Table setting
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Table setting (laying a
Place setting
Informal settings generally have fewer utensils and dishes but use a layout based on more formal settings.
Informal
At an informal setting, fewer utensils are used and serving dishes are placed on the table. Sometimes the cup and saucer are placed on the right side of the spoon, about 30 cm or 12 inches from the edge of the table. Often, in less formal settings, the napkin should be in the wine glass. However, such objects as napkin rings are very rare in the United Kingdom, Spain, Mexico, or Italy.
Formal
Utensils are placed inward about 20 cm or 8 inches from the edge of the table, with all placed either upon the same invisible baseline or upon the same invisible median line. Utensils in the outermost position are to be used first (for example, a soup spoon or a salad fork, later the dinner fork and the dinner knife). The blades of the knives are turned toward the plate. Glasses are placed an inch (2.5 cm) or so above the knives, also in the order of use: white wine, red wine, dessert wine, and water tumbler.
Formal dinner
The most
At a less formal dinner, not served from the kitchen, the dessert fork and spoon can be set above the plate, fork pointing right, spoon pointing left.[2]
Formal dining
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Formal place setting for8-course dinner
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Appetizer course
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Soup course
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Fish course
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Entrée course
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Palate cleanser
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Main (relevé) course
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Salad course
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Fingerbowl before dessert
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Dessert place setting before dessert
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Dessert course
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Coffee/tea course
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Tea service
See also
- Centrepiece
- Cutlery (US: Flatware)
- Haft-Sin, traditional table setting of Nowruz, the traditional Iranian spring celebration.
- List of glassware
- Napkin folding
- Silver service, a method of table service in the United Kingdom
- Tableware
References
- ^ Vanderbilt, Amy (1958). Amy Vanderbilt's Complete Book of Etiquette: a Guide to Gracious Living. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Co. pp. 346–347.
- ISBN 006270078-2.
Further reading
- Von Drachenfels, Suzanne (2000). The Art of the Table: A Complete Guide to Table Setting, Table Manners, and Tableware. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-684-84732-9.