Serving appliances. Proper table setting: instructions for use. Table setting with napkins

Proper table setting is a true art. Noisy feasts, dates and ordinary dinners are more pleasant to spend not only with relatives and loved ones, these days are also remembered thanks to the surroundings.

Table setting at home is not an easy task. Not only treats are important, but a special imprint on the owners of the apartment is left by the serving of the dish and the perfect table, which is the decoration of the holiday.

rules

Every housewife wants any feast to be perfect, and the setting of the festive table plays a huge role in this.

Before proceeding with it, you should prepare the menu. After all, there are many different plates, appliances and other devices with which the life of a modern person is facilitated.

Rules:

Buy a set of dishes. The table looks more beautiful and pleasant if the plates, knives, forks and glasses are the same, and not scattered.
Measure your furniture. One person needs to allocate 80 cm of space. Think for yourself, because it is not very convenient to beat with elbows and push while eating. I want some peace and tranquility.
Necessarily . It doesn't matter if they were washed after the previous use. When they are not in use, they become covered with a layer of dust and become dull. To make the cutlery shine and encourage you to eat something, be sure to wash them and wipe them with a dry towel.
Buy napkins. This is a required item. It's great if they look like a tablecloth.
Dishes and cutlery are always arranged in the order in which dishes are served.

This is the initial preparation. Then you can buy decor items. The main thing is to prepare the main dishes and cutlery.

Tablecloth

The tablecloth is the basis of serving. It should be functional and practical, as well as complement the interior.

In many houses, tablecloths for festive dinners are bought separately, and on the one hand, this is correct.

First of all, focus on the shape, then on the material and color. Festive tablecloths are not necessarily white, they can be matched to the interior.

The tracks are popular. They can be placed alone or on top of the tablecloth. Bright colors are perfect for picnics and holidays.

White tablecloths quickly get dirty, but they can be supplemented with a path to match the color of the chairs, and you can buy the same shade of napkins. Consider that the festive mood has already appeared.

For table setting, tablecloths of neutral colors are also used, for example, beige, light brown, white, or they look at which color in the interior comes across more often.

It should not be used only for celebrations. The holiday should never leave your home, and this is possible when choosing the right tablecloth.

When choosing between practicality and beauty, give preference to the first option. Thank you later.

Dishes

There are about 35 types of plates and you can get confused in such a huge number.

For a celebration at home, it is not necessary to buy all 35 types, these are enough: soup, creamer, herring, large and small flat, for meat, deep and shallow dessert, pie.

To make the table setting look perfect, these 7 plates will be enough. The main thing is cleanliness and brilliance.

Location rules:

Plates are placed in front of the chair.
They should be located at a distance of 2 cm from the edge.
To the left of the serving plate, they put a pie plate (it’s just called that, in fact, not only pies and pasties are put in it, but also bread). It is located at a distance of 10–15 cm from the main group.
Place the serving and pie plate in several ways. The first - is on the same line in the center, or along the upper edges.
Paper napkins are placed under them so that they do not slip on the tablecloth.
Inside the serving room, they put a plate for the main course, and a snack bar in it. If there is puree soup for dinner, a soup-type appliance is served, if the broth is a cup. They are placed between the serving and snack plate.
Put in a pie for butter.

As you can see, following the rules of table setting, you can quickly put everything in its place. And in order not to forget how to do it correctly, take a photo after the arrangement.

Devices

Table setting at home does not end with plates. Perhaps this was the most simple. Devices are much more difficult to properly place in their places, and most people forget, so they make cheat sheets.

There should be spoons, forks and knives, depending on what kind of food the hostess will serve. For fish and snacks, only a knife and a fork are put, and they have different shapes, and it will be difficult for people who do not know to get into this rut.

There are also dessert types of cutlery.

To make it easier when serving, remember one tip - forks, knives and spoons are arranged from largest to smallest from the plate. It remains only to remember in what order to arrange them for lunch.

What is the correct table setting in the house?

Having understood this issue in more detail, every lunch and dinner will turn into a pleasant pastime, and not just the absorption of food.

Serving cutlery is arranged in the following order:

To the right of the plate are knives (for the main course, appetizers, fish), then put a spoon for soup and forks (for spaghetti, crabs and lobsters, snails, seafood).
On the left are forks for the main course, appetizers and fish. Then put in a spaghetti spoon.
From above - dessert knife and fork, dessert spoon, teaspoon, coffee spoon.
There is a butter knife on the patty plate.

This is the order in which cutlery is arranged for serving for the holiday.

Spoons are always to the right of the knives, the blade of which should look towards the plate, and not vice versa.

You can remove some cutlery if they are not needed, but follow the order.

Table setting may vary depending on the dishes prepared.

Glasses

To complete the festive table setting, only glasses are missing, which are also arranged in a certain order.

For festive tables, you may need brandy glass, flute champagne, a glass for red wine and white wine, under Martini, a liqueur glass, highball, old fashion (whiskey), a shot glass and a beer mug.

All do not arrange. The number of glasses depends on what drinks the hostess will serve to the guests.

There should not be any problems with their placement, because in fact it is as easy as shelling pears. The only rule is that each drink has its own, even for water.

According to the plan, it is necessary and according to the rules of etiquette, glasses are placed on the right side diagonally from the serving plate and parallel to the pie plate.

To serve any table, be it a holiday, ordinary family gatherings or a romantic dinner, it is not necessary to arrange them in height or volume. Glasses are placed arbitrarily, as long as the distance between them is respected, about 8 cm.

Home table setting allows some differences from the restaurant. It is not necessary to look impeccable in the eyes of the guests regarding this part of the reception. Many do not even put a knife next to the plate.

Napkins

You need to thoroughly prepare for your birthday, especially if it's an anniversary. On this day, every self-respecting hostess is ready to do anything, if only the guests and the birthday boy would have a good time.

And the first main task is table setting, because there can be a lot of them (for example, for taking main courses, snack and dessert). Regardless of how many there will be, the rules of etiquette must be observed. And the last thing is to put napkins.

The stores sell special coasters for them, but it does not look as beautiful as the swans or flowers made from them.

Cloth napkins are an indispensable attribute of any holiday. This is not decoration, but a necessity. Do not put towels in the corners, which will spoil the whole look of what you have been working so hard on.

Each guest should have an individual napkin, which is beautifully laid out on a snack plate.

There are many ways to fold them for table setting so that they look unwrinkled and fresh when opened.

The most common method of folding napkins is "Roll". It is necessary to fold it in such a way that a rhombus forms. Then we twist the left and right corners to the center with rolls. We fasten it with a beautiful ribbon, tying it into a bow. That's all.

Another easy and original way of folding is called a “handbag”. Lay out a rectangular napkin on a horizontal surface, grab the edge that is closer and fold it in half. Next, the upper left edge of the first layer is folded to the center. Do the same on the right side. It turned out a triangle, which is bent down in a straight line slightly below the middle of the main canvas. The same is done with the second upper part of the napkin. It turns out a bag.

This is how easy, simple and beautiful you can lay out napkins. In this case, no decoration is required anymore.

It is good if the color of the napkins matches the color of the tablecloth for table setting.

Spices

Don't forget the spices. Everyone has different tastes, so be sure to have salt and pepper in special containers.

Additionally, you can put various sauces, mustard and other spices and seasonings. It all depends on what dishes the hostess has prepared.

Decor

A good impression should remain not only from the serving, but also from the decor. For this purpose, they use vases with flowers, floating buds in a transparent bowl or glass, small vases with a flower near each place.

Decor with candles is more suitable for romantic dinners. Such an evening becomes intimate.

Candles fill the room with a cozy and relaxing atmosphere. They buy beautiful candelabra, candlesticks or small candles that can be placed throughout the apartment to create a more intimate and romantic atmosphere.

For children's holidays, characters from cartoons and fairy tales, bright drawings and colorful dishes are used as decor. Be prepared for the fact that many children are a big commotion in the house, so use plastic utensils, except for forks, knives and spoons of course.

Many ideas can be found. Just ask the child what he would like.

Secret signs

Equally important are the rules of conduct. First of all, it's posture. A confident person will not slouch. Elbows during the meal can not be put on the table, they are pressed to the sides, and hands are placed on the sides of the plates.

There are also signs that are used during meals. In ordinary families, secret signs are practically not used, but many want everything to be perfect.

Device language:

If the fork is lowered with its teeth down and lies on the left side, and the knife is on the right, then the person will return to eating.
If it lies vertically, and the knife is horizontal, this means that the person is waiting for the next dish. Most often, such a sign is used in restaurants, and at home everyone is used to talking.
When a person has finished eating, there is also a special sign. He places the cutlery vertically.
If they lie horizontally and are turned to the right with a point, the guest liked the treats.
The tines of the fork lie over the blade of the knife - pause.
The tip of the knife between the tines of the fork - the guest did not like the treat.

These are simple and elementary rules of etiquette that will save the guest from praising food, or vice versa, if they didn’t like anything and want to criticize it.

There is nothing complicated in serving and the rules for using the appliances. Doing this regularly, you will be able to master all the subtleties of the correct setting of the table.

Proper serving of cutlery and appropriate decoration can create a special atmosphere at the table, in which even the simplest homemade dish will be perceived as a culinary masterpiece.

For a real hostess, the ability to lay a table is no less important than the presence of culinary talents. Proper serving is a sign of attention and respect for those sitting at the table, as well as an indicator of the taste of the hostess herself.

Where to begin?

Before you start serving, you need to carefully plan and think through everything. Be sure to take into account the number of guests and the menu - the type and number of dishes depends on what devices will be used.

First of all, a carefully ironed tablecloth spreads on the table. They cover it in such a way that the corners cover the legs of the table, and the edges hang from the table by 25-30 cm. The edge of the tablecloth should not fall below the seat of the chair, so as not to cause inconvenience to those sitting.

To prevent the dishes from knocking on the table, you can put a soft cloth (for example, fleece) under the tablecloth.

Even the most expensive and beautiful tablecloth should not be covered with oilcloth on top as a precaution - etiquette does not allow this. But buying and laying a Teflon tablecloth on the table is not forbidden.

The Teflon coating of such a tablecloth does not allow spilled drinks and fat to be absorbed into the material, so they can be easily removed with a sponge. After removing the liquid, it will not leave unaesthetic marks and wet spots.

In some cases, instead of a tablecloth, the use of underplates or runners is allowed. The first are stands of various configurations, placed under plates and cutlery. Underplates are plastic, bamboo, made of rattan, or just paper. The second are narrow fabric strips spread only in the center of the table.

As for cutlery and utensils, before placing it is necessary to check them for integrity(there must be no chips, cracks, rust, bent parts) and cleanliness.

To remove dust and traces of water, all dishes are wiped with a damp warm towel and polished with a dry cloth.

Important! Proper table setting requires that all sets of cutlery be placed in the same order. In an informal setting, it is allowed to use different utensils for different guests. But at the same time, for each individual participant in the meal, all devices must be equipped from one set.

What is for what?

There is a wide variety of serving items. Most of them are not used daily at home, but they may well be needed to organize a banquet or gala dinner.

Dishes

About 35 species are known. However, the most commonly used are:

Soup. A recessed plate that serves not only soups, but also muesli, milk with cereal or oatmeal. But broths, according to the rules, are not served in such dishes - special bowls are provided for them.
Dinner plates. They are shallow and deep. Small ones are used for serving second courses, and pasta and other pasta dishes are put into deep ones.

Pirozhkovaya. Bread, croutons or butter are served on it. Place it on top and slightly to the left of the main set. A small butter knife is placed on top of it.
Chill mold. It looks like a clam shell. Designed for salad appetizers or oysters.
Fish. Slightly elongated for easier handling of fish dishes.

In addition, there are caviar, egg, dessert, salad bowls and many others. In addition, there is also such a type of plate as a serving plate. It is placed under a plate for snacks, soups or main courses.

According to the rules of etiquette, it may differ from the rest of the dishes (be from a different set or a different color).

Glasses

Most often, glasses and wine glasses are used as utensils for drinks. They may vary in shape, volume and have different purpose, which should also be taken into account when preparing for the meeting of guests:

Classic elongated glasses with a volume of 120-200 ml are intended for champagne sparkling wines. served for refined champagne wines. Refrigerate before filling.
A glass that differs slightly from the classic one in increased volume, with a slightly narrowed neck, is served for refined champagne wines. Refrigerate before filling. And fill it no more than 2/3.
For white wine, use glasses with an elongated bowl on a narrow leg, with a volume of 180-260 ml.
Red wine is poured into wider and more open glasses.
Cognac glasses can have a classic shape (snifters) or a tulip shape.

Cutlery

Over the years of the evolution of the art of cooking and serving, no less than plates, cutlery has also appeared. All of them are usually divided into main and auxiliary (they are also called serving devices).

The first are intended for individual use. The second is used by all participants in the meal. They serve to separate and cut dishes into portions, laying them out on individual plates.

The main devices, in turn, are divided into:

Canteens. They eat soups and main dishes. The set includes a knife 20-24 cm long, a fork and a spoon, which are 5-6 cm shorter than the knife.
Eateries. Designed for snacks and cold dishes. Consists of a knife and fork.
Fish. A set of slightly modified forks and knives. Fish knife - blunt, in the form of a spatula. The fish fork has shortened teeth.
Dessert. A trident fork 18-19 cm long, a small spoon and a knife with a narrow blade. Served with pies, mousses, puddings and other desserts. A dessert spoon can also be served with fried eggs and berries with cream.
fruity. These include a fork with two prongs and a knife. They are used for fruit salads, melons, watermelons and unpeeled fruit desserts.

In addition, special utensils designed for certain dishes (for example, a fork for oysters, sprats or lobsters) may be served.

What and how to use?

The greatest difficulty is most often the unfolding and use of cutlery. The rule can help here: devices are always used in the direction from the edge to the center and from right to left. This means that when a meal is supposed to be changed, those cutlery that lies farthest from the main plate will be used first. When in doubt, the device located on the right is taken first.

Placement rules

Serving is a whole science with a long history, which has its own rules and exceptions. However, if you remember the basics, then setting the table correctly will not be difficult at all:

The dishes are placed on the table in a strictly defined sequence. First - faience and porcelain items, then - cutlery. At the end they put objects made of glass and crystal.
It is necessary to decompose everything so that what is needed first of all lies closest. When scheduling multiple meals, dishes and cutlery are arranged in the order in which the food will be served. At the same time, it is not necessary to pile everything on the table at once. It is enough to put the devices intended for serving dishes on the first and second. Dessert sets can be arranged later - after the main ones are removed.
The knife should be placed so that its blade is turned towards the dishes.
According to the etiquette, a glass (glass) should be placed above the knife. If several types of glasses are used, then they are all placed side by side.
Forks must be laid out on the left side of the plate.
Spoons are always located to the right of knives.
If you plan to serve Italian dishes, there should be a plate for bread on the table.
If there is soup on the menu, the soup spoon is placed between the knives for snacks and fish.

In addition, there are several more generally accepted rules governing the location of individual serving items.

Dishes

According to the rules, the layout of dishes should begin with plates. At the same time, it is necessary to put them so that they are 1.5-2 cm from the edge of the table. The distance between them should be approximately the same. It is believed that the dishes should be arranged with an interval of 50 cm - so that those sitting at the table are comfortable.

Plates with cutlery should lie opposite each chair. Their number depends on the variety of the menu and the type of meal. For example, for a regular snack, one plate will be enough, but for lunch and dinner, two are served.

Smaller cymbals are always stacked on top of larger ones, allowing for quick replacement while saving space on the table.

Spoons and forks

Appliances are laid out behind the plates. They must be placed on the sides of the main plate, turning the concave side to the table.

Forks are placed on the left side, spoons and knives are placed on the right. A teaspoon can be placed on top.

It is important to place on the table only those devices that are really needed. Most often, one knife, one fork and two spoons (for a hot dish and dessert) are enough for a regular meal. If necessary, this set is supplemented with special devices.

Glasses

Behind the plates, a little to the right, you can arrange the glasses. When deciding on a variety of glasses, glasses and wine glasses, it is necessary to take into account the contingent of guests and the options for drinks offered to guests.

According to the rules, containers for drinks should be arranged from largest to smallest. At the same time, you should not put too many glasses or stacks - this will only clutter up the table and may cause inconvenience to guests.

Does color matter?

Color in serving is as important as when decorating an interior or choosing an outfit.

Most often, the table is covered with a white tablecloth, but any other color can be used to create an unusual atmosphere. Everything here will depend on the nature of the event and the preferences of the hosts.

A white tablecloth, for example, is perfect for formal dinners. It goes well with porcelain, crystal and looks elegant in any situation. At the same time, white color can be easily combined with any other. The table, decorated in black and white, will look original.

A romantic mood for dinner or lunch will help to give a combination of white with delicate pastel shades. And the green color will bring warm spring notes to the meal. The serving, completely made in green, will look original.

The combination of white and blue will also be beautiful, but red must be used with caution, since under different conditions it can act differently on others and affect the atmosphere at the table.

Decor

Decor will help complete the serving, give it completeness. The main decor element is napkins that can be placed in a water glass, laid out next to the plates or put on top.

For a quiet family dinner, you can use large napkins, for breakfast - a smaller size.

Evgeny Sedov

When hands grow from the right place, life is more fun :)

Content

The ancient art of decorating a solemn feast, arranging dishes for a dinner party or a family celebration, the ability to cover it beautifully, serve it festively is called table setting. It is based on a set of well-established rules, customs, including the order of laying out cutlery and serving dishes, recommendations for choosing jewelry, stylish decor elements to create a sophisticated look. How to decorate a table for guests or husband?

What is table setting

The correct arrangement of plates, salad bowls and dishes, as well as the layout of cutlery, napkins and other trifles necessary during the meal - all this is serving. It also includes the choice of tablecloths, napkins and other decorative elements. Serving is of three types: preliminary, banquet and "Bistro". How they differ and what are the features of the procedure - all this is interesting to know not only for the regulars of restaurants, but also for ordinary housewives, because then their celebrations will be decorated in an interesting way.

Serving types

The first variety is the simplest. A served table with it involves a partial arrangement of dishes and cutlery for serving dishes that are first on the menu. At the same time, in the process of changing dishes, the entire set of dishes is replaced. Pre-serving includes:

table-knife;
fork;
a teaspoon;
pie plate;
objects placed in the center (flowers, candlestick, porcelain figurines);
glass for red wine;
wine glass;
salt shaker, pepper shaker;
a napkin made of fabric without a pattern.

Banquet serving is a one-time arrangement of plates, cutlery and decorative elements. Devices that are used in this type of serving:

snack utensils (knife, fork);
soup spoon;
pepper box;
bread plate;
fish utensils;
a plate for pies or other pastries;
dessert spoon;
soup plate;
butter knife;
saucer (oval or round);
glassware;
cloth or silk napkins (rectangular or square).

"Bistro" is a simple arrangement for informal, non-formal occasions, a modern everyday option for lunch or breakfast. It is used in restaurants, hotels, hostels, self-service canteens and barbecues, establishments where they serve their own staff. Appliances, their location depend on the specific menu, the style of the institution, the average cost of the dish. It is necessary to cover the countertop with fabric white tablecloths, to serve paper napkins.

Table setting rules

Table decoration, especially festive, both in restaurants and cafes, and at home, should be carried out in accordance with generally accepted standards. Proper table setting sets the tone for the holiday. If you make a mistake when choosing dishes, you can ruin a gala dinner on the occasion of an event or an important business lunch. According to etiquette, certain napkins, glasses should be used - the choice depends on the type of meal (festive, for receiving guests, a romantic date).

Tablecloth

The general tone of the event can be set by the tablecloth. For a solemn meal, it should be snow-white, for simpler meals, cream or ivory is allowed. Regardless of the event, matter must be immaculately clean and ironed. Delicate decorative elements are allowed: lace, silk ribbons, perforation. Traditionally, the edges should hang from the edge of the countertop by 25-30 cm. In French and Italian restaurants, touching the edges of the floor is allowed. The material of the tablecloth should be natural: silk or cotton.

Types of plates

There are approximately 35 types of serving plates, but only about 5-6 are used universally. The rules of etiquette stipulate that the plates must be from the same set or at least made in the same style. The number and type of plates served depends on what dishes will be served and how many people are participating in the gala dinner. The main dishes used in restaurants are:

soup;
a plate or bowl for mustard;
herring;
large and small flat plates;
meat dishes;
dessert shallow and deep;
pie.

Cutlery for table setting

To the right of the plate is a soup spoon, immediately behind it along the outer edge is a fork and a knife for a snack (meat), the last one is a tea or coffee spoon. Cutlery for the main course is placed immediately next to the plate, and the dessert spoon is located behind the plate. A small butter knife is located on a patty plate. Devices should be polished with boiling water or special tools to a shine. In some restaurants, a special napkin is placed under the cutlery.

Glasses

Classics are two glasses: for wine and champagne. Other varieties for alcoholic beverages are agreed in advance, if necessary, add dishes for strong alcohol (glasses, glasses for whiskey, liquor). Glasses are arranged in this order: for red wine, for white wine, for champagne, and then dishes for spirits in the order of its serving. In addition, a separate glass (glass) for drinking water or juice is provided, it is placed on the left.

Napkins

If there is a problem of budget table decoration, then serving napkins will help to solve it. Napkins are one of the most important accessories on a festive dining table. There are two main types for serving - fabric and paper:

Cloth napkins are larger, square, made of linen fabric. Designed for kneeling or for decoration.
Paper napkins are used directly during meals, and they should be in the center of the countertop - so that it is convenient to use them. In addition, they should be available to every person sitting at the table. Napkins are placed in a napkin holder or in the form of figures as a decoration. Paper napkins at official receptions and celebrations should be plain, without a pattern.

You can beautifully arrange dishes for lunch or dinner at home. To do this, you need to buy a tablecloth, a set of cutlery and crockery. For a home-style serving option, it is not necessary to have everything, you should proceed only from your own needs and food preferences. To set the table for one person you need:

tablecloth, napkins (paper or fabric);
deep and flat plates;
table, tea, dessert spoon and fork;
table-knife;
a tea pair (jam outlet), a glass of wine;
water glass.

For dinner

Procedure:

The tablecloth must be spread on the table, put a flat plate, on top of it is deep.
To the right and left you need to put the cutlery for the main course, followed by snack bars.
Put a tea or coffee spoon in front of the plate.
A tea pair or a glass of wine is placed on the top right.
If desired, you can decorate the table with fabric napkins, flowers in vases or candles.

dining table

Recommendations on how to properly set the table for lunch for one person do not differ from those for serving for dinner. With the exception that for dinner the table is not decorated with anything other than napkins or flowers. In addition, instead of a white tablecloth for dinner, you can use special plastic or silicone substrates - they are more practical, they are easily washed from food and spilled drinks.

For guests

During lunch, serving for guests takes place in a similar way, only the number of cutlery and plates on the table changes. Decorations are almost never used, the tablecloth can be replaced with decorative coasters for hot dishes. If dinner is provided for guests, then light snacks and alcohol (wine, liquor) should be served, the coasters should be replaced with a white tablecloth.

For the holiday

Making your own dinner for the holiday is a laborious task, because. many dishes are served at the celebrations, a large number of people are present. For the holiday, the table is decorated with vases with flowers, fruits. At home, you can not follow the rules regarding the arrangement of plates and cutlery, but only use a tablecloth, napkins and make sure that each guest feels comfortable.

Beautiful table setting

Vases with flowers, satin or silk ribbons, porcelain figurines of angels, napkin rings are used as decoration. The creation of a festive atmosphere is facilitated by: balloons, serpentine, elegant tablecloths. Decorations for serving are selected in accordance with the holiday - a wedding, anniversary or a romantic dinner. The main decorative elements are a tablecloth and fabric napkins.

classical

Traditionally, for an ordinary lunch or dinner, the countertop is decorated with flowers or napkin rings. With a classic serving, the main condition is the impeccable cleanliness of the tablecloth, napkins and cutlery, dishes for spices. To beautifully set the table, but at the same time avoid excessive solemnity, you can pick up napkins of bright saturated colors - such a move will help brighten up a boring meal.

Banquet

Decorating a table for a mass banquet is not an easy task. In this case, they try to make all the decorative elements in the same style or color. They are selected according to the type of banquet: anniversary, corporate or other event. More often use bright napkins, fresh or artificial flowers. First of all, the wishes of people ordering a gala dinner are taken into account.

Wedding

When serving a wedding dinner, the emphasis is on places for the newlyweds, which are decorated with symbols of love (hearts, roses, posters with wishes, swans figurines). Places for the newlyweds are marked with separate glasses (decorated or tied with ribbons). A wedding banquet is served with white dishes with a gold or silver border. The tablecloth spreads only snow-white, symbolizing the purity of the feelings of the newlyweds.

Table setting for two

To create a romantic atmosphere, when serving dinner for two, it is customary to use candles, a basket in which fruit, alcohol (wine or champagne) are beautifully folded. The tablecloth is chosen scarlet or white. The dishes are placed opposite each other, but in such a way that the person sitting opposite can be reached without effort by hand. For two, they do not cover a lot of dishes and cutlery, the emphasis here is on romance.

The main problem when decorating a meal on a round tabletop is a small space, so the meal is served only with the necessary cutlery, deep and flat plates, a knife, a fork for the main course, a glass of wine. The rest is served as needed. In the center they put a vase with a bouquet of flowers, a dessert or a bottle of wine, decorated with a red or black napkin.

For birthday

Table decoration for a birthday implies an emphasis on the solemnity of the event. Serving dishes, competent selection of decorations, including decorating desserts, will help with this. How beautiful to set the table? It all depends on the personality of the birthday person:

Children's birthday table can be decorated using various toys, cardboard or paper cartoon characters.
A young girl or an aged woman traditionally uses natural flowers, original desserts, vases with exotic fruits, napkins, rosettes, and stylish dishes made of multi-colored glass to decorate a solemn meal.
It is customary for men to decorate a festive lunch or dinner laconically, with the help of beautiful contrasting napkins and tablecloths, while the appliances are classic, the dishes are white.

Serving a festive sweet table

For an event with a lot of sweets or a holiday that provides only for the presence of desserts, it is not customary to use decorative elements. Multi-tiered plates, pyramids, special coasters for cake pops or muffins are used. It is better if everything is matched in the same color scheme. If you use additional festive decoration, then the design will turn out to be pockmarked, overly pretentious and tasteless.

Table setting ideas

To surprise family and guests at celebrations or during regular meals, the following serving options can be offered:

Spring. The tabletop is covered with a tablecloth, fresh flowers and herbs are used as decorations. A linen napkin is placed on a plate, and a flower is placed on top. If desired, you can use a green tablecloth and decorations in the form of insects (May beetles, ladybugs). Fresh lettuce leaves are served at the beginning of the meal.
Decoration for tea. Tea pairs are placed on a tablecloth of any color, decorated with bright napkins. You can use spectacular scissors for cookies and small desserts (marshmallows, sweets, muffins). In the center of the composition there is a large teapot, around it are rosettes with jam and honey.
Breakfast at the cottage. The tablecloth is either not used at all, or linen in a natural gray color. Ceramic dishes, enameled bowls with flowers in water are used as decorations.
Hen-party. The tablecloth is used in fresh, bright colors (pink, coral, blue). Dishes are placed in a minimum amount (glasses, wine glasses, champagne or martini glasses), the main area is occupied by desserts, snacks, drinks. You can decorate the surface with flowers, decorative beads.
Children's holiday. They use oilcloth napkins of bright colors, plain or with the image of cartoon characters or animals, the entire surface of the countertop is occupied by sweets: sweets, cakes, fruits, cakes.

Video

Did you find an error in the text? Select it, press Ctrl + Enter and we'll fix it!

Manners of behavior in society indicate a person's upbringing and knowledge of the basic rules of etiquette. First of all, this applies to visits to cafes and restaurants, where it is necessary to behave properly at the table. Etiquette at the table is not only about how to hold cutlery, eat or drink, it is also important to be able to competently maintain a conversation and be neat in everything.

Peculiarities

Etiquette at the table is a certain knowledge that shapes the behavior of people in society. Any mistake made at the table will be immediately noticed and will create an unpleasant impression about the person, therefore, before visiting guests, a cafe or a restaurant, you need to check your manners, and if there are “gaps” in them, immediately correct everything. This will help in the future to avoid embarrassing situations and give self-confidence.

Etiquette at the table consists of a few simple rules.

You can not sit far from the table or too tightly pressed against its edge. Only brushes can be placed on the table.
Landing should be even, leaning over food is ugly.
It is considered bad form to reach for dishes. If the plates are placed far away, then you need to ask other participants in the meal to pass them.
When eating, use napkins. To do this, adults put them on their knees, and small children tuck napkins into the collar.
All dishes should be placed on plates with cutlery. An exception to this rule are fruits, sugar, cookies or cakes.
It is important to remember that devices that lie on the left are designed to be held by the left hand, and those lying on the right are intended for the right hand.

Besides, Don't talk loudly at the table. When maintaining a conversation, first of all, you need to listen to the interlocutor, without interrupting him, and only then give an answer. The implementation of these recommendations is not particularly difficult, so they should always be followed.

It is also necessary to teach this manner of behavior to your children, and it is advisable to do this from a very early age.

Introduction to serving

Table setting is the main component of any meal. If a gala dinner takes place at home, then the impression of the owners of the house will depend on its design. Many people compare table setting with a real work of art, as it is important not only to properly arrange cutlery and know their purpose, but also to create a festive atmosphere with the help of flowers and napkin decor.

To beautifully set the table, first of all you need to lay a tablecloth, then you can arrange plates, glasses, glasses, wine glasses, cutlery and napkins. Their location is set by the rules of etiquette and cannot be changed at one's own discretion.

The tablecloth serves as the basis for the design of the table, so its choice should be taken responsibly. It is recommended to use canvases in white or light colors.

According to the serving rules, the corners of the tablecloth should cover the legs of the furniture, but not be too long, leaving a distance of 25-30 cm from the floor. You can not stretch the corners of the tablecloth, otherwise the canvas will lose its shape and aesthetic appearance.

After the tablecloth has taken the correct position on the table, you can proceed to the next stage of serving and start arranging the plates. There are many varieties of plates, each of which has its own purpose. Most often, the main plates are placed on the table, which can be used to serve different types of dishes, as well as additional ones - for salads, bread, pies, oysters, eggs, jams and fruits. The number of plates used depends on whether you are planning a regular dinner or a gala dinner.

Plates before a meal are thoroughly washed and wiped dry, preferably to a shine. Put the plates in front of the seat. It is ugly when they lie on the edge of the countertop, so this should be avoided when serving. In the event that the dinner will consist of several dishes, table plates are placed under snack bars.

Great attention should also be paid to the placement of cutlery. Forks should be laid out to the left, and knives to the right of the plate. In this case, next to the knife must be a tablespoon. For a gala dinner, which provides for a rich menu, snack utensils are first placed: a fish and table knife, a soup spoon, a fork. The distance between cutlery should not exceed 1 cm.

After the cutlery, they move on to the arrangement of glasses and wine glasses. They are ranked from largest to smallest, starting with glasses for water, wine, champagne and ending with a glass for juice and glasses for spirits. The finishing touch in table setting are napkins, which are a decorative element and lie on your knees.

Do not wipe your face and hands with cloth napkins; paper disposable napkins are used for this purpose.

How to behave at food

A gala dinner or lunch begins with a seat at the table. At the same time, guests must occupy the place indicated in the invitation. If this is not the case, you need to wait for the owners of the house and clarify where you can stay. After landing at the table, a napkin is placed on your knees, which must be unfolded and shaken. In the event that the table is served with napkins in rings, they are carefully removed and the ring is placed in the upper corner from the cutlery. At the end of the meal, the cloth napkin is taken by the center and put back on the ring.

Sitting at the table should be comfortable so that it is convenient to use cutlery. It is strictly forbidden to put elbows on the table, as this is an example of bad taste. After serving the dishes, you need to wait for all the participants in the meal, and only then you can start eating. Dishes that are located at a distance must be asked to pass, and not to reach for them across the entire table.

At the same time, according to the rules of etiquette, each of the guests must make sure that his neighbor has pepper, salt and oil available.

It is also important to take into account some other points.

Food is only transferred from left to right, so all dishes can only move in that direction. To do this, one participant in the meal holds the dish, and the second fills the plate, or the neighbor simply passes the dish, and the addressee holds the plate on his own and pours food.
Inconvenient in shape and heavy dishes cannot be kept on weight - they are put on the table before each transfer to another guest.
Dishes with handles and tureens are recommended to be passed in such a way that the handles are directed to the neighbor who is taking the dish.

In the case when food must be taken with a spoon or fork, the spoon is placed to the right of the plate, and the fork to the left.

You should eat slowly - this will allow you not only to fully enjoy the food, but also to communicate with the owners of the house or guests. During meals, the mouth should be kept closed, without champing or chattering teeth. If the first dishes are too hot, you can’t blow on them - just wait a bit until they cool down.

It is only worth talking when the food is swallowed. If you need to leave, you should first ask for forgiveness from those present, and only then get up from the table.

What appliances to take first

To properly behave at the table in a restaurant, it is important to know how to use the appliances. As a rule, all main dishes are located on the left, and drinks are on the right. Therefore, everything that lies to the left of the plates can be safely taken. It is necessary to start a meal with the help of devices that are located closer to the plate, and then apply the following as new food is served. It is important to remember that the fork is used with the knife and is always placed on the left. If the fork lies on the right, then this means that the dishes will be eaten without a knife.

During the meal, you need to know how to properly place the fork and knife. As a rule, two different styles are used for this.

American. Provides for the placement of a fork in the left hand and a knife in the right. A portion is cut off with a knife, after which it is placed on the upper edge of the plate with the blade inward. It is allowed to eat a dish with a fork, holding it both in the left and in the right hand. To rest, the fork is placed on a plate with the teeth up in the direction of 5 o'clock.
European. The knife is placed strictly in the right hand, and the fork in the left, while it is impossible to shift the fork from one hand to the other. In the process of eating, it is important to ensure that the fork is constantly teeth down.

In the event that it becomes necessary to take a short break, the knife and fork are placed on a plate in the “I am resting” position. To do this, the fork rests with the handle at 7 o'clock, and the knife at 5 o'clock.

How to bring a spoon to your mouth

All first courses are eaten with a tablespoon, so you need to know the rules of etiquette regarding how to bring this cutlery to your mouth. Usually, when serving, soup bowls are placed on the table along with spoons, or soup is then served with a spoon. You can bring a spoon with food to your mouth both with the side and with the sharp edge of the device. As for scooping the first dish, this is done in two ways: from oneself or from right to left.

The spoon towards the mouth should not be overfilled. To prevent the leftovers of soup from dripping from it, it is recommended to lightly touch the edge of the plate with the device. If the soup is poured, the spoon should remain in the bowl.

It is also important to hold the cutlery in your hand. The spoon is placed between the index finger and thumb, so that the handle rests slightly on the middle finger.

How to hold a glass

Etiquette at the table provides not only a beautiful serving and good manners of communication, but also the rules that must be observed when eating. An important point is the holding of glasses and wine glasses in the hand. Most often, wine is served at gala dinners; for these purposes, special glasses “tulips” or stemmed wine glasses are used. Glasses with white and red wine should be held only by the stem and in no case should they be covered with a hand. Champagne is treated similarly - the vessel filled with it is held with three fingers.

As for cognac glasses, they can be placed in the palm of your hand - this way the drink will warm up to the desired temperature. You can give the cognac an amber hue with the help of light shaking of the glass. A glass of vodka is taken with three fingers, the drink is not held in the hand for a long time and is drunk quickly.

How to put down cutlery when finished eating

After eating, when the meal is over, you must give the waiter a sign. To do this, a fork with a knife lies parallel to the plate - so that the prongs of the fork look up and the knife blade to the side. Exactly the same procedure is performed after the end of the dessert.

Spoons after taking the soup should not remain in a deep plate, they are placed near the lower appliances. In the event that you really liked the dish, you can show it to the waiter with “gestures of a fork and knife”. In this case, the cutlery lies horizontally in the middle of the plate, the fork is placed with the teeth up, and the knife blade should “look” at it.

At the same time, it is ugly to throw dirty napkins into a plate, forming heaps of garbage out of them.

Reminder for every day

The rules of etiquette at the table must be observed not only by adults, but also by children, as improper behavior in society will create a negative impression on the whole family. To always be on top and feel confident at a party, cafe or restaurant, you just need to study simple recommendations and follow them every day. So, etiquette does not tolerate the following shortcomings.

You can not refuse certain types of dishes at the table, indicating that they can cause an allergic reaction or are not suitable for a diet. To do this, it is advisable to warn the host of the event in advance and tell him what to exclude from food.
Food stuck between the teeth is considered an unpleasant phenomenon, but you should not remove it immediately at the table, even if there are toothpicks. First, the table is left, and only then the removal is performed in the toilet room.
Some ladies use bright cosmetics, so at special occasions you may encounter the problem of lipstick traces on glasses. To eliminate this bad taste, you should remove lipstick from your face with a napkin before dinner. This should be done not at the table, but in the toilet room.
Many people smoke. Of course, smoking is prohibited in restaurants, but sometimes you can find yourself in establishments where a place for smokers is equipped. Here, an important point is that smoking between meals is not good. This is best done at the end of the entire meal, and then only with the permission of those present.
It is not allowed to place diplomats and handbags on the tables. The same applies to gloves, hats, gloves and glasses.

2016-07-22 301

Content

How to set the table? There are no hard and fast rules in this regard. Of course, there are basic table setting recommendations, but the personal taste of the one who sets the table plays a big role in the placement of accents and especially in the choice of decor.

A beautifully set table creates a pleasant atmosphere of comfort, care, celebration. There are so many nuances and possibilities in this matter that the correct table setting is considered a real art.

Table setting rules

There are a few basic rules, following which, you can set the table beautifully. The price of cutlery and accessories does not matter much. The main thing is that the dishes, cutlery and everything around them harmoniously combine with each other and create a complete composition. Including - the interior of the room where the table is to be served. Without napkins, tablecloths, colors or other items for decoration, it will not work. So, we paint the algorithm in steps.

The table is covered with a tablecloth - clean and ironed. Its edges should fall from the edge by twenty-five to thirty centimeters.

Corners - located opposite the legs.

We arrange the plates, previously washed and wiped dry, even better - polished so that they shine.

A plate for snacks is placed exactly opposite the chairs, and about two centimeters separate it from the edge of the countertop.

A pie plate is placed 5-15 centimeters to the left (bread is placed in it).

If you need more than two plates, then a small dining room is located under the diner.

When a two-course dinner is supposed, you can first put one deep plate, and then bring a dessert one.

The knife and fork are located at the main plate: the knife is on the right, next to it is a spoon, the fork is on the left.

There can be several knives: they follow in descending order of magnitude - from left to right.

When butter is served, for it you need to put a small knife on a bread (patty) plate.

If you need to use several forks, they are placed on the left side of the plate - as they decrease: dining room, for fish and for snacks.

Dessert spoon - behind the main plate (which is opposite the chair) parallel to the edge of the table, its handle is turned to the right.

For wine, the glass is placed on the right side, immediately behind the knife.

Other glasses or glasses are placed next to it.

When only water is on the menu of drinks, then glasses or glasses for it are located directly behind the main plate.

For kvass or fruit drink, you need a glass or crystal mug that has a handle.

If the table is served completely, then the dishes where drinks are poured stand in two rows.

All items on the table should be at least half to one centimeter apart.

There are subtleties of table setting for different dishes. So, it is customary to eat spaghetti with a spoon and fork, because there is no knife in the composition. In Italian cuisine, there is always water on the table - a glass with it is closer than others to the main plate.

Mandatory accessories

Napkins- it is necessary. As soon as the glassware is arranged, cloth napkins are placed on the snack plates, which are best folded beautifully. Sometimes you can use paper napkins.

And the final chord - utensils for spices, flowers in vases, other table decorations. Salt, so that it does not quickly moisten, is better to be used in a mixture - ordinary table salt with dry salt. And only half of the pepper is put in the pepper box.

Flowers they are very in harmony with the festive serving, however, the everyday table will only benefit from them. It is important that the vases for them are low. It is worth considering that pollen does not fall from the flowers and the petals do not fall off.

Serving a table for a celebration

A festive feast requires special preparation. This will help create an atmosphere of celebration, lunch or dinner will be great, guests will be satisfied.

In addition to dishes, you will need tablecloth: ideal - flawless white. You can choose a tablecloth with patterns, but soft. Let the tablecloth be elegant, and napkins - the same style. If you fold them in an intricate way, it will be even more interesting.

There is one pattern here. Table setting experts believe that crystal tableware requires only a white tablecloth, but porcelain can be combined with colors.

It is worth setting the table and decorating it in one style. This means that all utensils, cutlery, utensils for spices and decor - all this must be combined with each other. At the same time, it is important to take into account that the room where the table is laid is also in harmony with what is on it. If all these rules are observed, the effect is amazing!

For example, if the table is being prepared for, New Year-themed accessories are appropriate. A wedding celebration involves its own table decoration, and a birthday allows for any options. The main thing is that the table does not overshadow the birthday man himself.

Crockery and cutlery are arranged according to the general rules, everything is as described above - point by point. Then everything will lie as it should. There are enough plates for different dishes. Guests will be comfortable, the food will be even tastier, and the overall atmosphere of the holiday will be on top.

Children's holiday

Children do not need excessive "strictness". It is important that young guests are as comfortable as possible. And so that the mood of joy and mischief is reflected in the serving.

Which one will dishes, it doesn’t matter for children: let it be comfortable and relatively inexpensive - exquisite porcelain or glass is not the best option here, because children can easily break it, which will spoil the mood. You can even use disposable tableware, but good quality, with bright patterns.

It doesn’t matter for children whether there are delicacies on the table or ordinary, but interesting and favorite snacks. But they will appreciate if the food will be put on plates and there will be no need to impose and cut anything using a knife. Still, these are children who are not up to ceremonies.

It is good if there are as few items of dishes on the table as possible. The simpler the better. The main thing is that everything is comfortable.

But decor is almost the main condition for a successful serving of a festive feast for children. Various balloons, decorative paper decoration, bright tablecloth, caps, - all this will delight young guests. It is worth paying maximum attention to this. After all, children love to play.

The theme in which the holiday is held continues in the design of the table. When young “fairies” came to the girl, and everything around resembles a castle from a fairy tale, the table, of course, should be decorated in the same way. A holiday for boys, where there are a lot of robots and an appropriate animator and other decor, will be brighter if the table is also “robotic”.

Beautiful - every day

To enjoy a wonderful table setting, it is not necessary to wait for a holiday. It is only worth spending a little more time setting the table for a regular breakfast or dinner.

It will be easy if there are beautiful napkins and dishes in stock - albeit inexpensive, but in the same stylistic and color scheme.

The tablecloth in this case is completely optional. On the contrary, the modern trend is to do without it in home serving. And replace with wicker bamboo napkins, wooden coasters or cloth napkins. You can link them yourself. Beautiful hard paper napkins are also suitable.

A beautifully folded napkin tied with a ribbon, a flower in a vase will help add sophistication. It’s not worth complicating serving: a minimum of dishes, but as much imagination as possible.

How to set the table: video

Categories

Popular