Serving Styles for Parties
Depending on many factors, how you choose to serve
the food at your party will effect how the table is
set. Very formal meals call for the food to be
served in courses which insist that much of the
tableware is brought to the guests on an as-needed
basis; while less formal meals may need even fewer
dishes than the basic setting calls for. Read
through our simple explanations of serving styles
and then explore the art of decorating the table
with centerpieces.
Pre-Meal Appetizers: Appetizers and drinks may be
served in a common party area before the meal. This
option is great if a large amount of people will be
arriving. This way, people can chat and snack while
waiting for all of the guests to arrive.
The basic setting is appropriate (depending on the
formality of your party). If guests are drinking
wine during the appetizer session of the party,
remove any wine glasses from their place setting
before the meal starts -- unless a different type of
wine will be served with dinner.
Multiple Courses: This is the most formal and work
intensive of serving options. This type of meal
requires someone to serve and clear dishes for each
course.
The basic setting is appropriate to start with. As
the meal progresses, specialty silverware and
glassware should be brought to the table with the
appropriate course.
For dessert: Desserts and coffee are brought to the
table (along with appropriate dishes and silverware)
and guests are served while seated.
Buffet: This is a rather informal option that's
great when the dinner table will not hold all of the
serving dishes and place settings comfortably. All
of the dishes are arranged on a table separate from
the dinner table and guests are invited to serve
themselves.
A basic setting is appropriate, including all of the
dishes you will be serving; or the table can be set
completely without the dinner plates. Or, if you
choose this option, stack the plates neatly on the
buffet table.
For dessert: Desserts are organized on a dessert
table along with dessert plates and silverware.
Guests serve themselves and are invited to sit at
the table or mingle while eating. When you are ready
to lay out the desserts: Set napkins and silverware
on the dining table, along with sugar and cream for
the coffee or tea.
Course-Buffet Combo: If the table will not hold all
of the serving dishes comfortably on the table but
you would like a somewhat formal meal, this is a
graceful solution. All of the dishes make their
first appearance on the dinner table and are placed
on a separate buffet table for the guests to serve
themselves seconds at their own leisure.
The basic setting is appropriate.
The Magic of Centerpieces
Taking time to make your dinner table festive is one
of those special hostess touches that effect the
evening more than you might expect. Decorated tables
center the gathering by capturing the guests
attention as they sit down and causing them to enter
another, more intimate, space.
Centerpieces can be as large, small, complex or
simple as you wish. Don't get too extravagant,
though. Your guests' views of each other should
never be infringed upon by decorations. Also realize
that centerpieces will take up what might be
precious space on your table, so decorate according
to how much other stuff (dishes, condiments, wine,
etc) you intend to keep on the table. Centerpieces
can be made of almost anything. Flowers are
extremely common, but when your party will have a
theme, it is always appropriate to decorate
accordingly. Christmas ornaments can be placed in
the centerpiece, as can a cornucopia (common for
Thanksgiving or harvest feasts), and American flags
for Independence Day. Time, table space and expense
are your only limits, so let your creativity run
wild!
Tammy Weisberger |