The way you set your table creates the atmosphere for a meal. Impress your guests with a delectable fare and make it all the more appetizing with your ability to set it out across the table. Take clues from the below mentioned table-setting guidelines and play the perfect host / hostess for the Indian dinner served from the Kitchens of India.
First and foremost, inspect your table cloth, mats and napkins beforehand to make sure they are clean and do not need any washing.
Create a perfect atmosphere and turn off the television to make your guests feel important.
Make sure each of your guests get a place to sit by placing table mats, at equal distances.
Place the dinner plates at the centre of the table mats, or place the bottom of the plate two inches from the edge of the table if using a tablecloth.
Flatware should be placed evenly on either side of the plate - forks on the left, and knives and spoons on the right. The cutting edge of the knife should point towards the plate. Spoons should be kept outside of knives.
Place the napkin on the left side of the plate with the fork on top of it. Fold square napkins once to make them into rectangles and then lay them in the same direction of the utensils, with the crease next to the plate.
Maintain a distance of about half inch between each of your cutlery.
Next place the drinking glass at a gap of about two inches from the tip of the knife.
With this table setting in place you are ready to welcome your guests to a well planned and well laid feast.
However, for a more lavish and a formal occasion, the number of courses served would be more, and so would be the number of flatware required. Therefore, you need to have a different set of cutlery for each course, and lay them aptly on the dining table. Here's how you can proceed.
Starting with the salads, place the salad fork on the left side of the dinner plate and to the left of the dinner fork.
If you plan to serve the soup, place the soup spoon on the right side of the dinner plate and to the right of the dinner spoon. Place the soup bowl on the right side above the soup spoon, with the bread plate about two inches to its left, above the fork. Place the butter knife across the bread plate, at a diagonal, from upper left to lower right. Place small salad plates to the left and a little below the bread plate.
Place the dessert spoon, fork and/or knife about an inch above the dinner plate, with the handles on the right side.
The glass of water may be placed filled or left empty to be filled when the guests arrive. Ice can be added at each diner's preference.
If you plan to serve wine or any other beverage, place appropriate glasses to the right and a little below the water glass. Also make sure that the water glass is the largest of all.
You can vary your table settings through different styles of napkin folding and placement. We present you with two very simple yet impressive techniques.
Fan
Shape
Open and lay the napkin flat on the table and fold it back and forth like a fan. Press down to sharpen the creases. Place the centre in an empty water glass and open the two ends like a fan. Set the glass in its original place or at the centre of the dinner plate.
Triangle
Shape
Fold one corner of the napkin to meet its diagonally opposite corner. Similarly fold another corner to meet the diagonally opposite one. Press to sharpen the creases. Place the napkin with its corner inside an empty water glass. Or else slightly open the triangle from the base and place it directly on the dinner plate.
Go ahead and create a perfect Indian dinner setting for your guests. Good Luck!
