Nowadays, you will almost won't meet the family, in which it would be taken to gather behind the big table for the meal. The modern rhythm of life dictates its own rules, and now everything is somehow a few: an almost missing breakfast, lunch, dinner, dinner in front of the computer, and there is neither strength or the time to arrange a small holiday. And sometimes it is worth. And catch the festive and solemn, and sometimes the dreamest mood always helps the proper table setting.
But what is it and how to do everything right, according to the rules of etiquette? Everything is much easier than it seems.
Peculiarities
It seems that the table can be served or inborn aristocrats, or lackers-waiters in the third generation, and the mystery of the ideal location of the devices and the subtleties of differentized forks is not given to the simple people. This is a common misconception: cover a beautiful table much easier than to cook a delicious lunch.
It is not enough to simply put the table, put the chair, scatter on the surface of the fork-spoon and remain satisfied with the created freezing composition.
There are certain rules for serving a table, the history of the appearance of which goes deep in the century. They should be adhered to receive a beautifully covered table over time. Guests can estimate not only the taste of dishes, but also the talent of the hostess or the owner of the evening.
Tablecloth
Before you put the instruments on the table, you need to spread the tablecloth. According to the rules of etiquette, it should hang from the table at exactly 20-30 centimeters. In short - ugly, the whole view and style of serving is lost, it interferes with guests. The color of the tablecloths the etiquette rules do not dictate, so you can choose it yourself depending on the case: it is appropriate to be laconic snow-white tablecloths for a solemn feast, and multicolored bright or muted - for every day or by mood. The main requirement - the tablecloth should be perfectly ironed and absolutely clean, otherwise even the perfectly covered table will look sloppy.
Nuance: Let only the necessary devices be on the table. After all, if there is no soup at dinner and in risen, then the container will look inappropriate and absurd and simply will be superfluous. If the guests do not try the fish, then the devices for it will only increase headaches and bewilderment. Here more - does not mean better.
Plates
At first glance everything is difficult here. Many dishes of different sizes that must be fitted one on the other, at first frighteners. However, everything is not so scary.
On the number of cutlery affects the subject of the event, the stated dinner program and the number of invited. Based on these circumstances and firmly determined with each item, you can already combine the composition of dishes before each of the guests. Traditional service rules suggest that one person should stand more than one dish: a serving plate, which plays the role of additional protection of the tablecloth (it, however, is very optional to use when a casual serving), a snack bar, dessert and soup plate (depending on the consistency of the soup is wide or dike).
There is one trick here: in order to prevent the slip of the plates on each other, you can put a cloth or paper napkin under it: on the one hand, the designer move, on the other, the ability to avoid an awkward situation.
From the left side of the serving, dessert and salads are put. There you can also arrange plates for oil and bread. The distance from the edge of the table should be about one and a half or two centimeters.
Glasses, wine glasses, glasses
Everything is completely simple here. It is not necessary to put all the instruments at once - some may not be useful. In the home setting, it is better to immediately agree with the guests about who and what will drink to get rid of themselves from unnecessary trouble.
A little further than all the plates located, to the right of them we put the dishes for drinks. Here a lot depends on the tastes of the guests: someone will prefer the red white guilt, someone will stop on champagne, and someone will choose that it is stronger.
There are strict order of glasses: the less, the farther from the plates. In an informal setting it is possible to do without such difficulties.
The main thing is not to confuse glasses for red and white wine, wine glasses for champagne and all other glasses, glasses and stacks. It depends not only to the correctness of the prescriptions, but also the pleasure of the guest: certain forms of glasses and material (glass or crystal) help to reveal all the thinnest notes of taste and smell.
Location of cutlery
At the ceremonial reception, where the rights and left of the plate are uncountable, at first glance, the number of cutlery, it is terrible to seem to be ignorant. It seems that in all forks, spoons never understand. But here, too, everything is simple.
There is a golden rule, easy to remember: the further the device is located from the plate, the earlier it will be needed.
Surride everything just: Knives are put on the right of the plate, the plugs - on the left, a spoon for soup - next to the first knife (However, if the menu is declared a dessert, a spoon is lay down a little higher than serving plates). And then on top you can put a teaspoon.
These rules regulate the next set of cutlery: a snack fork and a knife; Larger devices - for the first and second dish. A plug with three-four teeth and a knife in the shape of a blade is used for fish. Everything else in the set there is a set of devices for dessert: spoon, knife and fork.
The rules for handling appliances ends on one competent location of them relative to the plate. They still need to be able to use and know how correctly there is something or another dish.
- Soup: If there are large ingredients (vegetables, meatballs, pasta), then they need to felt in half the side of the spoon. Broth from a cup can be drunk.
- Chicken: Its on the official dinner is better to eat with the help of devices, hands can only be in the family circle.
- Meat dishes: they are accepted in pieces, and with cutlets and schnitzels you can do without a knife.
- Hands, omelet, vegetable dishes, pastes do not require the use of a knife, but without it should not touch sandwiches and pies.
- Snacks: Icra, Pahatyts and mustard are smeared on the bread with a special little spoon.
Probably everyone heard something about the secret signs of cutlery. In luxury institutions with a sophisticated public, the waiter could often guesses the satisfaction with the dish not only to express the visitor's face, but also on the position of the devices used on the plate or near it. This is some identification signs, non-verbal symbols that, if there is no opportunity to express their impression from the meal out loud, will make it for the guest.
Understanding of such nuances will help to impress the strict counters of the norms and rules of etiquette. And in order not to get to him, the owner cannot be offended and not to mislead anyone, it is worth paying attention to them and remember.
Break:
- Pause: The tips of the fork and knife lie on the edges of the plate and are a bit unfolded from themselves, their handles - on the table. If the dish did not use the knife, the location of one fork alone was not allowed.
- Waiting for the second dish: The knife and fork are located on a plate perpendicular to each other, crossing the center: the knife is horizontal, the plug is vertically.
Completion of meals and feedback about food:
- Liked: The devices lie parallel to each other, the rally in the same direction.
- I did not like it: the knife crosses the fork from the teeth in the center of the plate crosswise.
- He graduated from: the devices lie in parallel (permissible - on different edges of the dish) from each other, directly or at an angle.
By the way, about an insoluble question about where to tilt the soup plate during meals: the etiquette does not take place when you leave a little lunch on the bottom.
These signs can be useful for lunch or dinner in a restaurant, banquet or other luxurious feast passing with the participation of a large number of guests, waiters and other assistants, communicating with which the distance is observed.
In the circle of friends or on a family feast, these gestures are unlikely to be relevant. But you can always demonstrate your knowledge of familiar and hit them, and after from the soul to nimble, without having burdening themselves with strict rules of etiquette.
Decor
Here restrictions put only fantasy. Depending on the subject and the occasion, there may be completely different decorations: from light and solemn candles and strict snow-white napkins to coarse compositions from natural branches of spruce and pine cones.Napkins
They can be different - paper, rag, colored, motley, immaculately snow-white. In the decoration of the table, they occupy a dominant place.
Paper is one of the most grateful materials. From such napkins, you can do anything: from a simple folded triangle - the eternal classics of roadside and simple cafes, to the bizarre cone-shaped figures, hats, swans, if you like. It is only necessary to adapt to work with tender paper and enjoy the result.
Rag looks more restrained and give any feast noble, solemn spirit. They charmingly look touched by coarse thread, with a middle ride, or just beautiful and unusually folded. Often can be seen on the tag wipes with the name of the guest to which this place is assigned. This is simultaneously practical and stylish.
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Flowers
A win-win. Suitable for both large and solemn events, and for everyday table setting. The main convenience is that the flower decoration is easy to reproduce at home and change it depending on the mood.
Variations Weight: You can make a complex composition of colors, leaves and ribbons, you can collect field and meadow colors (relevant in summer), and you can reduce everything to a minimalist style and restrict ourselves to thin elegant branches that emphasize the taste and style of the home decoration of the covered table.
Candles
The unchanging classic of romantic dinners and wedding feasts. Customize guests to the desired way, being a final touch in creating the necessary atmosphere of the holiday. Complete and complement any composition, regardless of the genre and style.
The uniqueness of the candles is that they can be combined with absolutely different details and nuances, selecting only their shape and color in accordance with the specified parameters.
Rough thick candles of classic beige or dark shades will excellently look in the middle of a brutal composition, which can be decorated with an oak table, and thin and sophisticated wonderfully fit into an ensemble with live flowers and branches.
Attributes
When decorating a festive table, pay attention to non-standard methods for its design. It is usually possible to inspire the theme of the holiday: in the New Year, you can take artificially snow-covered spruce paws, tinsel, christmas toys in tone or in the contrast to the tablecloth as decorations. Unusual and bold solutions - a key to success.In a country house, you can use the most real rarities: grandfather clocks, old photos, woven openwork napkins and other things with a raid of antiquity. Summer table will decorate artistically scattered fruits.
Storage
Special attention should be paid to the safety of cutlery. Any, even the most beautiful and well-collected setting will lose its entire look and gloss if the devices cannot boast their crystal clean and gloss. Divorces, stains and rust are capable of not just getting the appetite, but also to kill him at all. It is unlikely that guests will want to return to the house in which they offer to use dirty spoons.
It is best to store sets in special organizers with compartments: forks to forks, spoons to spoons, knives knives. This is especially true of silver products. Upon completion of use, they need to rinse in a hot soda solution and rub the drying towel - if this is not done, the silver will quickly fade and turn from moisture, so they need special care for such devices. However, if something went wrong and silver sweat it, it can be corrected: it is enough to prepare a mixture of dental powder, ammonia alcohol, water and soda. All ingredients mix equally.
Casual appliances require not such careful care: the most common means copies with fat and dirt, and the washing in the dishwasher takes strength and time.
Lemon Juice will be the best friend in the fight against strong pollution, and the potato decoction will help to return to the faded alloy for the past glitter. So the devices will serve a long time and will not lose their initial species, continuing to please their owners.
Views
In the means of serving, the golden rule remains unchanged, which has already been stated above: there should be nothing superfluous on the table. For the scrambled eggs, the fish fork does not need, and Beefstrods do not eat a dessert spoon. One of the functions of the serving is to rationalize the place on the table and the creation of convenience for dinner.
When everything is beautiful at the dinner, then I want to enjoy more food.
For 2 and 4 persons
The easiest way to serve is easily. We are guided and fixing the main rule: there is only something on the table than this meal really will have to use and without which it is impossible to do. The rest needs to be removed. This, naturally, does not concern the decorations of the table. The main requirement for them is relevance and style.
Serving for two assumes that most likely the atmosphere will be informal, so you can do without strict compliance with all requirements for the covered table. It is enough to have the necessary number of plates (which, repeat, depends on the proposed menu), devices and glasses.
At the same time, it is important to take into account the shape of the table: a square or round table is perfect for bidding for two, so that the distance between the person is not too big, but at the same time sufficient for a relaxed conversation.
The main thing is to withstand and maintain the mood of a successful and relevant serving. How specifically it will be: friendly, romantic, easy or playful, solve only two.
To serve the table on the fourth, you should stick all the same rules. And again here the genre of the covered table dictates relationships and the cause of the collection. Friendly meetings do not require strict compliance with the rules, rather, it will even prevent the dominant mind of carelessness to make their own business and help relax in a pleasant warm company. On the contrary, in business meetings it is better to focus on the canons of etiquette: it will help a constructive conversation and concentration on small details.
The table can be any, but at the same time quite spacious, so that each of the guests enough space and no one invaded the elbow in someone else's living space.
To breakfast
In the morning, each of us, without noticing, makes a mini-serving of the table: takes out cups, mugs, plates, makes everything for its convenience. However, there are certain rules that help to optimize breakfast time.
During the morning meals, a plate with a meal is installed in the center. Left - plug and spoon, right - knife. Here everything follows the golden setting rule.
The coffee cup is placed in the right corner from the main dish. On the left, as always, a small plate for oil, bread and other additional delicacies is put.
For dinner
An options are already emerging in the dining service: someone's dinner consists of the first, second and third dish, and someone is content with one eye.The place of mugs and cups occupy a glass of water and a glass for wine. The drinks for drinks are all there, where it is always - to the right and on top of the main dish.
Deep plates are put on serving, greater and flat. On the left occupy their honorable place are small but important plates for bread.
To dinner
As a rule, dinner is the most luxurious and rich food for the whole day. All things are made, you do not need to hurry anywhere and therefore you can relax in a pleasant company of friends or yourself. And the setting is changing after the time of day.
Now in front of the guest more glasses and a glass - for aperitif. More cutlery appears, they are located in the classic sequence. The rest of the rules do not change: the forks - on the left, knives - to the right, the farther from the dish - the earlier the device will be needed.
What to cover for a holiday?
Special events require additional partitions in the menu and the corresponding decoration. So, on the table there may be a real track from salads or sweet treats, which occupies too much space for the main table. And in the serving of such dishes there are subtleties that deserve attention.Palette
Color gamut dictates reason.
- For a children's holiday It will be relevant bright, joyful and cheerful setting. For this purpose, a disposable multi-colored dishes are perfect for this purpose - and safely, and the soul is warm for the favorite service.
- For the decoration of an adult dessert table There are no special recommendations: it all depends on the wishes of the perpetrators of the celebration and the occasion of the holiday. The main thing is if the party thematic, the decoration elements must necessarily comply with this topic and be recognizable.
It is very important not to overdo it and do not turn the elegant colorful table in the vulgar blessing. To do this, carefully refer to the selection of special decorations and backgrounds of the table: it plays an important role in the formation of a solid image. The design can even be used at all, it would seem that not related to the case objects: books, mirrors, floral decorations, photo albums - this will all serve as additional entertainment for guests when the bulk of the treats will be eaten.
Sometimes the serving of the sweet table implies multi-level beautiful cakes. Often they can be seen (and try) at weddings, anniversaries, birthdays. Registration of such an important attribute of the holiday as a huge cake, it is in the first place in serving a sweet table.
The main thing here is a thoughtful composition. It is necessary to decide whether it will be a hooligan asymmetric or perfectly verified how many levels and which elements it is necessary to turn on it for a more spectacular image of the dessert corner.
You can play not only with a vertical, but also horizontal and turn the surface of the table into the pattern or pattern itself. Variations mass, and the only red light here can show only an accurate sense of measure and style.
Menu
For sweet tech treats should be diverse. Someone from the guests can adore marmalade and hate bitter chocolate, and the other exactly the opposite. The task of the owner is to please everyone, so you need to prepare more different sweets.
The main sweet dish is the cake. The rest of the sweets play a minor role, but necessary for tea. It is important to remember that all sweets should be portion, but it should be enough for everyone.
Sweet table differs significantly from the main one. The misconception is widespread that it is only interested in children, so you can make it super bright. However, this is not so - For many adult sweet teeth, a sweet table is hardly the most important at the event.
Will this children's holiday or an adult anniversary, the design of a sweet table must comply with the stated goal. The number and variety of desserts also affects the choice of furniture. At the same time, it is necessary to immediately estimate the scale of the treats and distribute the load - not so much the physical severity of kilograms of sweets, how much is their distribution on the surface of the table: everything should be done stylishly and tastefully and cause not only appetite and attacks of the greed lust in sweet tech, but also admiration for talent The owner of the evening.
Snacks - the first thing goes to move. Guests wander appetite with light tasty and simple treats. Cold dishes are for every taste and color, so that each of the invited will find what will have to do.
All love salads. No feast is done without them and the holiday immediately ceases to be a holiday, if there is no at least one such dish among the treats. Therefore, it is worth showing special attention. As a rule, salads are served in large salad bowls, of which guests take a portion to their plate with special devices.
You can apply not only in special containers, but even in another meal: in large leaves of salad, inside a rolled ham or cheese slice. Cute stuffed vegetables and filled tartlets look pretty. Similar treats can be artistically decompose on a wide flat dish.
Sausage cuts are taken to lay out in several rows. As a rule, it is cut thinly and the painter, so it looks like a flat elongated circles on a plate. Often to save space or when there is nowhere to put another plate of different varieties of meat treats fold on one to several rows, but not in any way. Boiled meat or sausage cut it thoroughly. The decoration of parsley or dill is welcomed.
Herring is served in special plates - long elongated narrow saucers resembling herring alone, or another dishes suitable for this. Usually, in a serving, such a snack remembers the silhouette of fish and lay out pieces in the likeness to him.
Fish itself as the main dish is served in oval plates. Red fish (salty or smoked) is served sliced on thin slices. They successfully accompanied the lemon slices. Very often in the role of decorations stands fresh greens.
It is not customary to cover the spray and fish canned on the table - they simply are inappropriate to this occasion.
Cheese is either cut by either thin slices and lay out on a small plate, or cubes in which they stick special skewers so that every guest can take the piece that interests him. Yes, and looks like such a feed is more interesting and in the case more convenient - you do not have to quickly reach the leaf of cheese on four tooth forks and blush from your lowestoreness.
Oysters in natural form are served on an ice cushion with lemon as a side dish. Fraging from the very beginning the meal fork for oysters is on the right. Together with oysters, gray bread or toasts are served, oil.
Omar is served on a large plate. It is necessary using a fork and a knife for seafood, as well as a special needle. Store the sharp angle to the fishing knife. Be sure to need a bowl for the ablution of the fingers.
Serve vegetables, perhaps the simplest action from all in the preparation of snacks. Everything is very democratic here. Small cucumbers and tomatoes are not allowed to take their hands. Major are pre-served chopped on slices (for tomatoes) and circles (cucumbers). They are decorated with a sliced mixture of greenery - onions, dill. The onions onions are perfectly suitable for red-green duet. Sliced vegetables can be sprinkled with olive or vegetable oil. Salt and pepper are usually served nearby.
Salted and low-headed cucumbers are served cut along length. They can share one plate with sauerkraut.
How is instituted in other countries?
Each country has its own culture, especially a feast. From here and some features of the behavior at the table and differences in the rules and perception of etiquette. The fact that in one country is considered the norm in the neighboring turns into rudeness and disrespect for the owner.
Consider some features of the etiquette of European and Asian countries.
England
The country where the etiquette and the rules of decency are absorbed with Mother's Milk. Traditions play a huge role. The British is extremely scrupulously, in contrast to the Russians, refer to the observance of these subtleties and rules - especially in such an important area as a rolling culture.
It is not customary to start a conversation with an unnecessary person, keep hands on the table - they must rest on their knees. Crossing the plug and knife from the right to the left hand - the perfect taboo! Fork from the beginning to the end of the meal should stay in the left hand, and the knife is right. And no exceptions.
The refusal of tea is equivalent to the insult of the owners. Therefore, it is better to stay a little than to enjoy an uncompatible jubian.
Germany
Germans appreciate their own and someone else's time, so late here - to insult the owner deeply. It is not customary to be without a gift: it is necessary to have a symbolic present with it like flowers. The first of those present sitting outside the table, and the right to start lunch is given to the owner of the house. If the reception occurs in the restaurant, then all invitees must be wishing a pleasant appetite.
It is better not to discuss personal topics at the table - in Germany you need to deserve confidence.
France
In France, it is customary to be invited to visit only people who have become friends, so get such an invitation is a great honor for a foreigner. To finds, they are not as severe as the Germans: the delay of 15 minutes is considered to be destructive and non-bubble. It can be said that it is almost like come on time. Shoes, by the way, not accepted at the entrance to the house.
At the table it is not customary to discuss cash and business problems. It is better to talk about movies, music or science. And the hands better hold over the table.
The French apply to the dish, and they can count on a straw hand for the addition of their culinary talents. When at the end of dinner, strong drinks are offered - this is a faithful sign that the evening is complete.
Japan
Unlike France, it's not to remove shoes here at the entrance to the guests are considered disrespect. Instead of a handshake - a low bow. Development is perceived extremely negative, so it is better not to risk and not insult the thin soul of the Japanese.
Before taking food, it is necessary to wish a pleasant appetite to all those present. The Japanese judges the pupils of a person exactly how he draws with chopsticks. The guest, waving them to the right and left, using them to indicate others and sticking the tips to the food - a bad guest.
At the same time, loud chasing and other sounds of meals are considered a praise dish. . For the duration of "flowing" from the pleasure and taste of food, the owner can understand how much the guest treats.
Upon completion of dinner, you must definitely thank the owner of the house and cook. Leaving in Japan "in English" is considered rudeness.
In all countries of the world there are features. And yet one thing remains unchanged: respect and reverence of the owner and the guests present. Therefore, before going to someone else's country, it is mandatory to familiarize yourself with the local regulations of decency and etiquette, so as not to get to them.
Sale of ideas for inspiration
And here are some ideas that can inspire the creation of an original setting at home or demonstrate exemplary and unusual solutions for decorating the table.
Spring and fresh setting of four persons for a round table. This option of serving will remove the winter coolness among guests and will give a good mood.
Preliminary table setting: scheme for beginners.
The chic version of the full setting, made in yellow.
There are many dining table serving ideas. We give examples how to sort stylish and original covered tables. A bright decor with rowan twigs and cones is a stunning decoration to any holiday.
On other tricks and subtleties of table setting, you can learn from the next video. Proper table setting - art that can be easily learned.