Table setting mainly refers to the arrangement of dining table seats and the decoration of the table. Setting up a beautiful table top not only provides guests with a comfortable dining venue and a set of neat dining utensils, but also brings them pleasing artistic enjoyment. This is of course an integral part of good food.

Table setting, from the French word Couvert, refers to all the items on the table used for dining. Specifically, it refers to tableware, cups, napkins, placeholders, and other auxiliary tableware.

Whether it is a casual table setting or a banquet setting, the dining table used is nothing more than a square table, a long table or a round table. According to needs, it can also be a variety of large tables made of them. But regardless of the size of the table, the furnishings and utensils on the table are much the same. Tableware basically uses metal tableware, mainly three types: knives, forks and spoons. Due to different types of dishes and different eating methods, the tableware used also differs in shape and size. It can be divided into two categories: basic tables and luxurious tables.

Basic table setting

A knife, a fork, a napkin (paper towels can also be used), a cup (can also be used as a wine glass, Can also be used as a water cup).

*The knife should be placed on the right side (usually the right hand is used to hold the knife when eating), with the blade facing left.

*The fork should be placed on the left side (generally, the fork is held with the left hand for eating), with the fork pointed upward. There should be enough space between the knife and the fork to place a main dinner plate, and the bottom of the fork and knife handle should be at least 1 cm from the edge of the table.

*The cup is placed directly above the knife.

When there is a starter: If there is soup, the spoon should be placed on the outer end of the knife; if the starter is a salad, the spoon should be changed to a fork.

When there is dessert after a meal: Depending on the type of dessert, you can place a fork and a spoon, or a knife and a fork.

The basic setting for an upscale restaurant can also be: (for a main course) a knife, a fork, a bread plate and a butter knife.

＊A wine glass and a water glass: The water glass is placed about 1 cm directly above the knife, and the wine glass is placed on the lower right side of the water glass at an angle of about 45°.

＊A cushion plate: sometimes for decoration, placed in the center of the seat, with the center of the plate facing the middle of the chair back, and the edge of the plate 1 cm away from the edge of the table. Some restaurants just use napkins instead of serving plates.

＊A piece of napkin: According to the requirements of the restaurant, some pursue beauty and some pursue practicality; there is a saying that cloth napkins should not be touched with hands as much as possible to keep them clean.

The basic setting of a sophisticated and elegant seafood restaurant in a seafood restaurant can be: (a main course) a fish knife, a fish fork, a bread plate and a butter knife, a wine glass and a water glass, A napkin (usually fabric).

Luxury table setting

Luxury table setting refers to a set meal with many dishes, each dish has its own accompanying drink.

Generally speaking:

* Right: From the inside out, use a knife, a fish knife or a spoon for the main course, and a knife for the first course.

* On the left: from the inside out, a fork for the main course, a fish fork, and a fork for the appetizer.

* Above the tray: a dessert fork, a dessert spoon or knife (arranged as shown, generally should be placed upside down).

*Outer left: a bread pan and a butter knife. The bread plate should be placed at the left end of the arrangement, to the left of the outermost fork. Place the butter knife on the right side of the plate with the blade pointing to the left. It should echo the other knives on the right side of the pad.

＊Placement of cups: a white wine glass, a red wine glass, and a water glass, arranged in a triangle (also called a font shape or a tulip shape) or in a row.

＊A napkin (see the section on napkin art for details)

If necessary, sometimes place a foam wine glass, or place a menu and a place plate. If the placement plate is placed in the middle, it marks the center of the entire display.

The fish knife and spoon for the main course and the knife for the first course are placed at the right end of the display because they are held by the right hand; the fork, fish fork and fork for the main course and the first course are used The forks are placed at the left end of the display because they are held with the left hand. For visual beauty, the middle fork can be pushed upward slightly.

When placing multiple cups, such as 3 cups (in a straight line): the red wine glass should be placed above the main course knife, and the water glass should be placed on the upper left side of the red wine glass (approximately At a 45-degree angle), the white wine glass should be placed on the lower right side (at an approximately 45-degree angle). There is obvious logic in this. When eating Western food, one usually starts with drinking white wine. Generally speaking, the cup used first should be placed at the outermost end on the right side for ease of use. The 3 cups can also be arranged in a triangle.

The dessert tableware should be placed directly above the display, that is, parallel to the edge of the table. If the dessert is a piece of cake, the fork and spoon can also be placed directly on the plate and the spoon can be placed on the fork. When placed on the table, the fork is on the left and the spoon is on the right. You can also use a coffee spoon or snack fork instead when eating at home. For desserts such as cheese or fruit, use a knife or fork, with the knife on the right side of the plate and the fork on the left.

Because most people hold cups with their right hand, wine glasses, like other cups, should be placed on the right end of the display and above the table knife. If the sweet cutlery is placed above the centerpieces, the wine glasses should be in line with them. If you are drinking beer with your meal, use a beer glass instead of a wine glass.

Napkins can be made of cloth or paper and are usually placed in the center of the display or on the left side. If there is a menu, it should be placed in the upper left corner or other more appropriate place. If there is a display on the opposite side, it should be aligned with the opposite side. The distance to the left and right neighbors should be approximately 80 cm (measurement is from the center of one furnishing to the center of the other).

If there are left-handed guests eating, the positions of the tableware should be reversed to show respect and concern for these guests. All in all, the decoration regulations should be based on the overall harmony and comfort of the table, and should not make guests feel unhappy.

Special luxury setting

Example of special luxury setting

First appetizer:

Cold shrimp dish with shrimp claws on the left< /p>

Place the shrimp fork on the right

Second appetizer:

Cold dish knife and fork

Main course:

Cutlery for hot dishes

Utensils:

Water glass and wine glass

Bread plate and butter knife

Lemonade bowl for hand washing.

A small white porcelain plate for putting leftovers.

Special tableware

Prawn dishes can be regarded as a fine dish.

To enjoy it, you need to use prawn claws and prawn forks. When setting the table , the prawn claws are placed on the left and the prawn fork is placed on the right.

If one of the dishes is oysters, an oyster fork should be used. When setting the table, place the fork to the right of the plate and hold the fork with your right hand.

If one of the dishes is snails, because snails are usually cooked in shells, use snail tongs to enjoy them. When setting up the table, place the snail tongs on the left and hold it with your left hand; place the snail fork on the right and hold it with your right hand.

When should I prepare hand-washing bowls?

It can be said like this: If you have to use your hands to pick up food, you must place a water bowl with lemon for hand washing and deodorization. For example: if you have whole or half chickens, crabs, etc., you need to place a washing bowl.

When should I prepare the leftovers tray?

Whenever a dish contains shells, skins or bones, prepare a plate to hold such leftovers. Depending on the number of guests, one or several can be placed. It is generally placed in the middle position. If it is used by two people, it can be placed between them for ease of use.