How To Cook Basic, Unofficial And Official Rules For Serving Table - Recipe

If you have a task to organize a formal lunch, an informal party or a big formal dinner and you do not know how to arrange the table, do not worry, now you will understand. In this article we will explain in detail how to properly arrange the table for three different situations - from daily family dinners to a formal holiday. Through the images you will be able to easily find out how to place each plate, napkin, knife and fork.

For everyday events, all you need is a mat, cutlery (fork, knife and spoon), a dinner plate, a glass of water and a napkin.

Basic rules for serving table

1. Place the stand on the table.

2. Place the dinner plate in the middle of the stand.

3. Place the napkin to the left of the plate and fork on it.

4. To the right of the plate, place the knife as close to the plate as possible, with the blade pointing inwards. Place the spoon to the right of the knife. The bottom of the utensils and the plate must be aligned, ie on one level.

5. Place the water cup slightly above the plate, between it and the utensils. Imagine it as if the hands of the clock point to 1 o'clock.

Tip: If you prefer, you can place the napkin over the plate, although some believe that this can create a more formal feeling.

Informal table setting (daily arrangement)

Knowing how to arrange the table informally will be useful when you are expecting friends for dinner or some other gathering. The basic arrangement described above and the informal arrangement are almost the same, but a soup bowl and a dinner plate are added to the informal one. As a general rule, use only glassware, tableware and cutlery.

If you are not going to serve a salad, do not put a salad plate on the table. If you only serve white wine, a glass of red wine is not needed. Do not put a bowl and a spoon for soup if you will not serve one.

1. Place the stand on the table.

2. Place the dinner plate in the middle of the stand.

3. Place the salad plate on the dinner plate.

4. If you start with soup, place the soup bowl on a salad plate.

5. Place a napkin to the left of the plates and place a dinner fork on it.

6. To the right of the plates, place a knife nearby and a spoon next to it to the right.

7. Place the water cup directly above the knife.

8. Place the wine glass or other beverage to the right and just above the water glass.

If you use individual salt shakers and pepper mills for each guest, place them at the top of the stand. Otherwise, place them near the center of the table. If serving on a long rectangular table, they should be in the middle of each end.

Formal dinner table setting

The biggest difference between the informal and the formal arrangement of the table is the use of presentation plates. Traditionally, no pads are used in the official arrangement of the table. Sometimes, but less often, a round base can be placed under the plates to give an even more formal look to the table.

Formal arrangement includes tablecloth, large service plate, dinner plate, soup bowl, salad plate, bread plate, napkin, salad fork, dinner fork, knives, tablespoon, butter knife, dessert spoon, cup for water, a glass of red wine and a glass of white wine. 

1. Spread an ironed tablecloth on the table.

2. Put a large service plate for each guest.

3. Place a soup bowl in the center of the serving dish.

4. Place a bread plate on the top left of the flat plate. Orient yourself through association with the hands of the clock - to point between 22 - 23 hours.

5. Place a napkin to the left of the large service plate.

6. To the left of the serving plate, place the salad fork on the outside and the dinner fork on the inside. You can place the forks on the napkin or directly on the tablecloth between the napkin and the set of plates.

7. To the right and near the large plate, place the knife with the blade facing them, and place the soup spoon to the right of the knife.

Tip: All vertical cutlery (salad fork, dinner fork, knife and tablespoon) should be level and about 1 centimeter apart, and the bottom of each dish should be aligned with the bottom of the large flat plate.

8. Place the butter knife horizontally on the bread plate with the blade facing inwards.

Note: In all layouts, the knives will face the plate.

9. Place the dessert spoon (teaspoon) directly above the service plate with the handle pointing to the right.

10. Place the water cup directly above the knife. To the right of it and about 2 inches below place the glass of white wine. Place the red wine glass on the right and slightly above the white wine glass.

Tip: Since people traditionally drink more water than wine at dinner, the water jug ​​should be closer to the dining room.

11. If you use individual salt shakers and pepper mills for each guest, place them over the dessert spoon. Otherwise, place them near the center of the table or, if serving, on a long rectangular table, in the middle of each end.

Tip: If you use a card bearing the person's name and marking his seat, place it over the dessert spoon.