Do you know? There’s a slight difference in the preference of someone who loves to cook and someone who relishes food. Well, the former is more particular about cooking utensils and appliances that help prepare meals. On the other hand, a foodie is more interested in how the dinner table looks.

Importance Of A Well-Set Dinner Table

Ask a person who is skilled in the art of serving and he’ll tell you how important it is for a dinner table to look well set and inviting. All the plates and dishes have to be arranged in symmetry. The forks and knives have to be at their right places. The table napkins should be neatly folded (some are so finicky they would even measure the angle of fold!) There are people who lose their appetite, if they see an ill-set table. And you can’t disagree with the fact that a well-set table with beautiful kitchenware and tablecloth enchants you to sit and order something. Perhaps that’s why hotels and restaurants pay attention to every inch of their dinner tables.

Kitchenware That Catches The Eye

In the olden times, people were more concerned about the food in the plate. Today, food is still important, but the plate holds special significance too. Flip through the pages of a food magazine. How mouth-watering those dishes look! But, if you look carefully, they are the same recipes that you prepare at home, only that they are served on exotic tableware! They make you hungry, don’t they? Well, such is the charm of exotic dishes. Like it or not, appealing kitchenware and dishes is inevitable for serving food.

Food garnished well and served stylishly on an appealing kitchenware acts as an appetizer!

Now, just possessing an exquisite set of kitchenware and dishes is not enough. You must know how to set the table for dinner. It’s an art. And it can be learned. Do you know your dinner table speaks a lot about your personality? You can easily make a style statement provided you know how to arrange the tableware elegantly.

Nowadays, it’s a trend to own the finest quality kitchenware. One can’t think of eating in a simple (and boring) dish. Even round ones are passé today. You’ll find a range of shapes like square, triangle, oblong, and oval adorning the dining table. Bowls have more shapes than you can imagine. There are flower shaped bowls, leaf shaped, and many more interesting shapes. You just can’t resist food in such kitchenware!

Serve your guests food in a fine set of dishes and plates and they’ll remember your hospitality for a long time!

The first rule: Everything should be placed with even space between them. This creates symmetry and gives a “wow” effect. If it’s a formal dinner party, sterling silverware is the perfect choice. Use it in order, beginning from the appetizers to main course.

Start…

…by setting the dinner plates. Take care to keep enough space between the plates so that each guest can eat comfortably. Ideally, the distance between plate centers should be 2 feet for enough elbow room. Once you set the dishes, set other tableware accordingly to strike a balance.

Remember…

·    Place the glasses and cups on the right hand of the plate.

·    The salad and butter plate goes on the left.

·    Set the forks on the left side of the plate, and spoons and knives to the right side.

·    The cutting edge of the knives should face the plate.

·    If you’re using a cocktail fork, it goes to the outermost right of the plate.

·    The handles of all utensils should be in line.

·    For dessert, place the silverware above the plate or you can just use your dessert silverware.

·    When serving dessert, the handle of fork should be towards the left while the handle of knife or spoon should be towards the right. The cutting edge of knife should face down.

·    Use napkin rings to place the napkins with a neat fold.

·    Your tablecloth should be squeaky clean with not a spot on it. The same goes for the dishes and other cutlery.

Setting The Drinks

Is a formal dinner complete without wine? No way! So, here we go with the glasses…

·    Place wine goblets in a straight row above the knives. They should be at an angle, starting from the tallest glass to the smallest one.

·    For example, place a water goblet first. To its front, place the wine glass. The dessert wine glass should be closest to the guest.

·    If you’re having iced tea instead of wine, place iced tea glasses and water tumblers. For beers, use mugs.

·    If you’re having coffee with dinner, the cup and saucer should be at the right side of the setting. Place the coffee spoon at the right of the saucer.

·    You can even serve the coffee with the dessert.

A well-set glass dining table creates an impression. It speaks about your personality and how organized you are. Moreover, with all the dishes and kitchenware in order, the food looks yummier to the guests and so does the dinner conversation! On the other hand, a disorderly table can distract attention and even make your guests not want to eat at all!

Setting the dinner table is an art. Bring out your exquisite kitchenware and dishes and practice laying the table for a stylish serving. Be the perfect host!