Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table ®

For those of you who really never gave the pecking order of silverware placement a second, or  even a first thought .   .   . I’ve decided .    .    . yes, yes, me. What .   .   . who else is going to decide?  .   .   . I’m it .   .   . just me !!! Soooo without further chit-chat as to who gets to pick what .   .   . I have picked today’s subject .   .   . silverware placement .   .   . no more dragging your feet or dilly-dallying around .   .   . it’s time to get back to table setting basics!

This lesson .   .   . Oooooppps! .   .   . I mean refresher course will be quick, and painless! I promise .   .   . honest.

It has always been quite surprising to me, to go to the home of what I believe are relatively educated, and well traveled people, only to find out that their table settings are either incomplete, incorrect, or worse yet .   .   .  set with more silverware then there are courses being served!!!

Now here is how the pecking order of eating utensils should go .   .   .  You’ve got your dinner fork closest to the left of your plate, and the salad fork left of your dinner fork. When serving dessert that requires a fork, but no salad is being served, reverse the position (dinner on the outside, then dessert closest to the plate). If serving salad, and dessert, each needing a smaller fork, here is what I suggest, and use. The second small fork be put just above the dinner plate, tongs facing down.*

Knife closest to the right side of your plate, with knife edge always facing in toward the plate, and soup spoon to the right of the knife when serving soup for dinner. If serving soup, and dessert, place smaller spoon closest to plate, next the knife*, and then soup spoon farthest from the right side of the plate.
A teaspoon will also be needed when serving coffee or tea. So as not to over load the table, or guests, I put my teaspoon on the table, at the top of the dinner plate, along with a dessert  fork if needed.

*When putting silverware directly on the table without a cloth or place mat, I usually place silverware tongs, and spoon rims facing down, so that they don’t rock, and roll. The second benefit  to putting your desert fork/spoon, and tea spoon above the dinner plate, tongs facing down, is so that it acts as a gentle reminder that .   .   . hello uh ha .   .   . your in the wrong pew, hands off, not yet, mm mm, patience .   .   . these two, or three pieces of cutlery are not being used during the first courses!

O K .   .   . everyone stay calm .   .   . close your eyes for a second, and envision me rolling my eyes as I hear rumblings of .   .   . I already knew all of the above. Well perhaps some of you did.  But .   .   .

I’ll  bet that there are many of you out there, that have taken notes !!!

Til next time .   .   .

MORE CANDLE TIPS NEXT TIME

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the popular Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and…

I WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS and QUESTIONS  .   .   . sharons3@me.com

Shop on line @http://www.shop.tableofferings.com for one-of -a-kind finds for your tablescape and home decor.