I need advise on how to set a dining room table?!
I need advise on how to set a dining room table?
It is for Easter. We have a antipasto course, Salad course & pasta course & then the meat with sides. So how should i set the original table. I was thinking just the dinner plate and smaller plate on top. I would then remove the top plate when the antipasto was done. Then give a new plate for the salad, leaving the dinner plate on the table the whole time. I would do the same for the pasta course. Any ideas?
Answers:
Charger, antipasto plate, remove both - then salad plate, pasta bowl/plate and finally dinner plate but be sure not to forget the dessert.
Silver -
left side of plate from the outside to the plate - antipasto fork, salad fork, and dinner fork.
right side of plate from the outside to the plate - soup spoon if needed with pasta, teaspoon, dinner knife, steak knife.
On bread plate have bread knife at an angle.
At the head of the setting have a dessert fork or spoon (depends on dessert).
Now for the glass:
Water glass to the right angle of plate, behind it to the left; white wine glass, and beside it a red wine glass.
If you are having port for dessert with dark chocolate serve the port glass full with the dessert.
I think that about covers it all - have a wonderful party and remember we are celebrating the risen Lord!
I would not advise having people use the dinner plate as a charger because then when they use if to eat dinner it is dirty already from having the other plates on top of it.
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Borrow a copy of "The Joy of Cooking". It's a classic cookbook, extensive, and includes chapters on entertaining and on table-setting for all occasions.
BTW, the plate that is left at the setting during a banquet is not a dinner plate, it's a "charger" and it's larger than a dinner plate.
But really, the idea of a place setting, and the idea of entertaining in general, is to make your guests comfortable. You don't have to go formal to do this.
What you describe is very formal. It pretty much goes with footmen to serve the food.
It isn't really necessary to have a special plate that stays put throughout the meal.
You describe an Italian meal and it might be nice to serve the food in Italian style. Perhaps another answerer can suggest.