Entertaining Etiquette Tips
Make your table setting part of the celebration! I love hosting dinners, planning menus and creating interesting guest lists. In addition, I enjoy designing table settings for my round “Efimova UN” table for 8 as my friends call it 😊
Elegant china, flower arrangement and crystals will be points for conversation and complements, but here are a few table setting tips from “The Etiquette School of New York” to make sure your table is flawless:
When the menu is planned for dinner in someone’s home for a special occasion, the table is usually set with all the knives, forks and spoons required for the various courses. One quick look at the table will tell you what you will be having. A safe rule in using these utensils is to start from the outside silverware and work in. If for some reason you don’t feel comfortable, observe the host and follow his lead. Following is how you will see a table set for a typical holiday dinner:
-Forks are placed to the left of the service plate; knives are placed to the right of the service plate. Generally speaking, every fork is married to a knife. This means that for every fork placed on the left side of the plate, there will be a corresponding knife placed on the right side of the plate.
-The soup spoon is placed at the far right of the place setting–outside of the knives.
-Salad fork: The location of the salad fork tells you when your salad will be served. If it is to the left of the large dinner fork, your salad will be served before the main course. If it is to the right of it, your salad will be served after the main course.
-Glasses are always placed on the right side, above the plate in the order they will be used.
-Remember the placement of B-M-D, or bread on the left, main course, and drinks on the right.
It is also important to remember the Art of Conversation– and the 60/40 Rule.
Good conversation is about showing interest in the other person and not monopolizing it with a monologue. Show genuine attention by listening 60% of the time and asking questions the other 40% of the time. It’s a wise idea to keep topics light and festive: interesting travels, next year goals, best moments of this year and politics (hee-hee, just kidding – wanted to make sure you are paying attention 😊.
Enjoy your beautiful evening and honored guests!
