How are my table manners?

How are my table manners?

If you have considered having a “dinner” party or even attending one or if you have been invited to a formal tea or formal affair, there is special consideration taken with regards to the setting of the table and the manners that need to be exhibited during the course of dinner. Knowing how to set a table properly tells others that we are “sophisticated”, have been well reared and are accustomed to formal dining. According to the Oxford Junior Encyclopedia, “man does not instinctively behave well at meals. In the absence of rules to the contrary he is concerned principally with satisfying his animal instincts of hunger and thirst.  The purpose of practicing “good table manners” is to demonstrate to others that you are cultured, have no fear that there will be a lack of food and are thus are able to enjoy the art of dining. This ability to enjoy fine dining once was afforded only to kings and queens and those in their court. As being a person of nobility was the only way that most could afford to eat more than the very basics like water, grains, bread and maybe meat. Today, most of us are blessed to pick and choose what we want to eat selecting only will delight our palette. However, despite that we are able to eat like Kings and Queens at any meal, we have not practiced the art of fine dining and do not know the basics. While these suggestions are general in nature, they will help you to cultivate habits that make you suited for the Royal Court.

Step 1 (Setting the Table)

To determine how to set a table, you must consider the following:

1. The customs of those attending is a key issue, remember people from the world over maintain very distinctive customs when dining.

2. The number of guests in attendance determines seating and table setting necessities.

3. The locale of the party is key, whether it is a banquet with strangers in attendance, in the comfort of a warm home setting, in a fine dining establishment, at a company party or in a special commemorative setting.

4. The menu selection determines what additional cutlery or stemware may be required.

 

-If you are preparing for casual dining, select a festive tablecloth of your choice and the appropriate linens. If you are preparing for formal dining a linen tablecloth for summer months is acceptable. A damask, 100% high count starched cotton or high quality silk cloth is acceptable for winter months.

 

-Make sure that the cloth is secured in place, some fine fabrics can be somewhat slippery.

-Find an appropriate centerpiece and decorations for the table.

-Create name cards for all guests.

-Place a male at the table’s head.

- Seat children adjacent to parents.

-Seat spouses next to one another.

 

-Remember that all utensils with four letters go on the left and the word left has four letters. In that case the fork always is on the left side of the setting.

-Remember that all utensils with five letters go on the right and the word right has five letters. In that case the knives and spoons are always on the right of the setting.

 

For casual settings,

-Fold the napkin and place it in the left of the salad plate which is the smaller plate.

- Place the larger dinner fork to the left of the napkin with the salad fork, which is a smaller fork to the dinner fork’s left.

- Place the salad plate to the left of the forks, as the dinner plate will be served to the guests with their dinner course which will follow the salad course.

- Place the knife to the right of the plate with the cutting edge facing toward the plate.

- Place a bread plate to the left of the salad place at the top left corner of the setting.

- Place a butter knife across the bread plate with the edge facing the downward toward the salad plate.

- Place a water goblet next to the bread plate just above and to the right of the salad plate.

 

For formal settings,

-Place the salad plate to the center of the setting.

-Place in the center of the salad plate, the rim soup plate

-Fold napkin and place it in the center of the rim soup plate.

-Place a fish fork, dinner fork and salad fork to the left of the salad plate.

-Place the salad knife, dinner knife, fish knife and soup spoon in that order to the right of the salad and rim soup plates.

-Place the individual salt than peppershakers to the left side of the salad plate above the forks.

-Place a dessert spoon lengthwise at the top of the salad and rim soup plates with the bowl of the spoon facing left toward the shakers.

 _Place the dessert fork lengthwise next to the dessert soup with the tines of the fork facing right.

-Place a water goblet to the right corner of the plates.

_Place a wine goblet next to the water goblet.

_Place a wine glass to the rear center of the goblets.

Optional

- Place a bread plate with a butter knife lengthwise and resting on the top edge of the bread plate to the top left hand corner of the setting.

- Place a cup and saucer to the right upper corner of the setting with the coffee spoon on the right side of the saucer.

You are now prepared to serve your guest either casually or formally.

 

 

 

Quote to remember: Dining is the privilege of civilization…The nation which knows how to dine has learnt the leading lesson of progress.

Author: Isabella Beeton, famous British cookery writer

 

Words to remember:

 

Nobility – 1 : the quality or state of being noble in character, quality, or rank
2 : the body of persons forming the noble class in a country or state : ARISTOCRACY

 

Royal Court - of kingly ancestry

 

Tines – 1 : a slender pointed projecting part : PRONG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Formal Table Setting

   

Casual Table Setting