{"id":7459,"date":"2020-08-13T15:44:59","date_gmt":"2020-08-13T19:44:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/?p=7459"},"modified":"2020-08-13T15:44:59","modified_gmt":"2020-08-13T19:44:59","slug":"setting-the-dinner-table","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/setting-the-dinner-table\/","title":{"rendered":"Setting the Dinner Table"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo by author<\/p><\/div>\n

One of the things that I miss the most during the pandemic is dinner with friends. There are few things in life that I enjoy more than a formal or semi-formal dinner party. Spending a long afternoon or evening seated among friends, leisurely eating a delicious meal, sipping wine, and talking about whatever is on everyone\u2019s mind might be when I\u2019m most at ease. The whole experience, from the food to the conversation, offers me most of the pleasures of life in one place \u2013 the dinner table.<\/p>\n

Adding to that pleasure is the way the dining table has been set. Before the food arrives, the table has been set in such a way as to excite your expectations. Fine plates, sparkling crystal glasses, and gleaming silverware promise that something special is about to happen. Add flickering candles, linen napkins, flowers, water pitchers, and bowls of sauces all perfectly laid atop a perfectly ironed tablecloth, and you immediately feel special.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at what you can expect to see as you sit at a formal dinner table.<\/p>\n

Formal tables are covered with a tablecloth<\/strong>, slightly longer than the table, and draping a few inches over the sides. At each setting is placed a charger plate<\/strong>, a large plate on which is then placed a dinner plate<\/strong>. To the left of these plates is the linen napkin<\/strong>. Sitting on the napkin will be the forks<\/strong>. These are arranged from left to right on the napkin according to the order in which they will be used. Most American dinners are served salad before the main course, so the salad fork<\/strong> will be found to the left of the dinner fork<\/strong>, which will be the longest fork on the table. If a fish course is served before the main course, there may be a fish fork<\/strong> for that course found between the two forks.<\/p>\n

Just above the forks, you will find a bread and butter plate<\/strong> and a butter knife<\/strong>. It is the only knife found to the left of the plates. All other knives are placed at the right of the plates, with the blade facing in toward the plate, again according to when they will be used as the meal is served. Generally, the dinner knife<\/strong> is served closest to the plate, with the salad knife<\/strong> to the right of that. All spoons are set to the right of the knives. The soup spoon<\/strong> sits to the right of the knives.<\/p>\n

Just above the knives, you will find the water goblet<\/strong>. If wine is to be served, the red wine goblet<\/strong> is placed to the right of the water goblet, followed by the white wine goblet<\/strong> and, if it\u2019s a really special meal, a champagne glass<\/strong> (or flute<\/strong>) is on the furthest outside right.<\/p>\n

When it\u2019s time for dessert, a dessert napkin<\/strong> will be placed above the charger and a dessert fork<\/strong> and dessert spoon<\/strong> will be placed on that napkin. Coffee or tea will be served in a cup and saucer<\/strong> in place of the wine glasses. A port<\/strong> or sherry glass<\/strong> may also arrive.<\/p>\n

Table linens:<\/strong><\/p>\n