At least once in a lifetime, every person has come across such a thing as table setting. Whether it is preparing a home feast or going to an expensive restaurant, where several plates on the tables are complemented by more than one appliance. In fact, there are not many rules that you need to know for proper table setting.
Before you start lay out cutlery on the table according to the rules of etiquette, it is worth considering the dishes that will be served. Usually glasses, glasses, cups, plates, forks, knives, spoons are placed on the table. You need to start with plates, which you will then lay over with the rest of the devices. Everything you need in the first place should be closest to make it more convenient to take. And even if the owner has planned a ten-course menu, this does not mean that you need to put a whole mountain of plates in front of the guest and build a fence of forks. A classic serving is considered to be an arrangement of no more than three devices.
Schemes on how to lay out cutlery
Video instruction on how to properly lay out devices
Rules for laying out cutlery on the table
It will be important to observe the distance between the devices. It should be about a centimeter from each device and from the edge of the table. It is rather an aesthetic rule to achieve an even distribution of all appliances on the table. Therefore, you do not need to run around the table with a ruler and measure the exact distance.
Forks should lie to the left of the plate. They are placed upside down. Classic serving consists of three forks. The main one lies first from the plate, then comes the fish fork, and the final fork is for salads. To the right are knives. Their blades are directed towards the plate, and the number of knives is also three. The first knife is the largest for dinner, the second for fish and the smaller one for snacks. After the last knife, spoons are placed on the right. If the menu provides for serving first courses, then a large spoon is located between the knife for fish and for snacks. If there is no fish, then between the big knife and the diner.
The arrangement of plates is as follows: first, a plate for the first course is placed, and on top of it - for an appetizer. If butter is served on the table, then on the left there should be a plate with bread and a butter knife. Dessert cutlery is placed at the top of the plate. The knife goes first, the fork comes second, and the spoon goes farthest from the plate. All glasses are arranged in height from left to right. The very first on the left, regardless of height, is a champagne glass.
(90663) - Zhanna Abdugalimova, 01.12.2007
Each of us has many important meetings in life, on the results of which a lot depends. What to do if you decide to hold such a dinner party in your house or apartment. After all, if the guests are important and the solution of certain issues depends on them, then you want everything to be at the “top”, strictly in accordance with the canons of etiquette. And while the next dish is being prepared in the oven, we spread an elegant tablecloth on the table and proceed to arrange the cutlery so that it is no worse, and even better, than in the most expensive restaurant. You can also arrange beautifully devices on the table just for your loved one, thus making a surprise and emphasizing the importance of this moment in your life.
Cutlery on the table should be arranged in accordance with the diagram.
1 - a plate for bread, 2 - napkin, 3 - small fork for snacks, 4 - fork for fish dishes, 5 - a large dinner fork for meat dishes, 6 - snack plate 7 - platter, 8 - a large dinner knife for meat dishes, 9 - fish knife 10 - soup spoon 11 - small knife for snacks, 12 - dessert spoon, 13 - dessert fork, 14 - a glass for strong alcoholic drinks served with a snack, 15 - a glass for dry white wine served with fish dishes, 16 - a glass for dry red wine served with meat dishes, 17 - a glass of champagne served with dessert, 18 - glass for mineral water
According to the number of guests, dummy plates are placed on the table, and eateries are placed on them. Napkins folded in a triangle, cap or otherwise, are placed on plates.
Knives are placed with the tip to the plate.
Forks are placed with the convex side down.
Cutlery is used in accordance with their location - starting with the extreme and ending with those that are next to the plate.
The knife and fork are held so that the fingers do not touch the blade or the teeth. If you stop using the appliance from time to time, then put it only on the edge of the plate, but not on the tablecloth. If you used only a fork, then the knife should rest on the right edge of the plate, where it interferes the least.
If there is a pause in the meal (but the feast is not over yet), the device is placed on the plate cross on the cross - the knife with the tip to the left, the fork with the convex part up - so that the knife handle is located like a clock hand pointing at five o'clock, and the fork handle - at seven o'clock. The crossing point should be on the teeth of the fork and a third of the knife. You can put the fork and knife with the handle on the table, and the other end on the plate. At the end of the meal, both devices are placed on a plate parallel to each other, their handles "show at five o'clock."
Glasses are served next to the plate, closer to the middle of the table, parallel to its length or an arc, starting to the left of the largest in size. Or glasses are placed in two rows so that large glasses do not cover smaller ones.
Plates with cut even slices of bread are placed in different parts of the table so that all guests can easily reach it. Bread taken from common plates is placed on bread plates, which are located to the left of the front plates.
Salt shakers and other devices for spices are arranged at the rate of one device for three to four people.
Various cold snacks on dishes and plates are evenly spaced on the table so that it is easy for guests to get them.
In this article, you will learn about what types of cutlery exist, their advantages and disadvantages, the pros and cons of the material from which they are composed. Also, we will talk about the care of cutlery, and how to properly lay out cutlery and much more.
There is a wide variety of cutlery, which consist of various materials, they can be: wood, aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, cupronickel or silver.
Cutlery serves to handle dishes, food at the table. Often the usual, standard cutlery that you see in the picture: a spoon, a fork and a knife - they are used for first and second courses, as well as for the process of laying out dishes if there are no serving utensils.
In addition, there are specialized cutlery for different dishes - appetizers, fish, dessert, fruits, etc.
Snack set consists of a fork and a knife- shown in the picture on the right. Compared to a regular, standard canteen, it has a smaller size and is included in serving hot snacks such as pancakes, meats, etc.
fish appliance shown in the figure on the left. Suitable for cutting fish dishes. a fish fork has four short prongs and a recess for separating fish bones, and a fish knife has a short, wide blade. Ordinary table forks are also often used for fish dishes.
Dessert types of cutlery
The dessert device includes a spoon, a fork and a knife of small sizes. Often dessert devices have an original, unusual design that emphasizes their elegance. A dessert fork is needed for sweet dishes, pies, charlottes, etc. A dessert spoon is used to eat dishes with a loose consistency - mousses, puddings, fruits in syrup, etc.
For fresh fruits - pineapples, apples, pears, watermelons, melons - a fruit device is used, including a fork and knife. Canned fruits can be eaten with one fork.
For serving coffee and tea, special devices are also used - coffee and tea spoons, and for ice cream - flat blades with curved edges.
Serving utensils (accessories) are sometimes referred to as cutlery, although this is not entirely correct - since they eat with cutlery, and serving utensils are used to put dishes on plates, cut and divide them into portions and perform other maintenance operations. Cutlery is also often called individual, and serving - auxiliary.
Spoons:
1 - Coffee
2 - Tea room
3 - Dessert
4 - Dining room
6 - Spoon for making mixed drinks
Forceps:
5 - Large pastry tongs
7 - Tongs for asparagus
8 - Ice tongs
9 - Small pastry tongs
10 - Cigar secateurs
11 and 12 - Lemon Fork
13 - Cocotte fork
14 and 15 - Spade-shaped blunt knife for fish second courses and a fish fork with a recess for removing bones
Cutlery (knife + fork):
16 and 17 - For dessert
18 and 19 - For dessert
20 and 21 - For snacks
22 and 23 - For snacks
25 and 26 - For second courses (except fish)
24 - pouring spoon
Shoulder blades:
27 - Confectionery
28 - Pate
29 - Fish
30 - For caviar
31 - For ice cream
When serving a seat, it is customary to follow a certain order. First, tableware (porcelain) is placed, then cutlery is laid out, and only then can restaurant glass be placed. Cutlery is also laid out in a certain order, see the picture above.
The order of unfolding cutlery
- butter knife
- Pirozhkovy plate - for bread and butter
- First course spoon
- Fork for seafood, cold appetizers
- Knife for seafood, snacks
- Fork for meat and salads (main course)
- Table-knife
- Decorative plate
- Soup plate
- Dessert spoon
- dessert fork
- water glass
- Champagne glass
- Red wine glass
- White wine glass
Rice. Full dinner service
Placement of crockery and cutlery for breakfast
Cutlery for a traditional breakfast with coffee or tea, various types of bread, butter, marmalade and honey (but no egg)
Cutlery for a "coffee mug" or tea party with pastries. You can add a paring knife if needed.
Cutlery materials
Wooden cutlery
Wooden spoons can be used for trips to nature, but not for daily use. The tree absorbs moisture, it is short-lived, and eating with such spoons is inconvenient.
Aluminum cutlery
Aluminum cutlery was common before. Now there are disputes about the dangers of aluminum, but in any case, aluminum cutlery quickly loses its shape, color, and is also fragile.
Stainless steel cutlery
Stainless steel cutlery is one of the most popular. They are made from medical stainless steel, which practically does not react chemically with alkalis, salts, acids. The most commonly used stainless steel is "18/10", which contains 18% chromium (gives strength and stainless properties) and 10% nickel (gives shine and protects against aggressive food acids).
Cupronickel cutlery
Melchior is an alloy of copper, nickel and manganese. Cupronickel cutlery ceased to be produced in the 50s of the last century. Nickel silver cutlery is now being produced (it is softer, it also contains zinc). Nickel silver cutlery is plated with silver, gold or blackened. On the reverse side of such devices there is an MNC marking.
Silver cutlery
Silver cutlery is very expensive and is the pride of the owners. The devices themselves are quite heavy, so it cannot be said that they are convenient for daily use.
How to choose cutlery?
Most often, dinnerware sets consist of 24 items: 6 soup and small spoons, forks and knives. But there are sets for 12 people. Such sets may also include a sauce spoon, dessert, salad forks, a ladle, a cake spatula, a sugar spoon, sugar tongs, a fork for fish and meat.
When buying cutlery, you must definitely pay attention to the shine - it can be white or grayish. Make sure that there are no burrs on the edge of the devices. Fork teeth must not be excessively sharp, dull or chipped.
A high-quality spoon or fork should not be deformed by the fact that you press harder on the bend - it should be thickened. There should not be any smell from the devices.
The standard thickness of cutlery is 1.5-4 mm, and the depth of spoons is 7-10 mm.
Knife blades can be non-hardened (they are cheaper, but over time spots appear on the blade, they wear out and age) and hardened (such a blade is elastic).
Ask the seller for a hygienic conclusion and a certificate of conformity. The certificate must indicate: the manufacturer, the address of the manufacturer, the name of the cutlery brand. The same data should be on the instrument box.
Cutlery care
Stainless steel cutlery should be washed immediately after use to prevent food residues from drying on them. You can wash them with dishwashing detergent with a sponge or cloth. Stainless steel cutlery can also be washed in the dishwasher. If dark or iridescent spots appear on the appliances, they can be easily removed with a solution of citric acid or vinegar.
If you have cutlery with plastic handles, then you will need to constantly clean the dirt from the places where metal and plastic come into contact. Such devices can also be washed in the dishwasher, but do not use high-temperature conditions.
Caring for cutlery made of silver, cupronickel or nickel silver is a little more difficult. After each use and washing, such devices should be rinsed in a solution of baking soda (50 g of soda per 1 liter of water). They can only be cleaned with special pastes and napkins. You can also clean it with ammonia: for this you need to take 10% ammonia, pour it into a container and put cutlery there for 15 minutes. After that, rinse them in running water and wipe dry.
At least once in a lifetime, each of us has come across such a thing as table decoration, whether it is preparing for a home feast or going to a restaurant where dishes are supplemented with several appliances on the tables. In fact, there are not many rules that you need to know for proper serving. Before you understand how to properly lay out cutlery, you need to consider the dishes that will be served on the table. As a rule, plates, cups, glasses, glasses, spoons, forks and knives are placed on the table. You should start with plates, which you will then cover with other items. But let's deal with everything in order.
A few simple rules
Everything you need in the first place should be located closest to make it convenient to take. And even if a ten-course menu is planned, this does not mean that the guest should have a whole mountain of dishes and all kinds of appliances in front of him:
- Cutlery and utensils are always arranged in the order of serving dishes, according to what you are going to use first.
- Cutlery is arranged so as not to get confused in their use: the fork and knife are placed with the main dish, and the dessert spoon is to the right behind the plate.
- Always look at the blade of the knife towards the dishes.
- The glass of water is above the knife.
- The forks are located on the left side.
- The spoons are always to the right of the knives.
- When serving wine, a matching glass should be placed behind the knife on the right. In the case of serving several different drinks, the rest of the glasses are placed there.
- Bread dishes are always served with Italian dishes.
- Spaghetti is eaten with a fork and spoon, and the butter knife is placed in the bread plate.
- If the menu includes serving soup, then a spoon for it is placed between the diner and the fish knife.
- If there is no fish dish on the menu, then a spoon can be put instead of a fish knife.
- In order to make it convenient to use any object, the ends of the handles along with the dishes should be placed two centimeters from the end of the table.
Basic table setting
Many people use the basic design in order to correctly lay out the cutlery on the table during a home dinner or lunch, when there is no need for a large number of different serving items.
Basic service includes:
- A plate.
- Fork.
- Spoon.
- Napkin.
- Glass for water.
Informal table setting
If you are planning a friendly brunch or just an informal gathering of friends and family, you can set the table in an informal manner.
In this case, the serving might look like this:
- The napkin is located in the place where the plate with the main course will then be placed.
- The dining and snack fork is located to the left of the plate in the order in which the dishes are planned to be served.
- Dessert, tablespoon and knife are placed to the right of the plate, and, in the following order: knife, dessert spoon and, at the end, a tablespoon.
- Dishes for snacks are placed to the left of the forks.
- A pie plate and a butter knife are placed above the forks.
- A glass of wine, a glass of water and a cup of coffee or tea are placed above the appliances on the right.
Formal table setting
This table decoration is more suitable for a holiday or some serious events. Let's imagine that you plan to serve the main course, fish, soup and oysters.
Important! Do not forget that all utensils and cutlery are arranged in the order in which the dishes will be served.
Your serving will look like this:
- The appetizer fork, fish fork, and dinner fork are placed in that order to the left of the plate.
- The soup plate is placed on the plate in which you will be served the second course.
- The oyster fork is located to the right of the plate from the very edge (only this fork is placed to the right).
- Further, as you approach the dishes: a tablespoon, a fish knife, a table knife.
- Dishes for pies and a butter knife are placed on the left above the forks.
- Glasses of red and white wine, a glass of water are placed above the appliances on the right.
Important! At the end of dinner or lunch, the table is set to a proper standard for dessert, tea or coffee.
materials
In addition to the basic rules on how to properly lay out cutlery, you should also be aware of the materials from which they are made. Let's look at them in detail:
- Wooden - used for trips to nature, but not for daily use. Wooden products absorb moisture, are short-lived, and it is not very convenient to use them.
- Aluminum - were common before. Today there are disputes about the dangers of aluminum, but be that as it may, such objects lose their color, shape too quickly, and are also fragile.
- Stainless steel is one of the most popular. They are made of medical stainless steel, which does not react chemically with acids, salts and alkalis.
Important! As a rule, “18/10” stainless steel is used, containing 18% chromium and 10% nickel.
- Cupronickel - this material is an alloy of nickel, copper and manganese. Such items ceased to be produced in the 50s. Today, similar products are made from nickel silver (it is softer and contains zinc) - they are coated with gold, silver or blackened.
Important! As a rule, on the reverse side of such products there is an MNC marking.
- Silver - very expensive, are a source of pride. The devices themselves are quite heavy, so it cannot be said that it is very convenient to use them every day.
Important! At the end of the serving, there is an arrangement of flower vases, sets with various spices and other decorative elements. Pepper and salt should be placed in the middle of the table - they should be placed on special stands. It is also allowed to put bottles with sauces, vinegar and vegetable oil.
footage
Now you are ready not only to conveniently and beautifully decorate the festive table, but also to surprise your loved ones with a pleasant serving at ordinary everyday dinners.
Manners of behavior in society indicate a person's upbringing and knowledge of the basic rules of etiquette. First of all, this applies to visits to cafes and restaurants, where it is necessary to behave properly at the table. Etiquette at the table is not only about how to hold cutlery, eat or drink, it is also important to be able to competently maintain a conversation and be neat in everything.
Peculiarities
Etiquette at the table is a certain knowledge that shapes the behavior of people in society. Any mistake made at the table will be immediately noticed and will create an unpleasant impression about the person, therefore, before visiting guests, a cafe or a restaurant, you need to check your manners, and if there are “gaps” in them, immediately correct everything. This will help in the future to avoid embarrassing situations and give self-confidence.
Etiquette at the table consists of a few simple rules.
- You can not sit far from the table or too tightly pressed against its edge. Only brushes can be placed on the table.
- Landing should be even, leaning over food is ugly.
- It is considered bad form to reach for dishes. If the plates are placed far away, then you need to ask other participants in the meal to pass them.
- When eating, use napkins. To do this, adults put them on their knees, and small children tuck napkins into the collar.
- All dishes should be placed on plates with cutlery. An exception to this rule are fruits, sugar, cookies or cakes.
- It is important to remember that devices that lie on the left are designed to be held by the left hand, and those lying on the right are intended for the right hand.
Besides, Don't talk loudly at the table. When maintaining a conversation, first of all, you need to listen to the interlocutor, without interrupting him, and only then give an answer. The implementation of these recommendations is not particularly difficult, so they should always be followed.
It is also necessary to teach this manner of behavior to your children, and it is advisable to do this from a very early age.
Introduction to serving
Table setting is the main component of any meal. If a gala dinner takes place at home, then the impression of the owners of the house will depend on its design. Many people compare table setting with a real work of art, as it is important not only to correctly arrange the cutlery and know their purpose, but also to create a festive atmosphere with the help of flowers and napkin decor.
To beautifully set the table, first of all you need to lay the tablecloth, then you can arrange plates, glasses, glasses, wine glasses, cutlery and napkins. Their location is set by the rules of etiquette and cannot be changed at one's own discretion.
The tablecloth serves as the basis for the design of the table, so its choice should be taken responsibly. It is recommended to use canvases in white or light colors.
According to the serving rules, the corners of the tablecloth should cover the legs of the furniture, but not be too long, leaving a distance of 25-30 cm from the floor. You can not stretch the corners of the tablecloth, otherwise the canvas will lose its shape and aesthetic appearance.
After the tablecloth has taken the correct position on the table, you can proceed to the next stage of serving and start arranging the plates. There are many varieties of plates, each of which has its own purpose. Most often, the main plates are placed on the table, which can be used to serve different types of dishes, as well as additional ones - for salads, bread, pies, oysters, eggs, jams and fruits. The number of plates used depends on whether you are planning a regular dinner or a gala dinner.
Plates before a meal are thoroughly washed and wiped dry, preferably to a shine. Put the plates in front of the seat. It is ugly when they lie on the edge of the countertop, so this should be avoided when serving. In the event that the dinner will consist of several dishes, table plates are placed under snack bars.
Great attention should also be paid to the placement of cutlery. Forks should be laid out to the left, and knives to the right of the plate. In this case, next to the knife must be a tablespoon. For a gala dinner, which provides for a rich menu, snack utensils are first placed: a fish and table knife, a soup spoon, a fork. The distance between cutlery should not exceed 1 cm.
After the cutlery, they move on to the arrangement of glasses and wine glasses. They are ranked from largest to smallest, starting with glasses for water, wine, champagne and ending with a glass for juice and glasses for spirits. The finishing touch in table setting are napkins, which are a decorative element and lie on your knees.
Do not wipe your face and hands with cloth napkins; paper disposable napkins are used for this purpose.
How to behave at food
A gala dinner or lunch begins with a seat at the table. At the same time, guests must occupy the place indicated in the invitation. If this is not the case, you need to wait for the owners of the house and clarify where you can stay. After landing at the table, a napkin is placed on your knees, which must be unfolded and shaken. In the event that the table is served with napkins in rings, they are carefully removed and the ring is placed in the upper corner from the cutlery. At the end of the meal, the cloth napkin is taken by the center and put back on the ring.
Sitting at the table should be comfortable so that it is convenient to use cutlery. It is strictly forbidden to put elbows on the table, as this is an example of bad taste. After serving the dishes, you need to wait for all the participants in the meal, and only then you can start eating. Dishes that are located at a distance must be asked to pass, and not to reach for them across the entire table.
At the same time, according to the rules of etiquette, each of the guests must make sure that his neighbor has pepper, salt and oil available.
It is also important to take into account some other points.
- Food is only transferred from left to right, so all dishes can only move in that direction. To do this, one participant in the meal holds the dish, and the second fills the plate, or the neighbor simply passes the dish, and the addressee holds the plate on his own and pours food.
- Inconvenient in shape and heavy dishes cannot be kept on weight - they are put on the table before each transfer to another guest.
- Dishes with handles and tureens are recommended to be passed in such a way that the handles are directed to the neighbor who is taking the dish.
In the case when food must be taken with a spoon or fork, the spoon is placed to the right of the plate, and the fork to the left.
You should eat slowly - this will allow you not only to fully enjoy the food, but also to communicate with the owners of the house or guests. During meals, the mouth should be kept closed, without champing or chattering teeth. If the first dishes are too hot, you can’t blow on them - just wait a bit until they cool down.
It is only worth talking when the food is swallowed. If you need to leave, you should first ask for forgiveness from those present, and only then get up from the table.
What appliances to take first
To properly behave at the table in a restaurant, it is important to know how to use the appliances. As a rule, all main dishes are located on the left, and drinks are on the right. Therefore, everything that lies to the left of the plates can be safely taken. It is necessary to start a meal with the help of devices that are located closer to the plate, and then apply the following as new food is served. It is important to remember that the fork is used with the knife and is always placed on the left. If the fork lies on the right, then this means that the dishes will be eaten without a knife.
During the meal, you need to know how to properly place the fork and knife. As a rule, two different styles are used for this.
- American. Provides for the placement of a fork in the left hand and a knife in the right. A portion is cut off with a knife, after which it is placed on the upper edge of the plate with the blade inward. It is allowed to eat a dish with a fork, holding it both in the left and in the right hand. To rest, the fork is placed on a plate with the teeth up in the direction of 5 o'clock.
- European. The knife is placed strictly in the right hand, and the fork - in the left, while shifting the fork from one hand to another is impossible. In the process of eating, it is important to ensure that the fork is constantly teeth down.
In the event that it becomes necessary to take a short break, the knife and fork are placed on a plate in the “I am resting” position. To do this, the fork rests with the handle at 7 o'clock, and the knife at 5 o'clock.
How to bring a spoon to your mouth
All first courses are eaten with a tablespoon, so you need to know the rules of etiquette regarding how to bring this cutlery to your mouth. Usually, when serving, soup bowls are placed on the table along with spoons, or soup is then served with a spoon. You can bring a spoon with food to your mouth both with the side and with the sharp edge of the device. As for scooping the first dish, this is done in two ways: from oneself or from right to left.
The spoon towards the mouth should not be overfilled. To prevent the leftovers of soup from dripping from it, it is recommended to lightly touch the edge of the plate with the device. If the soup is poured, the spoon should remain in the bowl.
It is also important to hold the cutlery in your hand. The spoon is placed between the index finger and thumb, so that the handle rests slightly on the middle finger.
How to hold a glass
Etiquette at the table provides not only beautiful table setting and good manners of communication, but also the rules that must be observed when eating. An important point is the holding of glasses and wine glasses in the hand. Most often, wine is served at gala dinners; for these purposes, special glasses “tulips” or wine glasses with legs are used. Glasses with white and red wine should be held only by the stem and in no case should they be covered with a hand. Champagne is treated similarly - the vessel filled with it is held with three fingers.
As for cognac glasses, they can be placed in the palm of your hand - this way the drink will warm up to the desired temperature. You can give the cognac an amber hue with the help of light shaking of the glass. A glass of vodka is taken with three fingers, the drink is not held in the hand for a long time and is drunk quickly.
How to put down cutlery when finished eating
After eating, when the meal is over, you must give the waiter a sign. To do this, a fork with a knife lies parallel to the plate - so that the prongs of the fork look up, and the knife blade to the side. Exactly the same procedure is performed after the end of the dessert.
Spoons after taking the soup should not remain in a deep plate, they are placed near the lower appliances. In the event that you really liked the dish, you can show it to the waiter with “gestures of a fork and knife”. In this case, the cutlery lies horizontally in the middle of the plate, the fork is placed with the teeth up, and the knife blade should “look” at it.
At the same time, it is ugly to throw dirty napkins into a plate, forming heaps of garbage out of them.
Reminder for every day
The rules of etiquette at the table must be observed not only by adults, but also by children, as improper behavior in society will create a negative impression on the whole family. To always be on top and feel confident at a party, cafe or restaurant, you just need to study simple recommendations and follow them every day. So, etiquette does not tolerate the following shortcomings.
