Tableware: types and purpose

A beautiful table setting is a kind of visiting card of any hospitable hosts. Many women have thought more than once about how to properly set the table, as well as what dishes, cutlery and napkins to use. It is quite easy to get confused, because not everyone knows the purpose of certain items on the table. About what kind of dishes to choose for a beautiful table setting and what items to place on it, you will learn in more detail in this article.

Beautiful and high-quality table setting is always a manifestation of respect for guests who come to any event or holiday. Serving primarily depends on the occasion for which the celebration is planned. It is from this that one should proceed in the choice of tablecloths, napkins and appropriate dishes.

To date, you can find a lot of different table setting schemes that will help you easily organize a gala evening without resorting to the help of specialists.

The essential items of table setting are the following elements:

• plates (they may have different names, this includes plates for first and second courses, a bowl, bowls and some others);
• cutlery (different types of forks, spoons and knives for different dishes);
• glasses, stemmed glasses, glasses;
• napkin holders, gravy bowls, bread boxes, jugs;
• multi-tiered fruit racks, as well as rotating dishes;
• trays;
• triple universal dishes;
• various decorative elements for decorating the festive table (candlesticks, flower vases, napkin rings).

Modern housewives have a fairly large selection in the selection of the necessary utensils. The most relevant plate sizes are medium options. As a rule, large plates are chosen for salads, desserts or cuts.

If you want to add a touch of something unusual and elegant to the festive table, be sure to take a closer look at the square plates.

Classic oval plates will never spoil the table, as they are always in fashion, and sets with such products are in great demand in the corresponding stores.

The sizes of plates for serving this or that food may vary. As for the options for first courses, their depth and size may also depend on the dish served. For example, for soups and hodgepodges, wide plates are most often selected, but not very deep ones.But for light broths and cream soups, it is advisable to choose something like bowls, they can be with or without handles.

In modern conditions, the most successful solution may be the acquisition of the so-called service. The table is most favorably emphasized by plates selected in the same style and made from the same material.

Basically, ready-made sets are made of ceramics, porcelain, faience and glass. Glassware looks especially beautiful not only in transparent, but also in dark colors.

A table served with dishes of various shapes, decors and colors will certainly not put the hosts in a favorable light, so do not neglect this moment.

For serving dinner parties and important events, snow-white faience dishes are always a winning option, because they never spoil the festive tables.

To properly organize the table setting, it is necessary to follow certain steps so that everything goes perfectly. We recommend that you pay attention to the detailed instructions, which will definitely come in handy when setting the festive table.

The first and main step can be considered spreading the tablecloth. Its overhang from the table should not exceed twenty to thirty centimeters. The color of the tablecloth often depends on the occasion of the celebration, but white and milky tablecloths are considered classic options. Just remember that they are harder to wash after the holidays, so do not forget to provide guests with the right amount of napkins.

The tablecloth can be safely supplemented with decorative paths or special underplates.Such elements can be made from both fabric and special paper.

After the tablecloth is spread out and smoothed, you should start laying out all types of plates. The number of plates will depend on the menu that will be offered to guests. However, the classic serving for one person includes the following types of dishes:

• a stand plate, also called a serving plate;
• a medium-sized plate for snacks and sometimes a small plate called a "pie";
• if the first course will be served, then a deep plate is required.

As for the direct placement, either a snack plate or a deep plate is placed on the stand plate. As a rule, salad and dessert plates are placed to the left of the main ones. A small bowl can also be located here.

Cutlery is placed on the sides of the plates and always according to the number of meals:

• according to the classical rules, knives and spoons are placed on the right side;
• on the left are forks for various dishes;
• sometimes a teaspoon is placed on top.

Often in restaurants, several different knives are served on the table (for cutting meat, salad options and for fish), several forks and spoons, but as for table setting at home, it is enough to use one such item per person.

To the right of the plates are placed glasses for wine, vermouth and champagne, wine glasses, glasses, shot glasses and glasses for water.All glasses are placed from largest to smallest. Often, all the glasses from the sideboard are not displayed on the table for each person - one or two will be enough.

As already mentioned, both textile and paper napkins must be present on the table. They should be selected based on the overall design of the table.

You can decorate the festive table as soon as your heart desires. To do this, flowers in beautiful vases, and candles, and even napkins, from which beautiful figurines for the table are often made, can also be used. The decor of the table depends on the theme of the holiday. New Year's serving can be easily supplemented with cones, sprigs of spruce, bows and candles. For a Halloween celebration, pumpkins with candles can be placed on the table.

Of course, at home, rarely does anyone adhere to strict rules, but it is recommended to serve dishes in the following order:

• first, guests should enjoy snacks (it can be both cold and hot treats);
• then the first hot dishes are most often served (borscht, hodgepodge, fish soup);
• then - the second: fish with a side dish or meat can be served here;
• sometimes fish dishes are served first, and then meat dishes;
• and, at the end of the holiday, desserts are served.

To create a stylish and beautiful table at home, you can pay attention to the already ready-made table designs, which are presented in a huge variety on the Internet.

• Be sure to pay attention to the table setting with plates and patterns in a contrasting color.Dishes can be arranged on a white embroidered napkin. Such a trendy country-style serving can complement not only a festive dinner, but also, for example, a holiday on the occasion of Christmas.

• Very often, the classic serving rules are replaced by the great imagination of the designer, as a result of which the cutlery is placed on top of the plate. They can be folded into a special decorative pocket or tied with a ribbon.

How to properly set the table, see the following video.