this is not entirely correct - since they eat with cutlery, and serving utensils are used to put dishes on plates, cut and divide them into portions and perform other maintenance operations. Cutlery is also often called individual, and serving - auxiliary.
Spoons:
1 - Coffee
2 - Tea room
3 - Dessert
4 - Dining room
6 - Spoon for making mixed drinks
Forceps:
5 - Large pastry tongs
7 - Tongs for asparagus
8 - Ice tongs
9 - Small pastry tongs
10 - Cigar secateurs
11 and 12 - Lemon Fork
13 - Cocotte fork
14 and 15 - Spade-shaped blunt knife for fish second courses and a fish fork with a recess for removing bones
Cutlery (knife + fork):
16 and 17 - For dessert
18 and 19 - For dessert
20 and 21 - For snacks
22 and 23 - For snacks
25 and 26 - For second courses (except fish)
24 - pouring spoon
Shoulder blades:
27 - Confectionery
28 - Pate
29 - Fish
30 - For caviar
31 - For ice cream
When serving a seat, it is customary to follow a certain order. First, tableware (porcelain) is placed, then cutlery is laid out, and only then can restaurant glass be arranged. Cutlery is also laid out in a certain order, see the picture above.
Cutlery for a traditional breakfast with coffee or tea, various types of bread, butter, marmalade and honey (but no egg)
Cutlery for a "coffee mug" or tea party with pastries. You can add a paring knife if needed.
Wooden spoons can be used for trips to nature, but not for daily use. The tree absorbs moisture, it is short-lived, and eating with such spoons is inconvenient.
Aluminum cutlery was common before. Now there are disputes about the dangers of aluminum, but in any case, aluminum cutlery quickly loses its shape, color, and is also fragile.
Stainless steel cutlery is one of the most popular. They are made from medical stainless steel, which practically does not react chemically with alkalis, salts, acids. The most commonly used stainless steel is "18/10", which contains 18% chromium (gives strength and stainless properties) and 10% nickel (gives shine and protects against aggressive food acids).
Melchior is an alloy of copper, nickel and manganese. Cupronickel cutlery ceased to be produced in the 50s of the last century. Nickel silver cutlery is now being produced (it is softer, it also contains zinc). Nickel silver cutlery is plated with silver, gold or blackened. On the reverse side of such devices there is an MNC marking.
Silver cutlery is very expensive and is the pride of the owners. The devices themselves are quite heavy, so it cannot be said that they are convenient for daily use.
Most often, dinnerware sets consist of 24 items: 6 soup and small spoons, forks and knives. But there are sets for 12 people. Such sets may also include a sauce spoon, dessert, salad forks, a ladle, a cake spatula, a sugar spoon, sugar tongs, a fork for fish and meat.
When buying cutlery, you must definitely pay attention to the shine - it can be white or grayish. Make sure that there are no burrs on the edge of the devices. Fork teeth must not be excessively sharp, dull or chipped.
A high-quality spoon or fork should not be deformed by the fact that you press harder on the bend - it should be thickened. There should not be any smell from the devices.
The standard thickness of cutlery is 1.5-4 mm, and the depth of spoons is 7-10 mm.
Knife blades can be non-hardened (they are cheaper, but over time spots appear on the blade, they wear out and age) and hardened (such a blade is elastic).
Ask the seller for a hygienic conclusion and a certificate of conformity. The certificate must indicate: the manufacturer, the address of the manufacturer, the name of the cutlery brand. The same data should be on the instrument box.
Stainless steel cutlery should be washed immediately after use to prevent food residues from drying on them. You can wash them with dishwashing detergent with a sponge or cloth. Stainless steel cutlery can also be washed in the dishwasher. If dark or iridescent spots appear on the appliances, they can be easily removed with a solution of citric acid or vinegar.
If you have cutlery with plastic handles, then you will need to constantly clean the dirt from the places where metal and plastic come into contact. Such devices can also be washed in the dishwasher, but do not use high-temperature conditions.
Caring for cutlery made of silver, cupronickel or nickel silver is a little more difficult. After each use and washing, such devices should be rinsed in a solution of baking soda (50 g of soda per 1 liter of water). They can only be cleaned with special pastes and napkins. You can also clean it with ammonia: for this you need to take 10% ammonia, pour it into a container and put cutlery there for 15 minutes. After that, rinse them in running water and wipe dry.
Sooner or later, a situation may arise that a best friend or a new potential partner will invite you to a pretentious restaurant to celebrate their next anniversary or sign an incredibly lucrative contract. For some people, such an invitation will not seem unusual, others may simply panic before going out. What is the reason for such an incomprehensible excitement? Many of us have been abroad, visited numerous restaurants, tasted a huge variety of national dishes. It seems that we cannot be surprised by anything. But, nevertheless, when it comes to going to a restaurant of the highest class, panic and incredible experiences begin: how to behave, what to order, how to combine dishes with drinks, etc. But the worst thing is the table setting in the restaurant - a powerful arsenal of plates, cutlery, glasses on the table. Which side to approach? What fork to grab? What a shame it would be if guests notice your lack of education in restaurant etiquette! No problem, we'll fix it!
The first question that arises when you are already at the table is: “What to do with this beautifully folded napkin into an original figure?”. Yes, often when laying a table in a restaurant, napkins, the schemes of which are very complex, are very pitiful to unfold, they look like works of art. But still, take the napkin by the free corner, pull the edge, and it will unwind. Fold it in half and place it on your knees (do not push it behind the collar or neckline of a lady's dress). This cloth is designed to keep crumbs and splatters from staining your clothes. You can blot your mouth with the inside of the napkin, then the outer part of it will remain clean and will not ruin your evening suit. Never use it to wipe off lipstick.
The second stage is the desire to figure out what to do with all the appliances and glasses? Do not worry ahead of time: before serving the first course, the waiter will remove everything unnecessary. Only what you need for the meal will remain. Table setting in a restaurant, the scheme of which is presented below, is not so difficult to remember. So:
In addition to classical serving devices, there are those that are used much less frequently. A video of table setting in a restaurant will clearly show how to use the original appliances.
There are also several types of spoons:
Don't worry, these are not the kind of forceps used in dental offices. These tongs are culinary. Have you seen such a table setting in a restaurant? Pictures are attached! There are:
Hooks are not used to catch fish, but to get the snail out of the shell.
The number of glasses on the table depends on what drinks will be served during the feast. The classic option is glasses for white wine, red wine, a glass or a glass of water.
If you plan to set the table in a restaurant for a banquet, there can be much more glasses. How to deal with them?
Glasses are served to the right of the plates from small to large, straight or in an arc. If there are a lot of glasses, then they are served in two rows so that large glasses do not cover small ones.
Here you can not worry - the waiter will fill a certain glass with the desired drink. However, take note:
Table setting in a restaurant (an example photo is attached) is not all that you need to learn about restaurant etiquette. There are other rules:
That's all: the basic basics of restaurant etiquette are told. There is only one thing left: to enter a prestigious restaurant calmly, without a single excitement, in a good mood, and impress those present at the table with your intelligence and education.
Serving comes from the French word servir - to serve. Serving is the preparation of the table before eating (for breakfast, lunch, dinner, festive feast, banquet, buffet, cocktail banquet, tea ceremony). It includes the correct arrangement of items necessary for eating (tablecloths, dishes, cutlery). The purpose of serving is to create maximum convenience in the process of eating, good mood, expression of attention and goodwill.
Serving items should correspond to the compiled menu, be in harmony both with the shape of the table, tablecloth, napkins, and with the interior of the room, should be matched in shape, texture and color, reflect the thematic focus of the celebration, if any.
Serving must comply with existing rules. In order to correctly and beautifully set the table, you need to know about the numerous serving items, what they are called and what they are intended for.
Before setting the table, you need to think through everything, show artistic taste, accuracy, and most importantly, the desire to please guests. To create an atmosphere of solemnity and comfort, you will need beautiful dishes, a set of necessary appliances, a snow-white or colored tablecloth. All this will not only guarantee a good appetite, but also a good mood.
1. Tablecloth.
2. Plates.
3. Cutlery.
4. Glassware.
5. Napkins.
6. Spices.
7. Vases with flowers.
8. Cold snacks.
By following this sequence, you can quickly and correctly set the table: arrange numerous items without missing a single detail.
Before serving, glass and cutlery must be polished to a shine with a clean, dry towel or napkin.
To the Defender of the Fatherland Day serving can be more ascetic, using attributes of a military theme.
A napkin folded in any of the above ways is placed on a snack plate for each guest. Paper napkins can be used instead of linen napkins.
Flowers are an integral part of table decoration. They enhance the thematic focus of the celebration, give solemnity, severity or romance. When serving breakfast, flowers set you in a positive mood, fill you with energy before the coming day.
Vases with a small number of flowers are usually placed in the center of the table so that they do not obscure guests and dishes. Flowers in baskets and large bouquets are not put on the table, but placed in a specially designated place.
You can decorate the table not only with flowers, but also with a beautiful bouquet of leaves, twigs of mountain ash and spruce. You can decorate the table with wild flowers, and ikebana in original vases, vases with floating flowers. All this will create an unforgettable holiday atmosphere.