Table Setting
PLATES AND BOWLS 1. Dinner plates placed 2 inches from the table’s edge, centered on the placemat or squarely in front of each chair. 2. Soup bowls are placed on top of the dinner plate 3. Salad plates are placed to the left of and just above the forks
PLATES AND BOWLS 4. The bread plate should be placed to the right and slightly above the salad plate 5. When serving multiple courses the dishes may be brought one at a time.
CUPS AND GLASSES 1. Water glasses above the dinner knife 2. Coffee cups and saucers may be placed on the table to the right of the knife and spoon.
SILVERWARE 1. Silverware should be placed on the table in the order it will be used 2. Forks are placed to the left of the dinner plate; knives and spoons go to the right. 3. Knives should be placed with their cutting-edge toward the dinner plate
SILVERWARE 4. Utensils should be about 1/2-inch away from the plate or each other 5. Avoid placing more silverware than the meal calls for. 6. The dessert fork or spoon should be centered above and parallel to the dinner plate. 7. If you will using specialty silverware, be sure to arrange the silverware on either side of the plate according to the order in which they will be eaten.
OTHER ITEMS 1. Napkins are commonly placed on the plate, to the left of the forks or inside of a drinking glass. 2. Name cards are always a good idea for place settings, if the dinner party is large.
SERVING 1. Order - In restaurants, meals will simply be served first to the women, then to the men. 2. Serve from the left with your left hand, remove from the right with your right hand 3. Pass food from the left to the right
SERVING 4. Pass salt and pepper at the same time 5. Clearing – It is best to clear the plates at the same time.