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How to Set a Table
During the week, the leading mantra around which meal time tends to revolve is “simplicity”. We look for the quick and easy recipes, we often reheat the food in the microwave and we generally set the table by plunking down a fork and a knife by each person's place setting.
All this may work just fine for a weekday family meal, but what about an informal weekend dinner party, or the occasional meal time visit by the in-laws? That's when having a general knowledge of “table etiquette” begins to come in handy. So keep reading to learn the basics of proper table settings.
The central rule you want to always remember when setting the table, is that the silverware should be placed in the order which they will be used. (This will come particularly in handy when it comes to more complicated formal place settings).
The Plate - always begin by setting the plate down first, as it is the core of your place setting.
The Fork – forks are placed on the left side of the plate. If you will be serving an appetizer along with your entre'e, place the large fork next to the plate and the smaller fork to the left of the larger fork. Since the appetizer will be served first, you want to place the appetizer fork on the outside for easier access.
The Knife – knives always go on the right side of the dinner plate. In the case of an informal meal, you only need one, even if you serving an appetizer. If you are serving meat for the entree, you may want to use a steak fork. Always make sure that the blade of the knife points inward toward the plate.
The Napkin – with an informal place setting, you have a bit of variety available regarding the napkin. Napkins can be placed in the center of one's plate, or folded up and placed to the right of the forks, or folded and placed beneath the forks.
The Cups – cups always go on the upper right hand side of the plate.
The Spoon – if there is a dessert spoon, it can either be placed horizontally above the dinner plate with the handle facing towards the right, or it can be placed to the right of the knife (and yes, consequently breaking the golden rule of laying the silverware down in the order by which you eat since spoons always go to the right of the knives).
Next: Formal Table Setting
All this may work just fine for a weekday family meal, but what about an informal weekend dinner party, or the occasional meal time visit by the in-laws? That's when having a general knowledge of “table etiquette” begins to come in handy. So keep reading to learn the basics of proper table settings.
The central rule you want to always remember when setting the table, is that the silverware should be placed in the order which they will be used. (This will come particularly in handy when it comes to more complicated formal place settings).
The Plate - always begin by setting the plate down first, as it is the core of your place setting.
The Fork – forks are placed on the left side of the plate. If you will be serving an appetizer along with your entre'e, place the large fork next to the plate and the smaller fork to the left of the larger fork. Since the appetizer will be served first, you want to place the appetizer fork on the outside for easier access.
The Knife – knives always go on the right side of the dinner plate. In the case of an informal meal, you only need one, even if you serving an appetizer. If you are serving meat for the entree, you may want to use a steak fork. Always make sure that the blade of the knife points inward toward the plate.
The Napkin – with an informal place setting, you have a bit of variety available regarding the napkin. Napkins can be placed in the center of one's plate, or folded up and placed to the right of the forks, or folded and placed beneath the forks.
The Cups – cups always go on the upper right hand side of the plate.
The Spoon – if there is a dessert spoon, it can either be placed horizontally above the dinner plate with the handle facing towards the right, or it can be placed to the right of the knife (and yes, consequently breaking the golden rule of laying the silverware down in the order by which you eat since spoons always go to the right of the knives).
Next: Formal Table Setting
