Full service. Proper table setting: instructions for use

Serving – ancient art decorating a table for a shared lunch or feast. To decorate the table in accordance with generally accepted rules and customs, you should familiarize yourself with them. It is necessary to learn the order of arranging cutlery and serving dishes, and also take into account the recommendations of specialists in choosing decorations and decorative elements to realize the ideal serving.

Peculiarities

Today, few people pay due attention to studying traditions and customs, so not every housewife can talk about table setting or explain what it is. But it is worth familiarizing yourself not only with the concept itself, but also with the history of the development of serving.

By serving we need to understand the correct arrangement of plates, cutlery, napkins and other elements for the meal. Great value The choice of decor plays a role.

​Serving can be presented in several varieties:

• Preliminary- is the simplest. With such serving, it is enough to partially arrange the dishes and cutlery that will initially be required for the dishes presented first on the menu. When a new dish is served, the dishes will be replaced at the same time.

During pre-serving, it is necessary to use a table knife, a fork, a teaspoon, a pie plate, a wine glass, a wine glass, decorations for placing in the center, a pepper shaker and salt shaker, as well as a cloth napkin without a print.

• Banquet room– consists of simultaneous arrangement of decor, plates and cutlery. To create this type of serving you will need snack utensils, namely:
  • forks and knives;
  • soup spoon;
  • fish utensils;
  • baking plate;
  • bakery plate;
  • butter knife;
  • dessert spoon;
  • pepper shaker;
  • soup plate;
  • small saucer.

Silk napkins are the ideal decoration for this type of table setting. They can be in the form of rectangles or squares.

• "Bistro"- the usual arrangement of dishes for a casual breakfast or lunch in an informal setting. It can be used in areas where self-service is used. This type of serving is used in establishments where personal staff are served. The choice of cutlery and their location depends on the menu, the cost of the dish and even the style of the establishment. The table should be decorated with a tablecloth, as well as additional napkins.

Rules

For proper decoration of a table at home, in a chic restaurant or cafe it is necessary to follow generally accepted serving rules. If you set the table correctly, then the holiday will be brighter and more spectacular. A mistake when choosing dishes can ruin the whole holiday. The type of meal affects the choice of plates, glasses, even napkins, as well as other elements.

Used frequently serving for two. This option is ideal for embodying a romantic atmosphere. To decorate the table, you can use a variety of elements (candles, alcohol in the form of champagne or wine, a fruit basket). It is worth giving preference to a tablecloth of snow-white or bright red color.

To set a table for two, you need to maintain synchronicity. The dishes should be placed opposite each other, and the distance between the interlocutors should be small so that they can touch at arm's length.

When creating a romantic atmosphere, you should not focus on proper serving; on the contrary, it is better to use a minimum of utensils and cutlery.

When planning home banquet You should take care of the comfortable location of each guest, and for this you should maintain a certain distance. If you need to accommodate 4 people at a table, then you can use both the square and oval options. But remember that for a convenient location for one person you need 76 cm, and for an overweight guest - 90 cm. Furniture with standard sizes Ideal for comfortably accommodating 4 people.

If 6 people are to be seated at a table, then more information needs to be taken into account. You can choose a rectangular or round table.

To seat two people on one side of a rectangular table, its width must be 240 cm, since there must be 46 cm free on each edge.

When choosing round table for 6 people, it is worth considering that the radius of the tabletop must be at least 80 cm, then 76 cm can be used for serving for one person.

To conduct a joint family holiday you will need a large table. Standard dishes and cutlery are designed for a maximum of 12 people.

• You should decorate the table with a tablecloth.
• Arrange the plates, taking into account the number of people at the table.
• Arrange cutlery.
• The location of glasses, glasses, wine glasses largely depends on what kind of alcoholic drinks will be consumed.
• Arrange and decorate the table with original napkins.
• Decorating on a specific theme.

Subtleties of serving

To beautifully organize a meal at the table according to etiquette, you need to take into account many nuances and details. To organize a meal at home, you first need to purchase a beautiful set of dishes. All family members should be provided with the same plates and cutlery.

Before serving you need to think about the menu first, since each dish requires a certain set of serving. When arranging appliances, it is worth remembering that at least 80 centimeters of free space must be allocated for one person. This distance is enough for a comfortable position at the table.

All equipment must be clean. It is better to wipe each fork, knife and spoon with a dry towel before placing them on the table to prevent the possibility of stains from residual water.

How to arrange the devices?

At home, you can beautifully decorate the table for a shared meal if you set it up correctly. First you need to cover the table with a tablecloth and purchase a beautiful set of dishes and cutlery. You can’t use all the dishes to set the table at home. It should be selected depending on personal preferences and food needs.

The tablecloth plays a major role in table decoration, as it sets the tone for the entire event. For a holiday, you should choose an exclusively white tablecloth; for everyday use, you can use the product in yellow color or cream shade. The main thing is that the tablecloth is washed and ironed.

For informal meetings, you can use colored tablecloths in light colors; for themed meetings, models with prints; for example, for celebrating a child’s birthday, a tablecloth with a children’s theme is suitable. A table covered with two tablecloths looks original, and they are positioned in such a way that the corners of the lower tablecloth are visible from under the upper one.

Options with a minimal amount of decor look beautiful, although you can use models with perforation, lace or complemented with silk ribbons.

When choosing the size of the tablecloth, remember that you need to start from the dimensions of the table on which it will be located. According to etiquette, the edges of the product should hang over the edge by about 30 centimeters. But there are also exceptions. For example, in Italian and French restaurants it is considered normal for the edges of the tablecloth to touch the floor. When choosing a product material, it is better to give preference to cotton or silk.

There are 35 types of plates for table setting, but usually only 5 or 6 types are used. According to the rules of etiquette, all plates should ideally be from the same set or at least be made in a single style direction. The choice of plate type depends on the dishes that will be served on the table, and their quantity depends on the number of people who will be present at dinner.

The main types of plates that are very often used for serving: soup, flat plate (large and small), dessert (shallow and deep), pie plate, herring bowl, mustard plate or bowl, meat dish.

Need to choose the right cutlery and arrange them correctly. To begin with, on the right side of the dish you need to place a soup spoon, place a fork and a snack knife near it, then a coffee or tea spoon. If all this needs to be placed directly next to the main plate, then the dessert spoon is usually placed behind the plate. Knife for butter usually found on a pie plate.

Before serving, the cutlery must be thoroughly polished to a shine. Often in cafes, cutlery is placed directly on a special napkin.

A classic choice among glasses is the option for champagne and wine. There are other types of glassware for alcohol, but they should be placed on the table depending on what drink will be presented on the table. These can be glasses for liquor, whiskey, shot glasses.

When arranging glasses, you should adhere to the following sequence: for red wine, white wine, champagne and a container for stronger alcohol in the order in which they will be served on the table. Don't forget that there should be a glass for water or juice on the left side of the table.

Serving napkins are an indispensable element for decorating a formal feast. They can be either paper or fabric. Most people prefer napkins made from various types of fabric. Linen models are often used square shape and large size. They can be placed on the knees to protect clothes from possible stains or used as decoration.

Paper napkins are intended to be used during meals, so they should be placed in the center of the table so that everyone can easily reach the napkins. To do this, you can use a napkin holder or special figures with clips. For special occasions, you should use plain paper models, without a bright and catchy print.

IN modern interior In a dining room, the main element is often the round table. Many housewives are faced with the fact that a round tabletop provides less space than a rectangular one. When setting the table round shape You should only use the necessary items: a flat and deep plate, a fork for the main dish, a knife and a wine glass. If the guest wishes, other items of tableware can be served. Decorate the center of the table with a bouquet of flowers, a bright and unusual dessert or a bottle of wine, complemented by a red or black napkin.

If a birthday is celebrated in the home circle, then the table should become a bright accent when organizing the holiday. To achieve this goal, it is worth using unusual desserts, choosing decorations, and also using beautiful serving dishes.

If you are deciding what to set the table with, then you should start from the personality of the birthday person. To decorate a table in honor of a children's party, you should decorate the table beautifully using soft toys or images on cardboard of famous cartoon characters. For children, you can organize a simple sweet table.

To decorate a table in honor of a young girl’s birthday, then you should pay attention to fresh flowers at the table, fashionable dishes made of multi-colored glass, vases with fruit, and attractive desserts.

For men, the table should look more concise. It should be covered with various foods: meat, tomato and cucumber salads and side dishes.

When setting a festive sweet table, it is worth considering that only desserts are presented on the table. You should not use decor, as it will look unnecessary against the backdrop of bright desserts. It is worth using plates in several tiers, stands for muffins or cake pops, and pyramids. It is worth using dishes in a single color scheme.

To decorate a table, even for one person, according to etiquette, you should use a tablecloth and place napkins made of paper or fabric on it. Kitchen utensils you will need:

• the plate is flat, deep;
• table spoon, dessert spoon, tea spoon;
• fork;
• glass for water;
• wine glass

To decorate dinner, you need to follow a certain procedure:

• Cover the table with a tablecloth.
• Place a large plate flat type, put a deep one on it.
• On both sides of the plate you should place cutlery intended for the main course, and then for the appetizer.
• The teaspoon should be placed in front of the plate.
• At the top on the right side of the plate there is usually a pair of tea or a wine glass.
• Additionally, the table can be decorated not only with fabric napkins, but also with exquisite candles or fresh flowers.

Setting a table for organizing lunch is quite simple, since it has virtually no differences compared to setting a table for dinner. The only difference is that the dining table can only be decorated with napkins or flowers. And you also don’t need to use a snow-white tablecloth for the dining table.

It is worth taking a more practical approach to this issue and using silicone or plastic substrates. They are characterized by ease of cleaning.

If you are going to organize a dinner for guests, then the serving remains the same, but the number of cutlery and plates only increases. An alternative to tablecloths are special stands designed to protect from hot dishes. You should not use additional decor.

Dinner for guests requires a snow-white tablecloth. To begin with, you should serve light snacks with liqueur or wine.

It is very difficult to organize the correct arrangement of cutlery at a party when many guests will be sitting at the table on your own. Therefore, you should not pay special attention to the arrangement of cutlery and plates; the main thing is to lay a white tablecloth and decorate the table with napkins. The main task is to create the most comfortable conditions for relaxation at the festive table.

Using napkins

Napkins are an integral attribute of serving. To decorate the table for tea drinking, you can use rectangular or round napkins. Linen options are ideal for decorating a table in honor of a celebration.

It is customary to place a napkin made of paper or fabric at the bottom of the plate or to the left of it. Paper napkins can be placed in a special napkin holder.

There are many ways to fold a cloth napkin in interesting ways. It can be presented in the form of an envelope, a cone or a sail. Unusual animals or delicate flowers look beautiful and stylish. Each option looks elegant and cute, so you can come up with your own version of decorating the napkin.

For a festive feast

At a holiday, the table always plays a huge role, because it acts as a stylish accent. To decorate a festive feast, you can use small vases with flowers, special rings for decorating napkins, porcelain angel figurines, as well as silk or satin ribbons. Formal tablecloths, balloons and serpentine will look beautiful.

The choice of table decorations depends on the holiday itself and its purpose. It could be a romantic dinner, an anniversary or a wedding. An important element is fabric napkins and an elegant tablecloth.

For a regular dinner or lunch, napkins decorated with rings and fresh flowers are used. This decor is suitable for a regular tea party. It is worth understanding that dishes, cutlery, tablecloths and napkins must be very clean. To set the table beautifully, you can use bright napkins. They will help give the feast originality and effectiveness.

A lot of effort must be put into decorating a banquet. To decorate the table in honor of Christmas Eve or Easter, you should use the appropriate decorative elements. To organize a large banquet, it is worth using decorative elements made in the same color and style. Napkins can be bright colors, but must be sterile. Flowers can be used both fresh and artificial. The choice is completely individual.

When organizing a wedding feast, the emphasis should be on the places for the newlyweds. They should be decorated with symbols on the theme of love. These can be figurines of swans, roses, hearts or posters with wishes. For the newlyweds, separate glasses, originally decorated, should be presented. Snow-white dishes with a silver or gold border and, of course, a white tablecloth look beautiful on the wedding table.

Remember that festive table setting consists of a large number of nuances. In order not to forget anything, you first need to make a preliminary serving - arrange the important elements. Just before the feast, it will be enough to add additional cutlery and plates to create a complete table setting.

For serving Russian festive table It is worth understanding that traditionally a lot of different foods should be presented on such a table. To decorate a table in a traditional style, just select several dishes from the national cuisine.

When serving a traditional Russian feast, you should adhere to the following scheme:

• Snacks - there should be a lot of them, because the traditional drink is vodka, and it requires a good snack. Pickled cucumbers and pickled tomatoes must be present on the table. Many people really like mushrooms with onions or sauerkraut with beets. Among cold appetizers, meat options and sliced ​​salted lard are in demand. Among the salads, you should give preference to “herring under a fur coat” or “Olivier”.

• Main courses are served hot. Often a pig or poultry is prepared for the table in the oven. They are usually filled with porridge and decorated with apples. Often, cabbage rolls and home-style roast or fish dishes are served on the festive table.
• Dessert - traditional are cheesecakes, pies, gingerbreads, as well as filled pies, baked apples with sugar syrup and aromatic cinnamon.
• Drinks - traditionally, strong vodka is placed on the table, which is often infused with tangerine peels, pine nuts or various herbs. Among non-alcoholic drinks, kvass and fruit drinks made from berry jam are in demand.

Delicious food should have a beautiful, attractive appearance so that you immediately want to eat it. When choosing dishes from a certain world cuisine, you should understand that table decorations are different countries produced in different ways, using a variety of decorative elements.

Table setting in France is a unique art. It differs in many ways from traditional serving in Russia. The French are famous gourmets who have an excellent understanding of delicious food and also pay a lot of attention to table decoration. They highly value high-quality and stylish dishes, tablecloths, and decor.

The peculiarity of serving in France is that they always use stand plates, which not only add elegance and beauty to the serving, but also stand out. reliable protection tablecloths from various stains.

Serving in Japan is very different from the European presentation, so for us it is quite complex and multi-component. To perfectly master the peculiarities of Japanese serving, you need to have a good understanding of plates, cups, trays, bowls and chopsticks. The Japanese value convenience and comfort. When serving, they tend to be asymmetrical, creating free compositions and taking into account the available space. All decorative elements on the table should be positioned freely.

An interesting fact is that the arrangement of cutlery varies from country to country. For example, when positioning the fork in England it should lie with the cloves up, and in France - with the cloves down.

Beautiful examples and options

• Spring. It is worth focusing on natural colors and textures. The tablecloth on the table is not mandatory element. The table can be decorated with a wicker stand. A branch of a living tree will allow you to decorate the table setting. Place a white napkin on a green plate, a cream plate and a transparent dish on top. There should be a fork and a teaspoon on the right side of the plates, and a wine glass at the top right.

• For a romantic dinner Fresh flowers and candles are often used as decoration. A red tablecloth will set you up for a romantic wave. Snow-white dishes are suitable for table setting. To begin with, you can place a square plate, and on top - a round-shaped plate. An ideal addition would be a soft pink fabric napkin folded into an envelope. On the left side there is a knife, on the right there is a knife and a soup spoon. Above the plates there is a glass for water and champagne.

Since ancient times, celebrations have been accompanied by feasts, and it was then that customs and rules for table setting began to take shape. Over the years, they have been honed, turning into unique rituals. Some of them smoothly flowed into everyday life.

Introduction to Dining Etiquette

Many table settings, shown in films and TV series or described in books, are frightening because of their complexity. There are many devices, the purpose of which is not always clear. A variety of dishes that are scary to approach, and wine glasses of all sorts of shapes and sizes for who knows what drink. But everything is not as scary as it seems at first glance.

The basic rule of table etiquette is “from the edges to the center.” As dishes change, utensils are used that are located further and further from the plate. The same applies to glasses and shot glasses, changing from left to right.

Table etiquette includes rules for serving dishes, the order in which cutlery is used, as well as table manners and basic politeness. The basic rules of etiquette include:

• the location of the napkin is strictly on the knees;
• “Thank you” and “Please” must be said both when making requests and when fulfilling them;
• It is not customary to slouch while sitting at a table;
• men sit at the table after women, having first pulled out a chair for them;
• being late for a festive event is regarded as disrespect:
• elbows on the table are a sign of bad manners;
• you should not start eating if your dinner companions have not yet received their plates;
• the knife must be held exclusively in the right hand;
• fork and spoon - perfect combination for long pasta;

• cut or bite bakery products it is indecent, you should eat them in small pieces, broken off from the whole;
• a device dropped on the floor must be replaced;
• well-mannered people chew with their mouths closed;
• slurping in society is indecent;
• bad form - eating with a knife;
• Before pouring a drink, offer it to your neighbors;
• no need to be greedy when serving from a common plate;
• you need to close your eyes to violations of table etiquette by your interlocutor;
• A little half-eaten soup is better than a tilted plate;
• When using a knife and fork, use your strength to chew immediately without biting;
• cutlery laid crosswise means that you are waiting for the next dish, folded in parallel - a sign of the finished meal;
• In any awkward situation, you should apologize.

Purpose of the dishes

As mentioned above, there can be a lot of cutlery on a set table, but not all of them are there at once. Today, there are a lot of different cutlery designed strictly for a specific type of dish.

It is unacceptable to use them for eating other types of dishes, and so that those unfamiliar with complex serving guests are not confused by the variety of cutlery; they are advised to arrange them in the order in which the dishes are planned to be served.

Valid general rule "from the central plate to the sides."

Types and purpose of spoons:

• dining room, oblong - for soup;
• broth - round in shape, otherwise indistinguishable from soup;
• dessert room, smaller than the dining room;
• tea room;
• coffee - less than tea;
• for ice cream - has the same dimensions as a coffee bar, but longer;
• salad - served in a plate along with salad;
• for caviar - another small spoon, resembling a shell;
• pate - common cutlery for all guests;
• sugar scoop;
• sauce ladle - served with a gravy boat.

Forks:

• dining room - for main courses;
• dessert;
• for spaghetti – has five teeth, makes it easier to wrap pasta;
• for sprat - a common device;
• for seafood - a two-pronged fork;
• for shellfish - with three teeth, the largest of which separates the meat from the shell;
• herring - a two-pronged fork for transferring herring from a common dish;
• salad - served in a plate with salad;
• cocotte - an elegant tridental fork used for applying julienne;
• lemon - used for arranging pieces;
• for olives;
• for fruits – used for cut or small fruits.

Knives:

• the dining room, its prerogative is main courses;
• snack bar;
• meat - served along with the dish;
• fish;
• cheese - used only for cutting;
• oil - general device;
• fruity – served for unpeeled fruits.

All tongs (except the last ones) are used by all diners together:

1. for ice;
2. confectionery;
3. asparagus;
4. for spaghetti;
5. salad;
6. for lobsters.

The very name of such tableware will tell the owners which tongs to put next to the salad bowl or in a bucket of ice.

Dishes:

• soup - better wide and shallow;
• bowl - narrow, small in diameter, very suitable for cream soups and broths;
• snack bar - usually flat;
• dessert, served only for confectionery products;
• fish - a common dish for all guests;
• chill mold - a small ladle for julienne;
• Menazhnitsa is a sign that a buffet is organized at the celebration;
• herring bowl - an oblong shaped dish;
• egg;
• saucer - used as a stand for cups;
• socket;
• creamer - used for jellies, mousses and ice cream.

Wine glasses and glasses:

• high for champagne;
• wine (separately for white and red varieties);
• liqueur;
• cognac;
• for martini.

Glasses:

• for whiskey;
• for cocktails;
• punch;
• for juice and water.

As well as glasses for vodka and other drinks of comparable strength.

Cups:

• tea - on a saucer with a corresponding spoon;
• small cylindrical - for espresso;
• with cappuccino;
• for the look.

As can be seen from all of the above, there are a lot of serving items. Don't be scared, because the names of each speak for themselves. The utensils used to serve dishes from common utensils are shared.

Is color important?

Color is always important, and their harmonious combination will help in design. A white tablecloth is a tribute to tradition; it matches almost all colors of dishes. Variegated dishes look advantageous on a plain tablecloth, but for a plain set, you can equally choose both tablecloth options. Napkins should be in harmony with the tablecloth.

It may seem that a black and white table setting is something out of scope, but it is not. The harmonious combination of these two colors can add special charisma to the reception.

The combination of purple and mint (green) looks very fresh, the red color adds solemnity. Silver and gold are integral attributes of a wedding. A dinner in honor of a man must be laconic, with white dishes and contrasting napkins. Bright colors are the right solution for a bachelorette party.

Arrangement rules

You shouldn’t put too many cutlery on the table, it’s better to leave a little free space. No matter how many changes of dishes are planned, it is better to take out the required utensils and items with a new serving. In the picture below you can see an example of proper serving.

As can be seen from the image, knives and spoons are always placed to the right of the plate (except for the oyster fork). Above them are wine glasses. To the left of the plate are forks, with a pie plate above them. Dessert cutlery should be placed above the plate. As mentioned above, the location of devices depends on the order in which they are used.

The napkin should be placed on a serving plate. Before serving dishes, it must be laid out on your lap. Shared dishes must be arranged symmetrically.

Serving sequence

You need to place dishes for a new dish only after the previous shift has been cleared. It is recommended to arrange the devices at the same time.

Appetizers are served first - first cold, and then hot. They are followed by the first course (soup), followed by the second course: fish, meat. Dessert is served before fruit, which concludes the meal.

In appetizers and cold main courses, you should move from fish to meat, then to vegetables and mushrooms, and finally to dairy (cheeses).

The serving sequence is observed to avoid loss of appetite and dulling of taste. Of course, everyone has the right not to eat what they don’t like, especially if everything is on the table at once.

The main thing is to remember the serving order and do not return to the previous dish.

What to do after eating?

If you have finished your meal, roll the napkin from your lap, hiding the soiled parts. You need to place it in the place of your plate, or if it is occupied, to the left of it.

At the end of the meal, the cutlery should be placed on a plate. The knife and fork are placed parallel to each other. The instrument handles should be directed to the right and down. The blade of the knife should be directed inside the plate, as well as the convex part of the fork.

After eating liquid food, utensils should be left in the plate or bowl in which the dish was served. Scolding a cook is considered in bad taste, as well as outright lying about how much you liked everything. It's better to highlight something that you really liked.

Reminder for every day

You need to set the table not only for guests, you can do it every day for yourself.

Breakfast is the start of the day and can be enjoyed beautifully. It is better to place the plate for the main course in the center, in front of you. It is better to place the fork or spoon on the left, and the knife on the right. You can place a tea cup and saucer over the knife, and bread over the fork.

At home, it is quite possible to dine on two courses. Let's take soup and pasta as an example. Under the deep plate we will place a plate for the second one, which will serve as a serving plate. There will be bread diagonally on the left, and on the right you can put a glass of water and a cup of coffee. Traditionally, the spoon and fork will be located on the right and left, respectively.

Dinner can be the perfect ending working day. You just need to add a couple of cutlery and arrange the wine glasses according to the wine glass. Paper napkins are placed on the left.

Examples of a beautiful table

There are a lot of options for table setting.

As mentioned earlier, black and white color will add solemnity and special chic. Black stripes of fabric and candles harmonize perfectly with gilded cutlery. The white tablecloth echoes the napkins and roses, and the snow-colored glasses and plates go perfectly with all of the above.

White tablecloth on round table with soft pink napkins and flowers in a vase will be an excellent holiday decoration in women's team. Glass candlesticks to match the flowers and napkins, echoing the shape of the glasses, fill the atmosphere with coziness.

For creating beautiful table You don’t have to invent something special. A service with unobtrusive cream painting and a bouquet of flowers standing on a white tablecloth is everything you need for a small family dinner.

Turquoise wine glasses, napkins and tiny gift boxes are perfect for a celebration, and flowers that match the tablecloth will only lift your spirits.

The arrangement of fruits is very simple - you can simply cut them into plates. However, you can create an entire installation that will become a real decoration for the holiday.

And, of course, don't forget about alcohol. Buffet tables can be located in in different order, forming various figures. The glasses are arranged on them like a snake, a glass Christmas tree or triangles. And a pyramid of wine glasses can create a real sensation.

A creative approach can be found to everything. Table etiquette isn't that strict. You can arrange your own banquet, unforgettable and unlike any other.

You can learn about the correct layout of cutlery from the following video.

Beautiful table decoration for the holidays

Serving comes from the French word servir - to serve. Setting is preparing the table before eating (for breakfast, lunch, dinner, festive feast, banquet, buffet, banquet-cocktail, tea ceremony). It includes the correct arrangement of items necessary for eating (tablecloths, dishes, cutlery). The purpose of serving is to create maximum convenience during the meal process, Have a good mood, expressions of attention and goodwill.

Table setting rules

Serving items must correspond to the compiled menu, be in harmony with both the shape of the table, tablecloth, napkins, and the interior of the room, must be selected in shape, texture and color, and reflect the thematic focus of the celebration, if any.

Serving must meet existing rules. In order to set the table correctly and beautifully, you need to know about the numerous serving items, what they are called and what they are intended for.

Before setting the table, you need to think through everything, show artistic taste, accuracy, and most importantly, a desire to please the guests. To create an atmosphere of solemnity and comfort, you will need beautiful dishes, a set necessary devices, snow-white or colored tablecloth. All this will not only guarantee a good appetite, but also a great mood.

Sequence of table setting

1. Tablecloth.

2. Plates.

3. Cutlery.

4. Glassware.

5. Napkins.

6. Spices.

7. Vases with flowers.

8. Cold snacks.

By following this sequence, you can quickly and correctly set the table: arrange numerous items without missing a single detail.

Before serving, glass and cutlery must be polished to a shine with a clean, dry towel or napkin.

For Defender of the Fatherland Day Serving can be more ascetic, using military-themed attributes.

A napkin folded in any of the above ways is placed on a snack plate for each guest. Instead of linen napkins You can use paper ones.

Table setting. Photo

Flowers on the festive table

Flowers are an integral part of table decoration. They enhance the thematic focus of the celebration, adding solemnity, severity or romance. When serving breakfast, flowers put you in a positive mood and fill you with energy for the coming day.

Vases with a small number of flowers are usually placed in the center of the table so that they do not obscure the guests and dishes. Flowers in baskets and large bouquets are not placed on the table, but placed in a specially designated place.

Table decoration with flowers. Photo

You can decorate the table not only with flowers, but also with a beautiful bouquet of leaves, rowan and spruce branches. You can decorate the table with wildflowers and ikebana original vases, vases with floating flowers. All this will create an unforgettable holiday atmosphere.

Takes ~3 minutes to read

Have you ever wondered what is the main sign of the housewife’s attention to her guests? Of course, this is proper table setting. Unfortunately, not all housewives know how to do this. Many people think that it takes a lot of time to set a beautiful table. However, this opinion is wrong. Knowing and observing certain rules, you can create a festive mood not only on holidays, but also on weekdays.
To create an unusual table decoration, you can involve members of your household. Most likely, they will enjoy this activity, and you will save time and effort.

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It is wrong to think that in ordinary life you don’t have to bother, and that all the complexities of decoration are used exclusively for holidays. Psychologists say that from appearance dishes and the table as a whole depend on the mood and taste perception of food.
Table setting at home differs from a formal one in the smaller number of cutlery and decorative details.

1. Keep in mind that stand plates are a must. Using them, you will avoid soiling the tablecloth. Agree that sometimes it is very difficult to remove borscht stains from it.
2. It is not recommended to replace the tablecloth with oilcloth. To make the table look “elegant”, sometimes it is enough to lay a checkered cloth on it. Of course, everything should look harmonious and the tablecloth should match common interior kitchens.
3. If your menu includes a first course, then deep plates are a must. It’s much easier to walk around with a saucepan and pour broth for everyone than to rush around with plates.
4. There should be a container for side dishes under the deep plate.
5. To avoid constantly running for forks and spoons, provide them in the required quantity in advance.

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Why is table setting necessary?

Everyone will agree that it is much more pleasant to eat at a chicly set table. If everything is organized correctly, then the daily meal turns into a holiday.
It is not necessary to prepare gourmet dishes; you can use ordinary inexpensive products. The very idea of ​​decorating a dining table is important.
Planning table settings for specific meals
Introduce new traditions into your family. Due to lack of time in the modern world, not every family can afford to have meals together. In this case, you can limit yourself to one common meal, which will take place in the evening.
Not only for a festive meal, but also for a simple dinner, you can arrange the table setting in an original way. Children will be happy to help you with this; as a rule, they really love arranging plates and laying out napkins.
At this table you can chat with all family members. The cozy atmosphere is conducive to confidential conversations, everyone can talk about their problems or achievements. This tradition will bring a piece of joy into everyday life. Once everyone gets used to getting together at home for dinner, you can begin to introduce weekend gatherings into family traditions.

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Table setting rules

1. You need to use the same devices.
2. Each dish should have its own serving.
3. When arranging items, it is necessary to take into account that for each person you need to allocate about 80 cm of space. This condition will allow guests to feel comfortable.
4. The plates are placed in the middle of the allocated space, at a distance of two cm from the edge.
5. When planning to serve several dishes, place deep dishes on flat ones.
6. Plates for sweets or bread are placed at a distance of 10 cm to the left of the person.
7. Spoons, forks and knives are placed with the tip up, knives on the right, forks on the left. If dessert is to be served, the soup spoon is placed above the plate.
8. Glasses and glasses should be placed on the right. If alcohol and water are served at the same time, then the container that should be combined with the first course is placed closer.
9. All utensils must have clean look without stains or streaks. Before serving, it must be wiped with a dry towel.

How to choose the right tablecloth

A mandatory attribute is a tablecloth. It can be used both for everyday use and for formal occasions. What recommendations do experts give when choosing tablecloths?

• for a banquet, a tablecloth made of natural fabrics, preferably white, is used;
• for everyday dinner or lunch, you can use an acrylic attribute; it should match the shape of the table;
• It is important that the tablecloth is of a suitable length, it should cover the entire surface, and the edges should hang down by 20-25 cm.

Required condition!!! Any tablecloth must be clean. Therefore, you need to have several options available.

Plates placement

So, the tablecloth is laid. Now you need to arrange the plates. The scheme is very simple. There should be a decorative plate in the very center; it should not be too close to the edge. A plate for snacks is placed on it. If there are liquid dishes on the menu, then a deep container is also placed on a decorative plate. It is important to note that when serving puree soup, you need to serve a soup bowl, and when serving broth, you need to serve a cup. The bread plate is placed to the left of the decorative one.

Instrument location

Serving provides for a specific arrangement of all appliances. Everything must comply with etiquette standards:

• cutlery should be placed on the sides of the plates, in some cases they are placed on top;
• there should be forks to the left of the main plate;
• knives are placed on the right, their blades should be directed towards the plate;
• There should be a soup spoon on top of the plate;
• The dessert spoon is placed on the right side, it should enclose a row of knives.

Important!!! The utensils that will be used first should be closest to the plate. The utensils for first courses should be the furthest away. Please note that all devices must be freely accessible for use.

How to choose glasses

When setting a festive table, it is very important to choose the right glasses. For each drink there is a certain type of wine glasses or glasses.
For red wines, cognac and brandy, “pot-bellied” glasses are used. And for white wines, small glasses are used. The tallest or narrowest glasses are for champagne. Juices and water are served in glasses designed for cocktails.

Using napkins

How to set a table beautifully? One of essential elements Decorations when decorating any holiday or banquet are napkins. A lot of techniques have been invented, following which you can create an exquisite and unusual composition from them. When choosing napkins, you need to pay attention to the color. You can buy napkins in the same color as the holiday candles.
Napkins should be folded so that when unrolled they do not look too wrinkled. This decoration is placed on a plate for an appetizer. Using napkin figures, you can make your table very stylish.

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Setting the table for dinner

1. Festive dinner with family. Arranged on the table beautiful candles and plates, wine and light snacks are provided. Later you can serve a hot dish, dessert and fruit. Remove the glasses and replace them with cups and saucers.
2. How to beautifully set the table for a romantic dinner? A small table is set, at which two people sit opposite each other. The presence of candles and flowers is mandatory. A dark-colored tablecloth will add a special flair to the romantic mood.
3. For a themed dinner. You can serve dishes prepared from products grown in your dacha. The table is decorated with compositions of vegetables. All dishes are simple, prepared from natural products.
4. For dinner with a friend. No unnecessary details. Delicate tablecloth, minimal cutlery, light dishes. Perhaps cold cuts or seafood.
5. Dinner for friends. Friends come to visit for simple informal communication. Therefore, forget about solemnity, everything should be simple. But of course, cook some delicious dishes

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Table setting for a children's event

Organization children's event- This is always a special concern for parents. We need to take care not only about the deliciousness of the food and the beauty of the presentation, but also about the safety of the children.
How to properly set the table for a children's party?

1. To make children feel like adults, set a separate table for them.
2. It is necessary to maintain the design in the same range. It would be better if you choose some cartoon theme. It must be present in everything.
3. Disposable tableware is a real godsend for parents who need to organize a children's party. Just don’t think that we are talking about simple disposable plates. In stores you can buy very beautiful dishes made of durable plastic or special cardboard. Such dishes are very practical, because they do not break. She is very beautiful, so kids will be delighted with her.
4. Do not prepare a variety of salads and meat dishes. This is a children's holiday, and children don't like to eat this when visiting. Surprise them with beautiful buffet appetizers that are exactly what they will love.

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The benefits of proper table setting

If your family gets used to eating in a cozy and beautiful environment, then food will be a real pleasure. Children will grow up cultured, knowing the place of each item on the table. Evening gatherings around a beautifully set table will bring your family together. And this family tradition will be passed on from generation to generation.

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 a sophisticated 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 service represents 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 serving The festive 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 formal meals, it should be snow-white; for simpler meals, cream or ivory color is allowed. 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. A small butter knife is placed on the 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 the problem of budget table decoration arises, 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 and a large number of people are present. 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. The main decorative elements are a tablecloth and fabric napkins.

Classical

Traditionally, for a casual lunch or dinner, the tabletop is decorated with flowers or napkin rings. At classic serving 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:

1. Children's table You can decorate your birthday using various toys, cardboard or paper cartoon characters.
2. 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.
3. 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 is better if everything is selected in the same 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Breakfast at the dacha. The tablecloth is either not used at all, or linen in a natural gray color. Ceramic dishes and enamel bowls with flowers in water are used as decorations.
4. 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.
5. 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.

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