Be able to set a table so that you feel like you are dining, not just sitting and eating.
– Marilyn vos Savant
When you find yourself in a fancy establishment or hotel restaurant, it’s completely normal to be confused by the vast array of glasses, cutlery and glassware. So here are some tips to get you through without breaking a sweat.
The bread plate is to your left. One person at a banquet table is always likely to take the one on the right! Don’t worry if this happens, but you can be the knowledgeable one at the table if someone asks!
Glasses to the right. That’s right, your glassware is to your right hand. The red wine glass is the larger one, white wine smaller, and a tall pillar, tumbler or short glass for water.
Then the layers of cutlery. There are likely to be two or even three lines of cutlery at each side of your plate. So where to begin? Traditionally, all the cutlery would be different sizes and designs and it was a bit easier to tell them apart. These days, it’s more uniform, so just start from the outer set and work your way in. Appetizer or soup will be the first dish, entree and then main course.
Dessert cutlery will normally be a spoon and fork placed at the top of the table setting.
Bon appétit!
