There I was as an 8-year-old girl standing by the beautiful dinner table set by my grandmother. Questionably, I looked at the dessert cutlery in my hands. “Does the fork go left or right?”
I can still hear my grandmother saying it to me…. “Fleur, the fork handle is pointing toward the left and the spoon sits above the fork with its handle facing to the right” Despite the fact that setting the table was instilled in me, I often still look up this rule. Do you sometimes wonder how to properly set a table? Here are a few tips to get your table setting game up to par. Naturally, we’ll do this in Bunzlau Castle style.
When you think of table etiquette, you often think of it as chic and you may even find it a bit stuffy. Nowadays, it’s all allowed to be more playful. Still, it’s nice to master the basics of table etiquette. This way your lovingly prepared meal can shine on the dinner table along with your beautiful dinnerware.
Setting the table – where to start?
Your dinnerware is one of the show stoppers! Start with pretty table linens and underplates, I often use large pizza plates for this. On top of the bottom plate, place the plates for the main course, appetizer, and the soup (if needed) from large to small. Basically, you make a stack of plates in the order of the menu. Are you also serving bread rolls? Then place an even smaller plate with a butter knife at the top left.
Etiquette cutlery – How should the cutlery be placed?
Have you ever Googled: How to set cutlery? Then here’s your answer. The cutlery order is as follows: You work from the outside in according to the order of the menu. The outer cutlery is for the first course. Place the forks on the left, the knives and spoons on the right. Make sure the cutting side of the blades are pointing inward. Place the cutlery for dessert above the plates. The spoon points to the left and the fork to the right.
The glassware
You place three glasses right above the plates. Place the glasses in a triangle with the water glass at the bottom left, the red wine glass at the top and the white wine glass at the bottom right.
And then my favourite… styling… a nicely folded napkin on or to the left of the plate. Add a flower or other beautiful decoration in the same colour shades if necessary. I usually go for clean and simple. Important! That beautifully set table is great, of course, but above all, enjoy each other and the delicious meal.
Tip: Save this picture as a cheat sheet! Then you’ll always have an example at hand.
This blog is written by Fleur @liefsvanfleur
