Proper Table Settings

Etiquette for proper table setting; set the table correctly!

Etiquette for proper table setting-What goes where on the table and which glasses go with what drinks (courtesy of Here's Info).

Real easy, the etiquette experts tell us. The general rule with utensils is to start from the outside of your place setting, and work your way toward the service plate (the main meal plate): soup spoon first, then fish knife and fork, then service knife and fork.

Proper table setting for formal dinner:

A- Serviette (napkin)

B- Service plate

C- Soup bowl on plate

D- Bread and butter plate with butter knife

E- Water glass

F- White wine

G- Red wine

H- Fish fork

I- Dinner Fork

J- Salad fork

K- Service knife

L- Fish knife

M-Soup spoon

N- Dessert spoon and cake fork . Note that it is often recommended that the salad fork (J) is placed to the left of the dinner fork (I). However, in this formal setting the dinner fork is placed to be used before the salad fork because it is suggested that the guest awaits the main meal before helping him/herself to the salad.

Which glasses go with what drinks

Wine connoisseurs agree that each type of wine needs a particular type of glass to bring out the distinctive bouquet. Using a narrow glass for a rich Burgundy, for example, won't allow enough room to swirl it around in, and it's the swirl that brings out its bouquet. The glass also needs to taper properly toward the top so that it captures the bouquet yet allows for sipping. In general, the stem of a glass should be long enough to keep hands from touching the bowl, which can affect the wine's temperature, and therefor its bouquet.

The proper glasses - courtesy of wineview.com
Water

Brandy

White wine

Pinor Noir Burgundy

Sparkling wine

Red wine

a. Water: full body glass with short stem. Hold the glass by the stem to preserve its chill.

b. Brandy: brandy snifter. Roll the snifter between both hands and then cup it in one hand - warming the glass brings out the bouquet in brandy.

c. White wine: slightly smaller glass with wider bowl to capture the bouquet. Hold the glass by the stem to preserve its chill.

d. Burgundy Reds and Pinot Noirs: a wide bowl to bring out their complexity. The glass is slightly taller than the white wine glass.

e. Champagne: a narrow fluted glass, which reduces the wine's surface area and keep the bubbles from dissipating.

f. Red wine: the bigger of the wine glasses. Hold the glass at the bottom of the bowl where it meets the stem.

Now that you have the correct table setting and the proper wine glasses, see which wines go best with what food, and then make sure you get the right person to share it with!

back from etiquette for proper table setting page to home page