How to Set a Table for a Seven-Course Meal
- 1). Cover the table with a tablecloth for a formal look. Add place mats to designate each place setting if desired.
- 2). Place a charger -- a large plate that often contains a decorative border -- at the center of each place setting.
- 3). Fold a napkin, or insert it into a napkin ring. Place the napkin in the center of the charger.
- 4). Place three forks to the left of the plate. Place the fish fork, a medium-sized fork, on the outside; place the main course fork, the largest fork, in the middle; place the salad fork, the smallest fork, in the position closest to the charger. Keep in mind that guests will use their flatware beginning with the outermost piece; rearrange the order of the forks if your meal involves a spin on the traditional courses.
- 5). Place two knives and a soup spoon to the right of the plate. Place the dinner knife closest to the plate, the fish knife next and the soup spoon in the outermost position.
- 6). Place a water goblet directly above the dinner knife. Set a white wine glass next to it and a red glass above the white wine glass and slightly to its left, forming a triangle.
- 7). Place a bread plate above the forks, to the left of the charger. Place a butter knife across the bread plate.
- 8). Place a dessert fork with its tines facing toward the right, directly above the charger. Place a dessert spoon with its bowl facing left, directly above the dessert fork.
- 9). Remove the chargers when all the guests have placed their napkin on their lap. Replace them with the dishes for the first course, which is traditionally soup. Serve the soup in the soup bowl on top of a dinner plate. Remove the bowls, plates and soup spoons when everyone completes this course.
- 10
Use a mid-sized plate for the fish course. Remove it with the fish fork and knife when everyone is finished. Serve the palette cleanser, normally a sorbet, in a small dish on top of a plate, with a dessert spoon. Remove these when everyone completes the course. Serve the main course on a full-sized dinner plate. Replace the plate and flatware for this course with salad on a small salad plate. Remove the salad plate and utensils along with the bread plate and bread knife and both wine glasses to set the table for dessert. - 11
Serve dessert on a small dessert plate. Place a teacup and saucer to the right of the dessert plate. Place a teaspoon beside the cup and saucer.
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