How to properly set a table for a festive atmosphere

Classic tea service includes the selection and arrangement of furniture, tablecloths, dishes, and additional elements. Cover the festive table with a plain tablecloth in calm, light shades. Arrange a porcelain tea set, including the same type of cups, saucers, dessert plates, sugar bowl, milk jug, butter dish. Arrange the sweets on multi-tiered shelves, vases, and display cases made in the same style.

For a Chinese tea ceremony, choose pottery painted in oriental style. Don't overload the countertop with snacks and extras. For tea drinking in the Russian style, prepare a samovar, containers for jam, cookies, and baking baskets. Decorate the composition with a bunch of bagels and sprigs of dry herbs. For English table settings, use a white tablecloth, fresh flowers and elegant china.

Organize your wedding tea party according to the buffet principle. Select textiles, dishes, accessories in accordance with the main theme. Don't overload the space with details. For decoration, use a multi-level stand with bright marmalade, dragees, cupcakes, homemade cakes or a multi-tiered cake.

Setting a sweet table involves not only the use of a tea set and family silver, but also the choice of a tablecloth, napkins, and additional elements. The successful arrangement of dishes and the harmonious choice of colors are also taken into account. A festive or banquet tea party should be decorated taking into account all the subtleties and rules of table etiquette.

Why set the table

Table setting provides a festive atmosphere depending on the theme of the event or simply decorates everyday life. A properly decorated table will present the hostess in the best light and show her attitude towards the guests.

Since ancient times, it was customary to organize lavish dinners, decorating the table with expensive painted dishes and fresh flowers. Later, in the era of the dawn of art and painting, the first established rules of etiquette for serving, as well as sets and cutlery, appeared. In modern society, not a single expensive restaurant will greet you with an empty table. The necessary elements of serving and decor will be placed on it, and appropriate cutlery will be served for each type of dish and drink served.

At home, each housewife decides for herself whether to set the table or not. But don’t forget that a beautifully decorated lunch will help lift your mood and get aesthetic pleasure from eating.

Dessert cutlery

To please your loved ones and friends with dessert, it is necessary not only that it be tasty and aromatic, but also served correctly with all the necessary cutlery. Dessert utensils are primarily a spoon, fork and knife. So the size of the fork and knife is slightly smaller than that of a snack bar, and the dessert fork has three prongs. All dessert cutlery is distinguished by its elegance and originality, as if it complements a beautiful dessert, making it even more appetizing.

Perhaps many people have no idea in what cases a dessert spoon and fork are used, believing that it is convenient to eat a cake with both a spoon and a fork. It's all a matter of habit. However, there is etiquette that must be observed. Let's reveal some little secrets.

Types of serving

Proper table setting involves the use of dishes and decorative elements depending on the nature of the meal. To choose suitable devices for table decoration, decide what type of table setting you need.

Classical

Helps to change an ordinary meal to a more attractive one. This type of serving is used for everyday lunch or dinner. In your arsenal of accessories you must have:

• perfectly clean and ironed tablecloth;
• clean napkins;
• plates without chips and cutlery polished to a shine.

In order not to overdo it with solemnity, it is enough to simply arrange the dishes beautifully and use napkins in bright colors.

For breakfast

It's not always possible to have breakfast together with the whole family. You can set aside one day a week when everyone is at home and have a holiday (Sunday) breakfast.

Cover the table with a clean and ironed tablecloth, decorate with bright napkins, as well as fresh or decorative flowers. Pay special attention to the correct arrangement of dishes:

• Place the appetizer plate first;
• on the right, diagonally, place dishes for drinks (cups on saucers for hot drinks, glasses for juices, water or milk);
• place a small saucer on a snack plate;
• place a bowl for porridge on top;
• To the left of the plate, place a fork with the teeth up, and to the right - a knife, with the blade towards the plate and a teaspoon;
• In the center of the table, place a coffee pot, milk jug, rosettes with jam or jam, sugar in a sugar bowl with a special spoon.

Don't be upset if any of the devices are not in your kitchen. You can decorate the table and lift the mood of the whole family with just a few of the above details.

Dining

The table setting for lunch is distinguished by discreet tablecloths and napkins. Choose a plain tablecloth in pastel colors, after washing and ironing it. The table should have a variety of plates, a set of cutlery for each guest and drinkware.

Pay attention to the location of the devices. They must be in a certain order. There may be several basic appliances, depending on the number of dishes served.

Place sauces and bread bowls along the edges of the table, and in the center place salt shakers and other spices, a tureen, main dishes and snacks. Serve drinks in carafes or jugs; uncork the wine in advance.

Coffee shop

Here, special attention should be paid to the type of coffee prepared. If you serve espresso or Turkish coffee, choose appropriate utensils: small cups from the same set. Latte or cappuccino is served in tall glass glasses.

Follow the sequence of actions:

1. Prepare the table by covering it with a tablecloth and placing the dishes: tea and coffee cups, saucers, dessert plates.
2. Place a milk jug and creamer, as well as a sugar bowl.
3. Arrange desserts and sweets.
4. Start making coffee only after the guests are seated.
5. Do not fill the cups completely, allowing the guest to add milk or cream to the drink.

Teahouse

Cover the table with a tablecloth of a pleasant shade and decorate with matching napkins. For tea drinking, cups from one set are placed immediately for each guest. In addition to cups, each tea party participant should have matching saucers and dessert plates, as well as the necessary dessert and tea utensils. Place a cake or a vase of pastries in the center of the table. It is not customary to place a teapot or teapot in the middle; they are placed only on the edge (except for the samovar, which is placed in the center). Don't forget to put sugar and milk jug on the table.

Children's table

Children's parties are usually decorated in bright colors. You can hang colorful balloons, flags or garlands in the room. To decorate the table, buy napkins and tablecloths with your child’s favorite cartoon character. To match the holiday theme, you can also choose toppers for pastries or cakes, boxes for sweets and decor for treats.

Table setting for two

For a dinner for two, special decoration is chosen, giving the meal a romantic style. Choose a scarlet or white tablecloth, place as few dishes as possible. It is advisable to place it opposite so that the lovers can look at each other. Decorate the table with candles or rose petals. You can place a basket of fruit, sweets and champagne in the center.

Full evening

Such table setting is needed not only for organizing a family dinner, but also for meeting unfamiliar guests. The main criteria are a perfectly clean and ironed tablecloth, polished dishes and cutlery from the same set or at least in the same color scheme. Try to follow the rules of etiquette when choosing devices, create an attractive appearance for your table decoration. Make sure that each guest is comfortable and nothing gets in the way.

Banquet room

It is used for organizing special events: anniversaries, corporate celebrations or other public holidays. A characteristic feature of a banquet is the use of all decorative elements corresponding to the celebration in the same color. To decorate tables, use colorful napkins and arrangements of fresh or artificial flowers. The wishes of the people who organized the feast should also be taken into account here.

Wedding

In such decoration, special attention is given to the places where the newlyweds will be. The hall in which the feast will be held is decorated with flowers or balloons, and posters with wishes are hung on the walls. The newlyweds' table is always covered with a white tablecloth, symbolizing the purity of their feelings. Snow-white dishes, original decorative glasses and other traditional attributes are placed on it.

Buffet room

This type of serving has become very popular in recent years. It is used for organizing corporate evenings, meetings of business partners or organizing private parties. There are 2 types of buffet serving:

• one-sided, which involves installing a table near the wall and placing treats on one edge;
• double-sided, which is arranged on each edge and involves placing the table in the center of the room.

When setting up dishes, place them at equal distances and place treats and drinks in the center. When there are a lot of guests, there is a separate table with drinks and snacks.

Round table setting

The problem with setting a round table is that there is little free space on the surface. Place only the necessary utensils on the table: flat and deep plates, a knife and fork for the main course, glasses for water and wine. Serve dishes directly as consumed. Place a dessert, a small arrangement of flowers, or an uncorked bottle of champagne in the center of the table.

Sweet table setting

If only sweet treats are served at your party, you can set the table without much effort. It is not customary to decorate such feasts with colorful accessories and bright decorative elements. Otherwise, colorful desserts will mix with the decorations and the table will become overloaded and too colorful. Use fruit bowls or slide plates, pyramids and stands for sweets in a single, calm color.

Arranging cutlery

Cutlery should be 10mm apart from each other and the plate.

• The fork is on the left and the knife is on the right, as is the spoon. • The fork should be with its teeth up and the knife with the blade facing the plate. • If there are more than three dishes on the menu, then you do not need to lay out all the cutlery; they should be taken out when needed. • With the plate there should be a fork and a knife, after them for fish, then a knife and fork for various salads. • A spoon can be placed instead of a fish fork.

Types of serving utensils

With proper table setting, there are several plates, glasses and cutlery for one person, which are selected depending on the nature and time of the meal.

Types of plates

There are about 35 species. Among them, the most commonly used plates are:

• dining rooms intended for serving second courses (shallow), as well as pasta or pasta (deep);
• soups, in which first courses are served (exceptions are broths), muesli with milk, and sometimes porridge;
• bowls for broths and liquid porridges;
• dessert, intended for cakes and pastries (small), as well as for desserts with sauces (deep);
• pirozhki, which are used for serving bread or croutons (there should be a butter knife on the plate);
• chill mold for salad appetizers and oysters;
• fish, having an elongated shape for more convenient handling of the fish dish;
• snack bars serving cold appetizers and salads.

In addition to personal ones, there are also common plates and dishes in which basic treats, cakes and pastries are served.

Types of wine glasses and glasses

To serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, appropriate utensils must be on the table. There are more than 60 types of glasses and wine glasses. All of them have a unique shape and correspond to the drink served.

Glass categories:

• for wine;

• for champagne;

• for cocktails;

• glasses for strong alcohol and cocktail shots;
• stacks;

• beer glasses and mugs;

• for hot cocktails and drinks.

All categories of barware, in turn, are divided into separate types. For example, wine glasses can be narrow, oblong (for sparkling wines) or wider and more open stemware (for red wines).

Please note that some types of glasses require pre-chilling before serving.

Types of cutlery

In everyday life, we are accustomed to using only a few basic types of cutlery, not suspecting that each type of treat has its own set of devices.

Main types of devices.

Please note that the table must have both a personal set of cutlery and additional devices for main common dishes.

How to organize an inexpensive but enjoyable holiday?

If you work in a team for a long time and celebrate your birthday every year, then it is better to choose a budget option; your colleagues will understand you. It's summer, so I want to prepare a light summer buffet.

When designing your menu, include quick options. No holiday is complete without a cake. In the heat, you don’t want to stand at the stove, but every birthday person wants to surprise his colleagues with a new dish.

Marshmallow cake without baking

You can prepare a delicate airy cake very quickly. It will turn out inexpensive, but tasty.

Ingredients

• Marshmallow – 0.5 kg
• Strawberries - 300 g
• Heavy cream – 500 ml

Step by step recipe:

1. Wet a knife in warm water and cut the marshmallows into thin slices.
2. Cut the washed and dried strawberries into cubes.
3. Whip the cream to stiff peaks.
4. Place a layer of marshmallows on the bottom of the mold and pour cream over it.
5. Spread the strawberries evenly, arrange the marshmallow rings again, and pour in the cream.
6. Repeat until you run out of ingredients. Top with berries.
7. Keep the cake in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Fast pizza

Pizza has become an integral part of the office meal. To prepare it quickly and tasty, you can buy ready-made dough. And it’s even easier to prepare pizza on lavash crusts.

1. Cut a circle out of lavash, grease with ketchup, sprinkle with grated cheese.
2. Place another circle of pita bread on top, brush with ketchup, add sausage, onions, smoked meats, tomato rings, sprinkle with cheese, bake in the oven until cooked.

Table setting styles

Stages and rules of table setting

Before decorating the table, decide on the style and character of the feast. Serving, regardless of style and type, takes place in several stages. In this case, it is desirable to maintain a certain sequence of actions.

Selection and placement of tablecloths and runners

Prepare the tablecloth and cloth napkins in advance. It is extremely important that the tablecloth is in perfect condition, washed and ironed.

Some designers argue that the more formal the event, the whiter the tablecloth should be, while others insist that the textiles match the overall interior or be matched to the curtains.

Place the canvas so that the corners are opposite the legs, and the edges hang down by 25–30 cm. Depending on the serving style, openwork patterns or designs are allowed on the tablecloth.

An additional decoration for the table will be the recently popular table runner, which lies in the center and differs in color from the main tablecloth.

Arranging the plates

Arrange the plates in accordance with established standards. The number of dishes is determined by the variety of dishes served. Place the dishes for the main treats directly in front of the guest, approximately 2.5 cm from the edge, and they are placed on top of each other in accordance with the sequence of dishes served. Place the pie plate for bread products diagonally to the left.

Do not forget that the plates should look presentable, be clean, without cracks and polished to a shine.

Cutlery layout

Each guest must have his own set of cutlery; the number of such sets is determined by the number of dishes served. In addition to individual cutlery, there should be other devices on the table for general treats.

To the right of the plate, place the knives, blade toward the center, and the spoon, open side up. Place the fork to the left of the plate, tines up. Place a dessert spoon and fork over the plate. Place a butter knife on the pie plate.

Forks, spoons and knives should look perfect, be washed and polished to a shine.

We put glasses, wine glasses, glasses

Drinkware is placed to the right diagonally from the plate. Place a glass of water above the knife first. Next, arrange the glasses and wine glasses based on their volume and the type of drink being served.

Make sure that there are no chips or stains on the glassware. Before serving, wash the glasses thoroughly and dry with a towel. Please note that champagne glasses must be chilled before serving.

Spice utensils

If a large celebration is planned for a large number of guests, salt, pepper and other spices are placed in the center of the table. If the number of guests is small, place only salt on the table, and serve other spices with certain dishes at the request of the guest.

Serving napkins

Fabric napkins should match the tablecloth or other decorative elements. Pay special attention to their cleanliness and appearance. There are no clear rules for the placement of a textile napkin. It can be located either near the main plate or directly on it. You can also fold it beautifully and place it in a glass or on a pie plate. However, please note that only fabric napkins are laid out in this way, but paper ones are placed in the center of the table immediately before serving dishes.

Final stage: table decor

Decorative elements can be:

• table runner;
• bouquets of fresh or artificial flowers;
• bowls of fruit;
• various candles;
• elegant glassware;
• original devices.

If you have chosen a certain style for serving, do not forget that all elements must correspond to the main idea.

Potato fan for main course

A beautiful and very tasty dish of potatoes and cheese with spicy additives.

You will need:
10 large potatoes, 150 g cheese, 1 tsp.
hops-suneli, 1 tsp. seasonings for potatoes, vegetable oil. Preparation:

Place the potatoes, washed with a brush, between two sushi chopsticks, cut into thin circles, with the chopsticks serving as limiters so that the potato holds its shape. Wrap each root vegetable in foil and bake for 40 minutes in the oven. Unfold the foil, sprinkle the potatoes with spices, insert a slice of cheese into each cut, sprinkle with vegetable oil and place in the oven until browned.

Table setting at home

To create a cozy atmosphere at home, it is enough to arm yourself with sets for main courses and tea drinking, a set of cutlery and several types of wine glasses. Don't forget to purchase a beautiful fabric tablecloth and napkins.

For dinner

If you want to impress your significant other or simply create a pleasant atmosphere at home, organize a dinner together after decorating the table.

Lay out a tablecloth on the tabletop, arrange plates, cutlery and drinkware. Candles, small flower arrangements and a bowl of fruit or dessert complement the composition well.

Dining table

Table setting for lunch is practically no different from decorating for dinner. Cover the tabletop with a light tablecloth and arrange the dishes according to the food being served. You can use discreet bouquets of flowers and napkins as decorative elements.

For guests

Table setting for guests requires a set of cutlery and plates equal to the number of guests. Choose the decor according to the time of the meal. Before use, make sure the tablecloth, napkins and dishes are clean.

For the holiday

A holiday held at home always takes a lot of time and trouble, so you should take care of the serving details in advance. It is not necessary to put a full set of dishes on the table, as you need to leave room for appetizers, salads and main treats. The main condition is the cleanliness of plates, cutlery, and wine glasses. The tablecloth and napkins should also have a presentable appearance. You can use small flower arrangements and candles as decoration.

Features of table setting for the New Year

It is customary to celebrate the New Year with a richly laid table. The abundance of treats will be emphasized by a solemnly decorated table. Choose a tablecloth in a neutral shade, emphasizing the significance of the holiday with bright details (napkins, small gifts for guests).

You can use spruce branches or small wreaths as decoration. It is customary to place tall candles on the table that match the color of the napkins or decorative elements. The dishes should also have a presentable appearance. Plates with golden or silver monograms, wine glasses with mother-of-pearl edging.

Don't forget about decorating the room. A Christmas tree and other elements of New Year's decor, along with a ceremoniously set table, will create a fabulous mood.

Etiquette secrets from aristocrats

When you find yourself in a gourmet restaurant or at an event where many respected people are present, you want to make a good impression and present yourself in the best light. To do this, you should know a few secrets that will help you behave correctly at the table:

• Sit at the table correctly, with a straight back, facing the table. After sitting down, there should be a distance equal to the width of your palm between you and the table.
• Use the napkin correctly. Fold a large rectangular napkin crosswise so that one end is twice as long as the other and place it on your knees with the fold in front. This will keep your clothes covered and also allow you to dry your mouth and hands.
• To prevent lipstick from leaving marks on the glasses, first remove it from your lips. If you don't want to remove the lipstick, discreetly lick the edge of the glass before drinking, creating an additional "barrier" for the lipstick.
• Under no circumstances should you bite baked goods. Carefully break off a small piece directly on the pie plate, holding the piece with your other hand. To spread butter on bread, you need to use a special knife. At the same time, take the required amount of product and place it on a pie plate, and only from there spread it on the bread.
• Oddly enough, according to the rules of etiquette, it is not advisable to wish other guests “bon appetit.” This applies to those cases when you are going to a restaurant or cafe. According to etiquette standards, only the chef can express wishes for a bon appetit.
• According to the rules of good manners, salad should only be eaten with a fork without using a knife, which can only be used as a last resort when you need to hold onto a piece of food. Under no circumstances should you cut the salad in a plate.
• Elbows should be pressed to the body. Never place them on a table, and also watch your posture.
• When eating soup, hold the spoon not sideways, but with the sharp end towards your mouth.
• When drinking tea, hold the cup not in the usual way, by sticking your finger into the hole, but holding it by the handle with your thumb and forefinger.
• Try not to come to the event hungry. This will keep you from grabbing everything and will make you look good.

Table setting is divided into several types depending on the nature of the event, as well as several styles, in accordance with the surrounding interior. By following simple tips and recommendations, you can set the table without much difficulty and appear before your guests as an attentive and hospitable hostess.