Table setting rules for dinner

Lunch, held in a festive atmosphere or in a friendly company, should be special, improving the mood and giving vigor. Good mood, success in business and private life, impeccable culinary delights can be overshadowed by poor table setting.

She obeys strict rules, which it is advisable to follow with the most ordinary meal. Then the right actions will become habitual, you do not have to endure a fiasco or tensely think every time if everything is done as it should be.

Preparing for lunch has its own list of items that cannot be dispensed with. The table must be covered with a tablecloth, napkins are placed on it in certain places. Also use:

• tureens;
• soup bowls;
• plates for snacks;
• container for butter;
• cutlery;
• bread plate;
• glasses or glasses for drinks that do not even contain alcohol.

The dining table layout implies that tablecloths and napkins visually match, not differing from the rest of the room interior... If you are not preparing for a themed holiday or are unfamiliar with the tastes of the guests, it is better to do with the simplest fabric of a monotone color. Bright colors will distract the attention of those gathered in the kitchen, they do not contribute to a positive attitude. On a normal day, pastel-colored tablecloths are preferable; on the most important days for you, there should be a white linen on the table.

The norms of etiquette do not set strict requirements for the decor. Everything is left to the discretion of the owners of the house.In case of an acute shortage of time, you can refuse it. Remember, candles, freshly cut flowers, and delicately laid out napkins will add to the enjoyment. At the same time, decorative elements should not interfere with those who are sitting at the table.

The rules of etiquette apply not only to tablecloths and napkins: they determine the correct approach to the use of dishes and dishes. There are several positions that must be observed in each case, even when some other rules have to be abandoned.

Never put a saucepan of soup on the table, there must be a tureen for this. Place it in such a way that everyone can pour themselves a portion without inconveniencing others. Prepare tissue napkins. They are placed on the knees or a shirt covering the knees. A plate of bread or a homemade breadbox is placed on the edge of the table: there is no place for it in the middle.

You cannot put paper napkins on the tablecloth; it will be correct to prepare coasters for them. These stands cannot be replaced with plates. To the left of each plate intended for those present, place a fork with the teeth up, to the right - a spoon and a blunt knife.

The very center of the table is usually occupied by bottles, jugs, decanters, salt shakers, gravy boats. There should be a knife reserved for them near the butter or bread. Wine glasses, glasses and wine glasses are put on the right side of the table. They are placed diagonally.

Sooner or later, any dinner and even the most pleasant conversation ends. It's time to serve dessert. You can serve the table under it only after removing all dirty dishes, used napkins and more unnecessary appliances... Everyday family meal is simpler: dessert is served with cups for tea, vases for jam or plates of sweets. To serve pies, cakes, you need to give everyone dessert plates. The bowls are placed at the most solemn moments.

Standard design rules are not absolute dogma. Sometimes the menu differs from the usual one, and the tastes of the audience, their priorities are very different. In this case, it is possible to violate all principles, including the most important norms. If an unfamiliar or not fully accustomed person comes into the house, the general provisions are strictly observed.

You cannot set the table properly if you do not know a number of subtleties. For example, knives are wiped separately from spoons; the latter are not mixed with forks. With one part of the towel, they take several homogeneous objects, and with the other they wipe them dry. Wine glasses, cups with a thin handle and deep wine glasses are wiped with particular care, rolling one end of the towel onto the base, removing moisture with the other edge.

After laying on the table, the tablecloth is carefully unfolded and, grasping the corners, shaken, immediately lowering it to the surface. Then an air layer will appear, making it easier to check the result.

An ordinary lunch does not have any special requirements for the type of napkins. On a holiday, it is advisable to take a set of linen napkins that match the color of the tablecloth or contrast with it. Correct layout - on a special plate, in the form of a cone... Flowers should be taken only those that do not violate the harmony of the tablecloth and cutlery.

Given the inevitable differences in tastes and eating habits, even among loved ones, always use a salt shaker (1/3 full), a pepper shaker (1⁄2 full) and a mustard container. If vinegar and sunflower oil are put on the table, you need to take branded bottles with genuine labels.

When you start eating, you start with the first course. The containers in which it is served are determined by the owners themselves.It can be not only deep plates, but also bowls with lids, clay pots, bowls for broth. They focus exclusively on usability. When it's time for dessert, the pies are placed on separate plates or in low flat vases.

Whatever the set of dishes, 0.7 - 0.9 m of the table length must be reserved for each seated person. A smaller distance is too close, more creates alienation between people, they move away, this is also inconvenient. The preliminary preparation for Sunday lunch takes an intermediate place: it is simpler than the festive one, but stricter than the daily serving. If you have to serve fish, it is advisable to use a herring.

An ordinary schematic arrangement of cutlery (even with the use of napkins) can be boring and insipid at a solemn moment. Decorative items help to diversify the design of the table, to bring a feeling of freshness. They are very different: these are satin or silk ribbons, porcelain figurines, balloons. The composition of the decorations and their location are thought out in advance, ideally they are coordinated with all the participants of the holiday (except for those who are preparing a surprise).

Dessert decoration for children can include stylized toys, book and cartoon characters. Desserts according to unique recipes, rare fruits and unconventional dishes, bright and catchy dishes will help create an uplifting atmosphere for adults. In a purely male company, serving can be laconic and as functional as possible, without any frills. The decoration should be aesthetically pleasing.

See these and other serving tricks below.