Confused about how to set a proper dinner table?

Here are some details to get your table perfectly set!

Your menu, level of formality and the number of courses being served all help determine the proper table setting for your meal. The more formal the meal and the more formal the place setting means the more utensils will be needed. So how do you arrange everything for a formal meal?

Guest Space

The spacing of all of these items matter. The typical formal place setting requires about 15” per guests to allow enough elbow room at the table.  The actual plate should be 1” from the edge of the table, and the bottom of all the utensils should line up with the plate bottom.

Utensils

Utensils are placed so that the more outward utensils are used first. For the left side of the setting, if you’re having a seafood appetizer, that fork would be the furthest out, salad fork would be placed next to that and then the dinner fork would be closest to the actual place where plate will go. The dinner fork should be 1” away from the plate area. On the right side of the setting, if you’re offering soup, then a soup spoon would be the furthest out, then a teaspoon and then the dinner knife is closest to the actual place where the plate would be with the knife blade facing the plate. The dinner knife should be 1” from the plate area.

Dessert spoons and forks are placed directly above the area where the plates go so they’re easily accessible once dessert is served. The spoon handle should face right and the fork handle should face left. Coffee cups and saucers can be placed on the table if you so choose, placing it the right of the spoon however those are typically not placed until dessert is served.

If you’re using a Bread and Butter plate, then  that should be placed on the left side, arranged above the forks with the butter knife placed on the plate at an angle with the blade facing the edge of the table.

Glasses

The water glass should be placed as the most inside glass with the wine glass placed to the right and about 1” below the water glass.

Napkins

Napkins can be placed in the center of the place setting or to the left of the most outside fork. They can be simply folded or you can get creative with a fancy folded design. See how here.

To start actually setting the table:

If you’re using a charger,  place that centered in from of where each guest will sit 1” from the table edge. If you’re not using a charger, use the dinner plate on which the main meal will be served.

Place the Dinner Fork 1” to the left of that charger or plate with the bottom of the fork lined up with the bottom edge of the charger or plate. Measure 1”to the left the Dinner Fork, and place the Salad Fork with the bottom lining up with the Dinner Fork. If you’re using  a seafood fork, that would be placed 1” to the left of the Salad Fork with the bottom of it lining up with the other utensils.

Measure 1” to the right of the charger or plate and place the Dinner Knife with the blade facing the charger or plate and so that the bottom is lined up with the bottom edge of the plate. Measure 1” to the right and place the Spoon so the bottom of the spoon is aligned with the bottom of the Dinner Knife.

Place the wine glass about 3” from the Dinner Spoon and to the right a wee bit. The second wine glass would be placed to the left of the first wine glass and slightly higher. The Water glass goes about 3” to the left of the second wine glass and slightly higher so that when all are placed they’re angled as shown here:

And now you’ve set the table in grand style!

Happy Entertaining!

It’s time to start planning your holiday events!

3 questions to answer first are:

1. Decide WHERE to host your party

2. Decide WHEN you want to host your party

3. Decide WHAT holiday catering you want for your party

The answers to these three questions will quickly and easily define your holiday event. If WHERE you have your party is more important, then contact your venue immediately and find out what dates and times are available. If the DATE is most important, it’s time to make your reservation now. There are so few dates to host a holiday party, the venue will, more than likely, already have dates and time spots blocked out, so the sooner you get your reservation situated, the better.

If the date is available but the time you wanted the party isn’t, shifting your event to a different time will still allow you to have your party where you want it. If the WHERE is most important, then adjustments to our original party plans will have to be made like deciding on a different holiday catering menu since serving your original plan of an evening holiday cocktail reception is now becoming a holiday brunch menu based on the only time that party venue is available.

If the WHEN is most important, then you’ll be in search of any venue that has that time available. And once you find the venue that does have the time slot you want, your ideal date may have to change from your original one. For example, the venue can only host your event on the first Friday of December rather than the original date you requested, the second Friday of December. The good news is that you can still have that evening reception you initially wanted. However, time is of the essence for any holiday party. Party halls and reception sites will be filling their calendars quickly.

The WHAT, the holiday catering menu you should serve, comes in to play once you’ve picked your venue, date and time. With those details, you can proceed on with the WHAT you’d like to have catered at your holiday celebration. Most professional caterers will have special holiday menus available for all kinds of holiday gatherings including breakfast, brunch, afternoon and evening receptions along with holiday dinner menus soon. Until then, you can start penciling out your menu ideas and discuss with your caterer now! Just like venues and party halls, caterer’s calendars will fill up fast too so  NOW  is the time to get started making plans for your holiday gathering and get the best deal you can.

Want a perfect holiday  
party catering menu idea for your office party?

Lately, you can find catering trends for everything – for weddings, cocktail parties, corporate events and even family gatherings. Trends include service styles, menu themes and even menu items and their sizes.  Growing in popularity for holiday catering is Breakfast for Lunch or what we’d like to call the Brunch for Lunch menu. Instead of a traditional continental breakfast or cocktail party so often served for corporate holiday parties, consider a holiday brunch reception.

Everyone loves breakfast! From eggs, bacon, sausage and potatoes to French toast, pancakes and  waffles, there are so many breakfast options you can serve!  Why not change your corporate holiday lunch to a brunch and include these favorite foods? Accompany these favorites with some fresh salads, fresh fruits, yogurt and you can create a new and different corporate holiday brunch menu sure to please.

Brunch casseroles like quiches, frittatas and stratas are a great way to incorporate eggs into a lunch menu. Add some breakfast meats, bacon, sausage or ham, some breakfast potatoes and some fabulous salads. Fresh fruit salad is a must for sure.  However you can also add a great spinach salad – either a traditional salad with mushrooms, egg and hot bacon dressing, or, add one with fresh strawberries, walnuts, pecan or almonds, drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette for more modern salad. Salad greens topped with feta cheese, dried cranberries and nuts also create a perfect brunch salad.

Don’t stop with just an egg dish, add some French toast, pancakes or waffles to the menu for the sweeter side of breakfast.  For a special touch, offer traditional syrups, jams, jellies, fresh berries or flavored butters like maple butter, for toppings. Stuffed French toast is another great item to add to a brunch menu. French toast can be stuffed with fruits, flavored cream cheeses or jams for a special treat.  Or, stuff the French toast with ham and Swiss cheese, called a Monte Cristo, for a more savory addition to a holiday catering menu. You can also use turkey and a variety of other cheeses like Gouda to create this perfect brunch menu item.

For the continental breakfast contribution to the menu, add some great muffins, savory or sweet cornbread, biscuits and scones are perfect for a brunch menu. Coffee cakes and cinnamon rolls are another good menu choice to consider adding to your brunch menu. Because there are so many varieties of each of these, have your professional caterer offer suggestions and ideas on which menu items to incorporate into your office party catering brunch menu.

Brunch beverages should include some great coffee, flavored teas and fruit juices. Punches also are a perfect beverage choice, served with or without alcohol, and there a hundreds of punch recipes that will complement your menu. Alcoholic beverage options commonly served at a brunch include the Bellini, Mimosa and Bloody Mary. How many people you’re hosting will determine how many options you should plan on offering.

For something new for the holidays, try brunch for lunch and let’s get started!