Evgeniy Sedov
When your hands grow from 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 the choice of decorations, stylish decorative elements to create an exquisite appearance. How to decorate a table for guests or husband?
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.
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:
Banquet serving is a one-time arrangement of plates, cutlery and decorative elements. Devices used in this type of serving:
“Bistro” is a simple type of arrangement 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 appliances and their location depend on the specific menu, the style of the establishment, and the average cost of the dish. Cover the tabletop with white cloth tablecloths and serve with paper napkins.
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).
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.
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:
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 teaspoon 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 products until they shine. In some restaurants they place a special napkin.
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.
If the problem of budget table decoration arises, then serving napkins will help solve it. Napkins are one of the most important accessories on a formal dinner table. There are two main types for serving - fabric and paper:
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:
Procedure:
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.
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.
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.
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 - wedding, anniversary or romantic dinner. The main decorative elements are a tablecloth and fabric napkins.
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.
Decorating a table for a large banquet is 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.
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.
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 on a round tabletop is the 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.
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:
For an event with big amount It is not customary to use decorative elements for a sweet or holiday that only includes desserts. 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.
To surprise family and guests at celebrations or during regular meals, the following serving options can be offered:
Discuss
Rules for table setting at home - decor ideas for holidays, banquets, weddings and for every day
You need to cover it beautifully not only dinner table on the occasion of the arrival of guests, but also for the family. Even the kitchen and coffee tables deserve special treatment. We offer a few tips to help make your table setting simple and stylish. The main secret lies in the combination of texture, color and accessories.
You don't have to spend a fortune on plates or glasses to have an elegant table. If you decorate it correctly, it will look like a million. First of all, you need to pay attention to porcelain and glass.
We start with porcelain. There should be a small plate, a salad plate, and a bowl on the table.
Use a trivet plate. It is quite large and perfectly frames the dishes, outlining its boundaries. You can use a special mat, which you can make yourself from decorative paper if you wish. Simple wreaths and even leaves will do.
Grouping the glasses. If you put more than one glass on the table, then this trick alone will give the table a stylish and elegant look. Glasses should be grouped, there should be glasses for wine and glasses for water.
Cutlery can be connected using ribbon or twine. In addition, they can be beautifully wrapped in a napkin.
Tablecloths can completely change the mood, immediately creating a festive mood. Now there is a huge selection of all kinds of tablecloths, napkins, runners, which must certainly be different color, textures and patterns, it is desirable that they all combine with each other. In addition, there should be themed sets that are suitable for certain holidays.
Table runner- a tablecloth in the form of a narrow strip running across the entire table. This is one of the most modern ways to decorate a table, especially if you don’t want to hide a beautiful wooden or glass tabletop completely under the fabric. Such paths are universal. They can be easily laid out on top of a regular tablecloth along the table, you can put them across and designate places for guests.
Tablecloths must be on the holiday table, especially if you want to emphasize the theme or color scheme of the set table.
Napkins. There is no need to give up cloth napkins in favor of disposable ones. They are an integral part of the table design. If you really don’t want to wash them after the holiday, then you should take a closer look at banquet-style paper ones.
Cutlery mat determines a seat for each guest. They can be not only rectangular, but also square (give modern look), and round (break the angularity of the table).
There must certainly be a central composition on the holiday table that will decorate it. It will add volume and unite the entire table, but you need to remember that it should be low and narrow.
The main rule is that on each side there should be at least 35 cm left for a person and his cutlery. Therefore, we subtract at least 70 cm from the width of the table; the rest of the space can be used for composition. For the tabletop composition we use flowers, candlesticks, twigs, and stones.
Of course, there are some rules of etiquette, the observance of which is strictly necessary. But the decisive factor is taste and creativity, which ultimately determine aesthetics set table .
Setting a festive table is the basis for any holiday and the creation festive mood at the guests' place. Compliance with the rules of serving is necessary for any celebration. Beautiful festive table setting is the key to the success of the entire celebration. Behind long years A huge number of formulas and rules have been derived that must be followed when decorating the table. Hastily arranged plates and glasses, cutlery, appropriate only for certain occasions - this is the wrong approach. You need to know a lot of nuances, thanks to which you can take your event to the highest level.
First of all, the theme of the holiday is taken into account. A child's or adult's birthday, a wedding, a romantic dinner or just a get-together with friends - any occasion requires clear thinking about the future table. To make dinner unforgettable, simply delicious food will not be enough. You need to dress up the hall where the event is held, decorate the table and convey a festive mood to your guests. The main thing in this matter is not to overdo it, since a table cluttered with dishes and decorations can cause a completely opposite impression and show the hostess’s lack of taste. The main goal is to create a positive impression on the guests both about the holiday and about the hostess herself.
Spices must be in the correct location on the table, because everyone has their own taste and, perhaps, guests will want to make up for the lack of pepper, salt or vinegar in the served dish. Spices should be placed in several places on the table so that everyone can easily reach them. The last thing to put on the table is the appetizers.
Advice! Vases with flowers (low) will become a charming decoration for dinner, both family and business.
Dishes
Plates often set the tone for the entire table, so their choice is approached very responsibly. A formal reception requires the purchase of new dishes. There are special rules according to which plates should be placed on the table:
You need to arrange the plates, immediately taking into account that you will need space for salad bowls, vases and cutlery.
Cutlery
During a regular lunch, each of us uses a minimum of cutlery, arranging them in random order. But festive event requires a special layout and a certain number of forks and knives.
When serving, the knife must be placed with the blade facing the plate and on the right side. As a rule, several knives are used, so their location near the plate is very important. The table knife should be closest, and the farthest one should be for appetizers, with a fish knife placed between them.
The spoon turns upside down and lies between the knives. The fork is placed on the left side of the plate. The sequence of laying out forks is the same as for knives: table, fish and snack. They are placed with the cloves up at a distance of half a centimeter from the plate.
Dessert utensils may also be required. Place them in front of the plate in the following sequence: knife, fork and spoon.
Glassware
Glassware plays a practical and decorative role. The shape of the glasses may be assessed by some guests as comfortable, while others will simply find it impossible to hold them in their hands. You also need to be able to arrange such dishes correctly:
As mentioned earlier, all glassware must be polished to a shine.
Using napkins for a holiday table
Snow-white, brightly decorated napkins will add special solemnity to the table. You can make some kind of figure out of them or simply fold them in four. You can choose napkins that are the same color as the tablecloth, or that contrast with it. It’s very good when napkins not only match the color of the tablecloth, but also match its texture. Now you can purchase special sets of kitchen textiles that include everything you need to set the table in the desired style.
Typically, a starched napkin is placed on top of the plate or to the right of it. Fabric napkins are created for decorative purposes; they are not used to blot your mouth. There are paper ones for this.
Should table settings be kept in one color?
... Why not choose the color of the table setting to match the tone of your eyes?
Serving in one color scheme is perfect for a romantic dinner. As a rule, it is not possible to set the table in one “pure” color. But using several shades is always welcome. Red napkins, glasses and candles will perfectly support a duet with a snow-white tablecloth and the same plates.
The table will look interesting in. It is perfect for home lunches and outdoor gatherings with friends. In addition, a lot of this option is made with your own hands, for example, napkin holders with intricate shells.
tones - to match the natural colors of nature, or, conversely, use contrast techniques. Both the first and second options will leave a lasting impression on your guests!
In addition, setting a table “in nature” does not require any special embellishment - all the beauty, as they say, is around. It uses either a home style or a contrast between nature and the “artificiality” of complex decorative techniques. Each event is considered individually, and so is the choice of dishes and other attributes of the festive table.
A holiday means a good mood, meeting with friends and family, fun and, of course, festive table, with mouth-watering and delicious dishes. Housewives try to prepare delicious and varied delicacies to please their households and guests. For a festive table, along with the taste of the prepared dishes, proper and beautiful serving and table decoration is of great importance. Beautifully decorated dishes and the use of various decorative attributes can make even an ordinary dinner unforgettable. And for a celebration, table setting is of great importance and can turn a feast into an aesthetic pleasure and create a special feeling of celebration.
Table setting is the correct, competent arrangement of cutlery and dishes and decorative design, thanks to which you can create a homely, cozy atmosphere or a pompous and elegant atmosphere appropriate for the celebration. The overall decoration of the table should be decorated in a common unified style, not overloaded with unnecessary dining rooms and decorative elements and correspond to the theme of the holiday.
Proper setting of the festive table requires the presence of all the necessary cutlery, individually for each guest, so that he can sit and eat comfortably, having enough space for personal space. The main elements of serving are a tablecloth, napkins, plates, glasses and glasses, cutlery: forks, spoons and knives for various purposes. The color, size and shape of the tablecloth are of great importance. Since it takes up as much space as possible on the table and is the background of the overall decoration. The dimensions and shape must correspond to the parameters of the table, the optimal length of freely hanging edges is no more than 30 cm. The color of the tablecloth should be harmoniously combined with the dishes and correspond to the solemnity of the event. A white, light or pastel tablecloth will make the festive table especially solemn and elegant. This tablecloth will go well with any colored utensils. White plates will highlight the elegant setting, and any bright colors will stand out in contrast against a light background. The number of plates and utensils used depends on the intended course changes. Proper serving involves arranging dishes in a sequence that is convenient for use when serving dishes in stages. On the lower serving plate place a plate for the main course, the next appetizer and, if necessary, the topmost one for soup. A small pie plate for bread is placed to the left, slightly higher from the main plates. 
For various celebrations, special decorative elements are used that indicate compliance with a specific holiday. All these elements refer to additional decoration that decorates the table and creates the overall mood. But there are basic components without which setting a festive table is impossible: cutlery, porcelain and glassware, textiles and paper products. These components should be correctly and conveniently placed on the table, creating a single harmonious style.
The basic rules for serving a festive table have been formed over many years and are now the art of decorating a celebration. The selection of all components must be approached comprehensively and carefully, without being afraid to experiment and innovate. The owners themselves decide how to set the table so that it not only has an aesthetically attractive appearance, but is comfortable for all the guests seated at it.Selection and placement of serving elements
Choosing a tablecloth
Intense colors of the tablecloth are more suitable for cozy feasts, creating a warm family atmosphere. A holiday for children should be bright and fabulous, which is why a tablecloth is chosen with a colorful, rich pattern. To decorate and create an unusual color effect, you can use a table runner or tablecloth; the appearance of a two-layer tablecloth makes the table decoration elegant and solemn. The photo shows a table setting using a naperon:Plates and cutlery
Cutlery is laid out on different sides of the plate. On the right is space for spoons and knives, on the left for forks. The sequence of cutlery corresponds to the serving of dishes; the later the cutlery is used, the closer it is to the plates. A spoon for soup and a fork for appetizers are placed along the edges; a teaspoon and fork for the main course are placed closer to the plates. If necessary, utensils for fish or seafood are placed between them. On the right, with the blade facing the plates, knives are placed in the sequence of their use. Dessert cutlery is placed on top of the plates, parallel to the edge of the table; they will be needed last and will not interfere with the feast.
On the right, above the plates, all the necessary glassware for drinks is placed. The water glass is placed first, followed by the remaining glass or crystal wine glasses and glasses.
All unnecessary or used utensils are removed from the table during the meal so as not to clutter up the free space.
The sequence of correct arrangement of cutlery is presented in the table setting presentation:
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