TABLE SETTINGS
PLACE SETTING
Informal settings generally have fewer utensils and dishes but use a layout based
on more formal settings. Utensils are arranged in the order and according to the
manner in which the diner will use them. In the West, forks, bread plate, butter
knife, and napkin generally are placed to the left of the dinner plate, and knives,
spoons, stemware and tumblers, cups, and saucers to the right. (By contrast, formal
settings in Greece, Armenia, and Turkey place the fork to the right of the dinner
plate.) Sauceboats and serving dishes, when used, either are placed on the table
or, more formally, may be kept on a side table.
FORMAL
Utensils are placed about an inch from the edge of the table, with all placed either
upon the same invisible baseline or upon the same invisible median line. Utensils
in the outermost position are used first (for example, a soup spoon and a salad
fork, then the dinner fork and the dinner knife). The blades of the knives are turned
toward the plate. Glasses are placed an inch or so above the knives, also in the
order of use: white wine, red wine, dessert wine, and water tumbler.
FORMAL DINNER SETTING
The most formal dinner is served from the kitchen. When the meal is served, in addition
to the central plate (a service plate or dinner plate at supper; at luncheon, a
service place or luncheon plate) at each place there are a bread roll (generally
on a bread plate, sometimes in the napkin), napkin, and flatware (knives and spoons
to the right of the central plate, and forks to the left). Coffee is served in Butler
Service style in demitasses, and a spoon placed on the saucer to the right of each
handle. Serving dishes and utensils are not placed on the table for a formal dinner.[1]
The only exception in the West to these general rules is the protocol followed at
the Spanish royal court, which was also adopted by the Austrian Habsburg court,
in which all flatware was placed to the right of the central plate for each diner.
At a less formal dinner, not served from the kitchen, the dessert fork and spoon
can be set above the plate, fork pointing right, spoon pointing left. In Europe,
if many courses are to be served, the table is only laid for soup, fish, and meat.
The pudding spoon and fork and the savoury knife and fork are then placed on the
table when and as required.
INFORMAL DINNER SETTING
At an informal setting, fewer utensils are used and serving dishes are placed on
the table. Sometimes the cup and saucer are placed on the right side of the spoon,
about four inches from the edge of the table. Often, in less formal settings, the
napkin and/or cutlery may be held together in a single bundle by a napkin ring.
However, such objects as napkin rings are very rare in the United Kingdom, Spain,
Mexico, or Italy. Gallery
- Napkin
- Salad Fork
- Dinner Fork
- Dessert Fork and Spoon
- Bread and Butter Plate with Spreader
- Dinner Plate
- Dinner Knife
- Teaspoon
- Soup Spoon
- Cocktail Fork
- Water Glass
- Wine Glass (red wine)
- Wine Glass (white wine)
- Coffee Cup and Saucer