Keep It Classy This Holiday Season.
Whether you are dining on your own while video chatting with family friends or gathered at a table, a meal feels more special and tastes even better when the table is properly prepared. Here are a few easy Table Setting Tips:
Table Setting Tips
The dining table is the true star of the holiday season. So whether you are dining on your own or with an intimate gathering this year, here are tips for how to have a proper table setting:
Dressing the Table
First of all, dine at a table. If you don’t have enough table space, find alternatives for where you and your guests can lay your plates and properly use utensils to eat. Eating with plates on the lap or on your one hand does not make for a relaxing meal to truly enjoy the food and your dining companions.
Dressing the table is not only decorating it, but it also means protecting the table itself from potential scratches and stains. Choose between a traditional table cloth, table runners, or placemats.
Setting the Table
The Plates
It’s time to set the table. First, if you want to use a charger plate, place that on the center of the placemat or the area in which the person will sit. Place the main plate in the center of the sitting area or on the charger. If you are using an appetizer plate or salad plate, place that on top of the main plate.
The Utensils & Glasses
The dinner fork is placed on the left of the plate with the prongs facing upwards. If you are using an appetizer fork or salad fork, place that to the left of the dinner fork also facing upwards.
The dinner knife is placed on the right side of the plate with the serrated edge facing inward.
The dinner spoon is placed to the right of the knife, also facing upward like the forks. If you are using a soup spoon, place that to the left of the dinner spoon also facing upwards.
Water glasses or goblets are placed right above the knife so that is it above and to the right of the plate. Wine glasses are placed to the left of the water glasses.
The folded cloth napkin can be placed and presented on top of the plates.
For dessert, reset the table. Clean the main course plates and utensils. Place the dessert fork on the left and the spoon on the right, both facing upwards. And finally, place the dessert plates, or have them at the buffet station next to the desserts.
Piecing Together the Center of the Table
The centerpiece completes the festivity of the table. An easy decoration tip is to use seasonal fruits. It’s colorful, artful, simple, and tasteful. You and your guests can even enjoy it as a pre-dessert.
Bring the Buffet Home
Serve your dishes on a buffet station. When you place the food in the center of the table, 1) it takes away from the space at the table, 2) you lose the opportunity for a centerpiece, and 3) the people talk all over the food the entire time (that means germs!).
Setting up a buffet station allows you to have more room at the table and a dedicated area for the entire meal. This is your chance to use your gorgeous serving platters, wooden or slate boards, and so on.
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