Full service. Table setting ideas at home: options for different occasions

Evgeniy Sedov

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

Content

The ancient art of decorating a ceremonial feast, arranging dishes for a dinner party or family celebration, the ability to set it beautifully and serve it festively is called table setting. It is based on a set of established rules and customs, including the order of laying out cutlery and serving dishes, recommendations for choosing decorations, stylish elements decor to create an elegant appearance. 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 small items necessary during a meal - all this is serving. This also includes the choice of tablecloths, napkins and other decorative elements. There are three types of serving: preliminary, banquet and “Bistro”. How they differ and what are the features of the procedure - all this is interesting to know not only for restaurant regulars, but also for ordinary housewives, because then their celebrations will be decorated in an interesting way.

Types of serving

The first type is the simplest. A set table with it involves a partial arrangement of dishes and cutlery for serving the dishes that come first on the menu. In this case, in the process of changing dishes, the entire set of dishes is replaced. Pre-service includes:

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

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

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

"Bistro" is simple variety arrangements for informal, non-formal occasions, a modern everyday option for lunch or breakfast. It is used in restaurants, hotels, hostels, self-service canteens and kebab shops, establishments that serve their own staff. The devices and their location depend on the specific menu, the style of the establishment, average cost dishes. Cover the tabletop with white cloth tablecloths and serve with paper napkins.

Table setting rules

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

Tablecloth

The overall tone of the event can be set by the tablecloth. For a formal meal, it should be snow-white; for simpler meals, a cream color or color is allowed Ivory. Regardless of the event, the material must be immaculately clean and ironed. The presence of delicate decorative elements is allowed: lace, silk ribbons, perforation. Traditionally, the edges should hang 25-30 cm from the edge of the tabletop. In French and Italian restaurants, the edges are allowed to touch the floor. 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 commonly used. The rules of etiquette stipulate that plates must be from the same set or, at least, made in the same style. The number and type of plates served depend on what dishes will be served and how many people are participating in the gala dinner. The main plates used in restaurants are:

soup;
a plate or bowl for mustard;
herring fish;
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 on the outer edge there is a fork and a knife for appetizers (meat), the last place 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. Small knife for butter placed on a pie plate. The devices must be polished using boiling water or special means to shine. Some restaurants place a special napkin under the cutlery.

Glasses

The classic is two glasses: for wine and champagne. The remaining varieties for alcoholic beverages are agreed upon in advance; if necessary, glassware for strong alcohol (shot glasses, glasses for whiskey, liqueur) is added. Glasses are arranged in this order: for red wine, for white wine, for champagne, and then glassware for strong alcohol in the order in which it is served. In addition, there is a separate glass (wine glass) for drinking water or juice, it is placed on the left.

Napkins

If a problem occurs budget decoration table, then serving napkins will help solve it. Napkins are one of the essential accessories on the formal dinner table. There are two main types for serving - fabric and paper:

Fabric napkins are larger in size, square, and made of linen fabric. Designed to be placed on your lap or for decoration.
Paper napkins are used directly during meals, and they should be in the center of the tabletop - so that they are convenient to use. In addition, they must be accessible to every person sitting at the table. Napkins are placed in a napkin holder or in the form of figures as decoration. Paper napkins at official receptions and celebrations should be plain, without patterns.

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 dishes. For home option You don’t have to have everything for serving; you should proceed only from your own needs and food preferences. To set a table for one person you need:

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

For dinner

Procedure:

The tablecloth must be spread on the table, a flat plate should be placed, and a deep plate should be placed on top of it.
To the right and left you need to put cutlery for the main course, followed by snack bars.
Place a teaspoon or coffee spoon in front of the plate.
A pair of tea or a wine glass 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 a table for lunch for one person are no different from those for setting 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 and can be easily washed off food and spilled drinks.

For guests

During lunch, serving for guests is done 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 stands for hot dishes. If dinner is provided for guests, then light snacks and alcohol (wine, liquor) should be served, and coasters should be replaced with a white tablecloth.

For the holiday

Arranging your own lunch for the holiday is a labor-intensive task, because... at celebrations, many dishes are served, there is a large number of of people. For the holiday, the table is decorated with vases of flowers and fruits. At home, you don’t have to follow the rules regarding the arrangement of plates and cutlery, but only use a tablecloth, napkins and make sure that every guest feels comfortable.

Beautiful table setting

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

Classical

Traditionally, for a casual lunch or dinner, the tabletop is decorated with flowers or napkin rings. For classic table setting, the main condition is the impeccable cleanliness of the tablecloth, napkins, cutlery, and utensils for spices. To set the table beautifully, but at the same time avoid excessive solemnity, you can choose napkins in bright, saturated colors - this move will help brighten up a boring meal.

Banquet room

Table decoration for a mass banquet - not an easy task. In this case, they try to make all decorative elements in the same style or color. They are selected according to the type of banquet: anniversary, corporate party or other event. More often they 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 the places for the newlyweds, which are decorated with symbols of love (hearts, roses, posters with wishes, figurines of swans). Places for the newlyweds are marked with separate glasses (decorated or tied with ribbons). The wedding banquet is served with white dishes with a gold or silver border. The tablecloth is only snow-white, symbolizing the purity of the newlyweds’ feelings.

Table setting for two

To create a romantic atmosphere, when serving dinner for two, it is customary to use candles, a basket in which fruits and alcohol (wine or champagne) are beautifully placed. 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. There is not a lot of dishes and cutlery provided for two people, the emphasis here is on romance.

The main problem when arranging a meal for round table top- a small space, so the meal is served only with the necessary cutlery, deep and flat plates, a knife, fork for the main course, and a glass for wine. The rest is served as needed. A vase with a bouquet of flowers, a dessert or a bottle of wine, decorated with a red or black napkin, is placed in the center.

For a birthday

Table decoration for a birthday involves an emphasis on the solemnity of the event. Serving dishes and choosing the right decorations, including decorating desserts, will help with this. How to set the table beautifully? It all depends on the personality of the birthday person:

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

Serving a festive sweet table

For an event with a lot of sweets or a holiday that only includes desserts, it is not customary to use decorative elements. Multi-tiered plates, pyramids, and special stands for cake pops or muffins are used. It's better if everything is collected in one color scheme. If you use additional festive decorations, 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, and fresh flowers and herbs are used as decorations. A linen napkin is placed on the plate, and a flower is placed on top. If desired, you can use a green tablecloth and decorations in the form of insects (chafer bugs, ladybugs). Fresh salad leaves are served at the beginning of the meal.
Decoration for tea. Tea pairs are placed on a tablecloth of any color and decorated with bright napkins. You can use spectacular cutouts for cookies and small desserts (marshmallows, sweets, muffins). In the center of the composition is a large teapot, around it are rosettes with jam and honey.
Breakfast at the dacha. The tablecloth is either not used at all, or linen in a natural gray color. Used as decoration ceramic tableware, enamel bowls with flowers in water.
Hen-party. The tablecloth is used in fresh, bright colors (pink, coral, blue). Dishes are placed in a minimal amount (glasses, wine glasses, champagne or martini glasses), the main area is occupied by desserts, snacks, and drinks. You can decorate the surface with flowers and decorative beads.
Children's holiday. They use oilcloth napkins of bright colors, plain or with images of cartoon characters or animals; the entire surface of the tabletop is occupied by sweets: sweets, pastries, fruits, cakes.

Video

Found an error in the text? Select it, press Ctrl + Enter and we will fix everything!

Table setting for everyone existing rules- this is always a sign of attention from the owner of the house to his guests. Unfortunately, you don’t see a properly set table very often today, especially at home. However, table setting is a real art, mastering which, you bring beauty into your life. That is why it is so important to know the rules of table setting - in order to be able to create a festive atmosphere in your home every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and in holidays surprise your guests with fancy decor, intricately folded napkins and luxurious tableware.

Sequence of table setting

The table should be set according to the following plan: tablecloth; dishes; cutlery; glasses, wine glasses, glasses; napkins; table decoration. To begin with, table setting may seem like a really complicated science to some, but after some time, when setting the table according to the rules becomes a habit, it will seem to you that this task is easier than ever!

Table setting begins with laying out a tablecloth on the table. It would seem, what could be simpler? Throw the tablecloth over the table - and it's done. In fact, there are certain rules about this.

Firstly, the tablecloth must be perfectly ironed and have a presentable appearance. There is nothing good about 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 the descent of the tablecloth on all sides - at least 25 cm and, in no case, lower than the seat of the chair.

Such requirements were not introduced by chance, since a tablecloth on the table that is too small looks unsightly, and if it is too large, it causes inconvenience to guests. Once you've covered the table with a tablecloth, it's time to start arranging the plates.

Types of 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. A pie plate is used to serve croutons, pies or bread. The chill plate is used to serve various snack dishes, such as oysters, salads or stews. The menu 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 for serving fondue. Scrambled eggs are served in an egg plate, jam, preserves or honey are placed in a rosette, and a bowl is intended for serving fresh berries, jellies and fruit salads.

What kind of plates you place on the table on a holiday or weekday evening depends on the number of dishes served. Serving a two-course dinner requires one plate, and a four-course dinner requires different plates.

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 table above) is located opposite each chair. You shouldn’t put it on the very edge of the table, it doesn’t look very presentable! The pie plate is placed to the left of the diner, as you can see in the photo above.

If you are setting a table with several dishes, in this case you place small dinner plates, etc., under the appetizer plates.

Types of cutlery

1,2,3,4,6,31 - spoons: coffee, tea, dessert, table, for making coffee, for ice cream;
5, 7, 8, 9 — tongs: large pastry tongs, for asparagus, for ice, small pastry tongs;
10 - device for trimming cigars;
11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26 - forks: lemon, lemon, cocotte, fish, dessert, dessert, snack, snack, table fork for main courses;
14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 25 - knives: for second fish courses, dessert, dessert, snack, snack, table knife for main courses;
24 - ladle;
27, 28, 29, 30 — blades: pastry, for pate, for fish, caviar;

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 multi-course holiday dinner, the utensils should be laid out as follows, starting to the right of the plate: table knife, fish knife and appetizer knife. You place a butter knife on the pie plate. If first courses are intended to be served, a soup spoon is placed between the diner and the fish knives. If fish is not included on the holiday table, a tablespoon is placed instead of a fish spoon. To the left of the plates are forks corresponding to knives in the same order in which the knives are laid out: table, fish, diner.

Also, cutlery should not be piled on top of each other; the distance between forks and spoons should be about 1 cm.

Table setting: glasses, wine glasses, glasses

To the right, behind the plates, we place 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 displayed. When displaying glasses, you should hold them by the stem to avoid leaving fingerprints on the glasses themselves.

Table setting: napkins

What's a holiday table without napkins? Napkins are not only a wonderful table decoration, but also a very practical thing. Napkins come in linen and paper. Cloth napkins are not intended for wiping your hands or face; there are disposable paper napkins for this purpose. Fabric napkins good housewives usually beautifully decorated for guests to place on their laps.

Table decor

Regardless of whether you are having a holiday dinner or a daily breakfast, a properly set table involves decorating it with flower arrangements, vases with fruit, the same fabric napkins, dishes with bright vegetables, etc.

What housewife doesn't dream of surprising her guests with her culinary skills at the festive table? But to produce maximum effect, you need to know how to properly set the table at home. Correct location dishes and utensils create a special atmosphere. What do you need to know about serving? How to properly decorate a table for a birthday, New Year, family breakfast, lunch, dinner?

Important etiquette rules

Table setting is not only the correct arrangement of cutlery, but also its design. The choice of decoration elements and set of dishes primarily depends on the format of the meal (birthday, family dinner, business lunch, wedding, etc.).

But some rules remain unchanged.

The banquet room should be bright, well ventilated and, of course, large enough to accommodate all invited guests.
Dishes and cutlery must be cleanly washed and polished. Be sure to check that there are no water stains left on them.
The table can be of any shape, but its size should be selected taking into account the number of guests. It is optimal if there is 80 cm of table length per person.
The tablecloth should be well ironed, clean and match the size of the table. It is correct if its edges hang down by 30 cm, and the corners cover the legs.
Near each plate in in the right order knives, spoons, forks, and glasses should be placed.
In addition to devices for individual use, auxiliary ones should be present on the table. They are necessary for serving food from common dishes.
The type of devices and location must be the same.
Mismatched sets, chipped corners, bent utensils, and dull knives are not acceptable.

To properly cover a table with a tablecloth at home, first place the folded item on the surface, and then, lifting it by the edges, sharply lower your hands down. Then she will lie perfectly.

Serving order

Whether it's a birthday party or a meal at home with family, according to the rules of etiquette, you need to set the table in a certain order.

The table is covered with a tablecloth.
Plates are placed opposite the chairs.
Then the cutlery is laid out.
Now it’s time for glasses, glasses, glasses.
On next stage Dishes are placed on the table.
Napkin holders are brought out.
Sets of spices and salt are laid out.
The table is beautifully decorated with flowers, candles or original compositions.

Placement of cutlery

At first glance, it seems that remembering the rules for placing cutlery on the table is very difficult. But in reality they are quite simple and designed for convenience. All cutlery is arranged in order of use, the outer ones are intended for first courses.

So, the basic rules.

The plates are located in the center seat 2 cm from the edge of the table. If several dishes will be served for a birthday or other holiday, then deep dishes can be placed on shallow ones. Bread (pie) plates are placed on left hand, at a distance of approximately 10 cm.
As for spoons, knives and forks, they are laid out around the plate with the tip up (the blade of the knife faces the plate). There are forks on the left side and knives on the right. If dessert is expected, then the soup spoon is placed above the plate; otherwise, on the right hand, next to the knife. For a major holiday, such as a birthday, the set of cutlery should include a small appetizer fork, knife, utensils for fish or other specific dishes (depending on the menu). There should be a distance of 1 cm between the plate and the cutlery.
Drinkware should be on the right hand. If you plan to serve wine and water at the same time, then the drink that is more in harmony with the dish served first is placed closer. The nearest glass, wine glass or glass should be on the line of intersection of the first knife and plate. If there is a handle on the dish, it turns to the right. More than three items per guest is considered unacceptable.

Many people are confused about the rules for placing cutlery on the table, so we suggest you study them visually.

Important details: napkins and sets for spices and seasonings

Napkins are an indispensable part of table setting. There are linen and paper products. The first ones are placed under deep dishes (if there is no snack plate) or on the feet. Paper napkins are placed in a napkin holder at arm's length from guests. Additionally, you can roll them into fancy shapes, such as roses, envelopes, various geometric shapes or boats, animals (for a children's birthday). If the napkins are intended not only for table decoration, then it is important that they unfold easily.

When setting the table, it is important not to forget about the set of spices and seasonings. There must be salt and pepper on it. There is no need to fill the containers to the very brim; it will be enough to pour the seasonings halfway. If the menu contains meat dishes, then it is advisable to put mustard and horseradish on the table.

Setting the table at home

On weekends, the family usually gathers at home in full, and the housewife prepares her favorite delicious dishes, and during the meal there are intimate conversations. This is the best time to add special charm and comfort to breakfast, lunch and dinner with the right table setting. Even at home you can create a festive atmosphere. And if there are children in the family, then this will serve great lesson, how to behave in society, what different cutlery is needed for and how to use it.

Breakfast.

An aesthetic meal in the morning sets the mood for the rest of the day. To serve dishes beautifully, you need to take into account some nuances. The first step is to arrange the snack plates, and then the cups, saucers and spoon. The latter are placed in the middle of the table so that everyone can easily reach them. If eggs are planned for breakfast, they are served in a special stand on a high leg. It should stand on a small saucer, and an egg spoon should be placed on it. The porridge is poured into a deep bowl, which is placed on top of a snack plate. The baked goods are served on a wide platter; butter, honey, jam or jam should also be present. For butter, each participant in the meal is given a small knife. A napkin holder with napkins must be present on the table. It will be beautiful if they are made in the same style as the insulation for the kettle. Don't forget about salt and sugar.

Dinner.

During the day, it is usually customary to serve first and second courses, as well as dessert. Therefore, to properly set the table at home, you will need several more utensils for lunch than for breakfast. For shared dishes you will need auxiliary spoons, spatulas and forks. Broth cups or deep plates are placed at snack bars, and dessert cups are brought at the end, when the first and second courses have already been eaten and the used dishes have been tidied up. Don't forget about knives for meat and fish. But for omelettes, meatballs, zrazas and cutlets, it will be enough to serve forks.

Dinner.

Evening serving for dinner is practically no different from morning. Usually pancakes, pancakes or pie are beautifully served on a common platter. Dessert plates are placed immediately, and dessert forks or spoons are placed on them on the right side. If you want to give dinner a romantic atmosphere, then place candles in candlesticks on the table and next to it.

Festive table setting

For a festive lunch or dinner, you need to take care of decorative elements. It is not only important here traditional rules table setting, but also the combination of colors and the sense of style of the housewife.

So, what should you consider when preparing for the holiday?

Tablecloth and napkins. The color scheme can be any, but it is important that the tablecloth is in harmony with the napkins. You can use universal white, delicate shades of lilac, blue, green. Rich pink, red and burgundy colors will come in handy for a romantic dinner. It is advisable to give the napkins unusual shape or simply roll them into tubes and tie them beautifully with a contrasting satin ribbon.
Crockery, cutlery. Banquet table decorate dishes in the form of non-standard geometric shapes, devices with curved, designer handles. A snow-white porcelain set will look most advantageous. However, if the tablecloth and napkins are also white, you can choose a dinnerware set with a border.
Candles. This decorative element is more appropriate for a wedding or a romantic dinner, but for a birthday it is better to limit yourself to candles on the cake. It should be remembered that the main role is played by the candlestick. It can be tall and thin, or the candles can float in flat bowls filled with water and flower petals.
Flowers. When decorating a table with flowers, it is important to choose the right vases. It is better to leave the tall ones for bouquets given to the birthday person. For serving, low vases that will not block the view for guests are more suitable. You should also take care of the moderate aroma of flowers; it should not mix with the smell of dishes or interrupt it.
Original compositions. Various fruit towers will look beautiful on the holiday table. Depending on the time of year, you can create decorations from spruce branches, cones, rowan berries, sea stones, sand, etc. Such compositions can then be placed at home. Handmade decorative items are at the peak of fashion.
Setting the children's table. For a birthday party for young guests, it is better to choose plastic dishes and limit yourself to safe utensils without sharp ends. A multi-colored tablecloth with cartoon and fairy tale characters is more suitable. You can add small gifts to the napkins folded into a fancy shape. If it’s a little princess’s birthday, then the table can be decorated with flowers. However, there should not be too many of them; it is better to limit them altogether balloons and paper garlands. Don’t forget to prepare signs with the names of little guests at each seating area; this will help avoid confusion at the party.

A properly and beautifully served festive table will make an unforgettable impression on your guests. And it’s not even a matter of etiquette at all - it’s always nice when order reigns at home and there’s a feeling in the air special atmosphere comfort. Therefore, it is very important that a woman knows how to set the table correctly, knows all the rules of decoration and strictly follows them.

Today we will talk about how to set the table beautifully and correctly, giving as an example a photo of table setting for various holidays or everyday lunches. Proper table setting says a lot about the hostess, her education and taste, because one of the basic norms of ethics is the ability to set the table, know the purpose of all cutlery and use them correctly.

Choosing a tablecloth

First of all, a tablecloth is laid on the table, it would seem that this is already clear, however, this matter has its own subtleties. The tablecloth must be absolutely clean, smoothly ironed, otherwise it will only become an indicator of your untidiness. After you set the table for her, make sure she has food everywhere. equal length, and at the same time did not hang too low, since long edges can cause inconvenience for guests, and they can also be accidentally pulled, which will be an unpleasant end to the holiday. Too long ends can be secured using fabric snaps, which often have an interesting design.

Also, the tablecloth should not be too short, otherwise it will look as if the girl was wearing a dress several sizes too large. If you don’t have a tablecloth or want to set the table in an unusual way, you can use special large napkins for each person. Please note that these are not the ones that lie on your knees or are used to wipe your mouth, they are much denser in material, they are large in size, since plates, cutlery, and glasses should fit on them.

Serving rules

The next step is to arrange the plates; they are placed on top of each other depending on their size and purpose. Three types are most often used: soup, snack bar, and canteen. They are placed on the tabletop in the reverse order, since the guest will start with soup, then move on to appetizers, simply removing the already used plate from above.

Knives are placed to the right of the plate, followed by spoons in order of use. Today, the number of devices and their location are not determined as strictly as before. Since the design itself plays a huge role, based on which, according to the idea, the teaspoon can be placed not at all on the plate, but, for example, next to a saucer for cakes or served only with tea. The forks are placed on the left side with the teeth up, and the earlier it should be used, the closer it is to the plates. This arrangement of cutlery not only contributes to ease of use, but also helps guests avoid confusion.

Dessert cutlery is placed behind the plate, perpendicular to how all the others are laid out. There, on the right side, there are several glasses. There must be a glass for non-alcoholic drinks: juice or mineral water. Also about 2-3 glasses, each intended for certain type alcohol.

Types of glasses

Let's start with something simple, everyone knows what a flute glass is, since traditionally, especially in New Year, champagne is poured into it. Although glasses of this shape are also suitable for sparkling wines. The main feature is the elongated upward shape, which allows the foam to rise and air bubbles to play inside the liquid.

Red wine glasses are also easily imaginable for most; they have a thin stem, a rounded bottom, are quite voluminous and taper towards the top. However, the type of glasses varies greatly depending on the type of wine, for example, wine glasses for “Burgundy” and “Montrachet” have a much larger volume, more reminiscent of a ball or pear, tapering less towards the top. However, it is quite rare that people at home and not even always in restaurants follow such subtleties.

A white wine glass has a more elongated shape, more like an oval. Typically, two types of wine glasses are placed side by side, a glass or glass for the chosen strong drink is added to them, and other glasses are brought as needed. Otherwise, the entire table will be filled exclusively with glasses of different types.

A glass for whiskey or cognac is low, with a thick bottom, widens towards the top, and has a simple, fairly spacious shape. The martini glass is shaped like an inverted triangle, so it's not at all difficult to recognize. For cocktails, use straight glasses, shot glasses or two-tier ones complex shape. If you are not decorating a bar separately, then it is better to place small saucers with lemon, lime, and olives next to the bottles.

Napkin placement options

When serving, three types of napkins are used:

decorative;
napkins spread across your lap;
napkins designed for wiping hands or mouth.

Napkins that are placed on your lap can be placed on top of the soup plate, folded beautifully. Thus, when a person sits down at the table, he will immediately understand what it is intended for. On top of it you can put a small card with the guest's name or a sweet short wish. You can add a miniature flower or a piece of a spruce branch to the card.

Decorative napkins are usually placed under plates, sometimes additionally and between them. They can be folded into triangles, diamonds, or overlapping so that the colors intertwine with each other. In addition, you can also put small lace napkins under candles or glasses.

The most ordinary napkins are usually located under the cutlery, or behind the plates, but only one at a time. There should be a few more napkin holders in the center so guests can easily use whatever quantity they may need.

VIDEO: How to fold napkins beautifully

HOW TO Fold Napkins BEAUTIFULLY AND QUICKLY

HOW TO FOLD NAPKINS BEAUTIFULLY AND QUICKLY?? 3 WAYS TO Fold Napkins

Boho style decor

The “boho” style is distinguished by its brightness and abundance of various interior items and decor; it can combine dishes absolutely different styles, colors and shapes. The serving looks incredibly beautiful when all the glasses are made of different materials, some have Blue colour, some pink or green. In addition, this style is characterized by an abundance of textiles, that is, under each plate there can be several napkins also made of various materials, fringe and tassels are welcome, with which you can complement a monotonous tablecloth.

An important element is lighting; several lamps, lampshades, garlands can be placed around the table or above it, and candles can be placed on the tabletop itself different forms with unusual candlesticks or small lamps. Small frames and voluminous vases with flowers will fit interestingly into the decor. It is better to make bouquets from a mixture of wild and garden flowers, so that large heads of roses, lilies, and peonies can be seen among the abundance of greenery.

Easter table

Easter decor is truly one of the cutest, because decorating eggs, baking Easter cakes and creating little bunnies with your own hands is a favorite pastime for both children and adults. Easter table often looks stunning with baskets of colored eggs, candles and sprinkles on top of the cakes. However, this is not all that can be thought of to create a beautiful festive interior.

You can make a small basket from a bunch of branches, an egg carton or any other shape. Place napkins and lace inside (which goes very beautifully with canvas fabric and coarse craft thread). You can also complement the decor with grass and flowers, both natural and artificial. And eggs, or parts of their shells, are placed on top, from which toy chicks, hares, or again flowers can emerge.

The table can be decorated with candles of different diameters and colors; low, thick candles can be placed in shells or on varnished sections of wood. Napkins, tablecloth, color of plates and dishes are best chosen to match general decor. Below are photos of Easter table settings for inspiration.

New Year decoration

When decorating New Year's table The most commonly used colors are:

red;
green;
white;
gold.

However, it is better not to mix them together; only three colors should always be the main ones. It is better to combine gold only with white, for example, white tablecloths, beige napkins, white dishes, several of which may have a gold or black border, the pattern can also be in the form of specks. Transparent wine glasses can also be complemented with gold ribbons, white candles can be placed in golden candlesticks. You can add greenery to the bouquets; branches of lingonberries or spruce will suit the atmosphere perfectly.

Decorations made from fir branches are especially popular when serving on winter days; the photo below shows an example of how best to do this. They can be placed on the table between dishes, you can use them to decorate candles, or create a wreath in which long white candles will be inserted, which can be lit closer to midnight.

New Year or Christmas, celebrated in a red and green theme, is a classic. Checkered napkins, red tablecloth, fir cones, striped candy canes, Santa socks and white candles. This design is considered one of the most stylish and is quite traditional in America, where the New Year can be called the main holiday. You can also create a more relaxed design by placing brightly colored decorations on a crisp white tablecloth.

Another amazing one color combination, just more suitable for Russia: white, blue, silver. This is where you can again use glasses and napkins of different colors. You can place small ones on the table Christmas decorations with silver glitter, for example, deer or Christmas tree.

Holiday in nature

Perhaps one of the most beautiful views The table settings are a combination of boho, rustic and natural styles. The “rustic” style implies maximum closeness to nature, which is why it mostly uses natural materials, and dishes and decor are chosen in calm natural shades. Wedding tables are often decorated in a similar decor, on which there are always many bouquets made in delicate color variations, the main elements of which are again wildflowers.

Napkins are chosen from canvas fabric and white lace, cutlery can be tied with beige lace ribbons, and glasses can also be decorated with them. An abundance of lighting is also characteristic of all three styles, however, the color variations are no longer as bright and bold as in “boho”. Often, garlands with white or yellow light bulbs are chosen, which can be hung above the table or laid out on it; they can also be hung around trees or braided around trunks.

Candles or other lighting fixtures do not have to be exclusively white, but it is better to use pastel colors. It can be beige, light green, lilac, or soft pink - similar colors can be used throughout the interior. But again, make sure they match.

Table setting outdoors

Sooner or later, a situation may arise that your best friend or new potential partner will invite you to a posh restaurant to celebrate his next anniversary or sign an incredibly profitable contract. For some people, such an invitation will not seem unusual, while others may simply panic before going out. What is the reason for such incomprehensible excitement? Many of us have been abroad, visited numerous restaurants, and tasted a huge variety of national dishes. It seems impossible to surprise us with anything. But, nevertheless, when it comes to going to a top-class restaurant, panic and incredible worries begin: how to behave, what to order, how to combine dishes with drinks, etc. But the worst thing is table setting in a restaurant - a powerful arsenal of plates, cutlery, glasses on the table. Which side should you approach from? Which fork should I grab? What a shame it would be if guests noticed your lack of education in restaurant etiquette! It's okay, everything can be fixed!

Introduction

The first question that arises when you are already at the table is: “What to do with this napkin beautifully folded into an original figure?” Yes, often when setting a table in a restaurant, napkins, the patterns of which can be very complex, are very frustrating to unwrap; 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 lap (do not push it into the collar or neckline of a lady's dress). This wipe is designed to keep crumbs and splashes from staining your clothes. You can get your mouth wet inside napkins, then the outer part will remain clean and will not spoil your weekend suit. Never use it to wipe off lipstick.

The principle of classic serving

The second stage is the desire to figure out what to do with all the cutlery and glasses? Don’t worry ahead of time: before serving the first course, the waiter will remove everything unnecessary. All that will remain is what you need for the meal. Table setting in a restaurant, the diagram of which is presented below, is not so difficult to remember. So:

There is a serving plate right in front of you, which serves as a stand for a hot dish;
most often at the beginning of the banquet there is a plate for appetizers on it;
to the left of the plates (in the direction from the guest) there is a table fork, a fish fork, a snack fork;
to the right of the plates there is a table knife, a fish knife, a snack knife, a table spoon;
above the plates there is a dessert fork (with the handle pointing to the left) and a dessert spoon (with the handle pointing to the right);
on the left above the plates there is a container for bread (pie plate) and a butter knife on it;
the right space above the plates is served with a glass for water, a glass for white wine, and a glass for red wine.

If you are further at a loss, remember: first take those utensils that lie on the edges, that is, farthest from the plate. Dessert utensils will be removed and removed later during dessert service.

Studying devices

In addition to instruments classic serving, there are those that are used much less frequently. A video of table setting in a restaurant will clearly show how to use original cutlery.

Knives and forks

Spoons

There are also several types of spoons:

lettuce, having three small teeth at the end. Used to transfer salad from a common plate to a serving plate;
the pouring room (ladle) is used for pouring compotes, milk, jelly and, of course, soups;
The spoon for salt is very small, located in the salt shaker.

shoulder blades

caviar spatula – similar to a scoop, used for transferring chum or granular caviar from the caviar bowl to a plate;
meat and vegetable dishes require a rectangular spatula when transferring;
hot and cold dishes are transferred from a common plate to a portioned one using a shaped spatula;
for pate, use a small figured spatula;
For cakes and pastries, use a square figured spatula.

Forceps

Don't be alarmed, these are not the same forceps used in dental offices. These tongs are culinary tongs. Have you seen table settings like this in a restaurant? Pictures are included! There are:

snail tongs for holding the shell;
For baking use large pastry tongs;
For sugar, sweets, chocolate, small pastry tongs are used;
In order to crack the nuts, you need V-shaped tongs with nut indentations;
for ice you will need U-shaped tongs with serrated blades;
Asparagus tongs, offered for asparagus on the grill.

Hooks

Hooks are not used to catch fish, but to remove the snail from its shell.

Glasses on the table and their purpose

The number of glasses on the table depends on what drinks will be served during the feast. Classic version– glasses for white wine, red wine, a wine glass or a glass for water.

If you plan to serve a 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 don’t have to worry - the waiter will fill a certain glass with the desired drink. But, nevertheless, take note:

a small glass is intended for vodka or strong liqueur;
Madeira glass - slightly larger in size than vodka - used for Madeira, port and sherry;
champagne glass - “flute” (“flute”, “flute”) - tall, delicate, on a thin stem;
glass for white wine - the edges are narrowed, the stem is high and thin (so as not to heat the cool white wine with the heat of your hand). Add white wine frequently;
A glass for red wine is barrel-shaped, the stem is thicker and shorter. The glass is two-thirds full;
glass for cognac - “brandy snifter”, spherical, narrowed at the top. Fills to the bottom;
glass for whiskey - “whisky”, “old fashion” - served, if desired, with ice, water, soda;
martini glass - “martinka” - an inverted cone on a thin stem, vermouth and martini-type cocktails are served in it.

Do's and Don'ts in a Restaurant

Setting a table in a restaurant (example photo attached) is not all you need to learn regarding restaurant etiquette. There are other rules:

You cannot powder, put on makeup, or comb your hair at the table. To do this, they go to the ladies' room. You are only allowed to look in the mirror at the end of the meal.
You cannot persuade your table neighbor to drink or eat more.
Equipment that has fallen to the floor cannot be picked up. Pretend that nothing happened and don't hesitate to ask the waiter to bring others.
The knife is held exclusively in the right hand, even if you are left-handed.
The spoon and fork are held parallel to the table on their way to the mouth.
The soup spoon does not fill to the brim.
It is not customary to tilt a plate of soup.
They do not eat bread with a fork, do not bite off a whole piece, and do not spread butter on a whole piece of bread. It is correct to break off a small piece with your hand above your plate.
The pate, caviar and butter are taken with a knife, placed on a plate, and only then spread on bread.
Fish bones should not be spat out onto the plate; they are discreetly taken out with your hand or a fork and placed on the edge of the plate.
The poultry meat is separated from the bone with a knife and eaten with a fork. It is indecent to gnaw on bones picked up by hand.
You can eat some dishes with your hands: asparagus, chicken tobacco.
The knife does not cut everything at once, but one by one.
It is not necessary to finish a dish or finish a glass of wine.
If you want to take a break to drink water, place your cutlery on the plate as you held it: fork with the handle to the left, knife with the handle to the right.
If you decide to take a break from eating, stack the cutlery on the plate crosswise.
Parallel stacked cutlery marks the end of the meal. In this case, the waiter will remove your plate.
A coffee or teaspoon is used to stir the sugar, then it should be placed on a saucer.
The drink you drink through a straw should not be sucked completely.
The napkin should be left unfolded on the right side of the plate at the end of the banquet.

That's all: the basic basics of restaurant etiquette have been covered. One thing remains: calmly, without a single worry, with good mood enter a prestigious restaurant and amaze those present at the table with your intelligence and education.