Getting Ready for the Holiday Dinner
Halloween has come and gone, we’ve made it through another big election, and Thanksgiving is now just weeks away. Now is a good time to begin planning what you’ll be serving, who you’ll be entertaining, and evaluating your kitchenware and tableware situation.
A lot of hosts and hostesses like to plan a big, fancy dinner – preparing their table with the best they own, such as quality linens, their best dinnerware, silver and crystal glassware. Many others enjoy a more effortless dinner, with their guests bringing their favorite potluck dishes and the table set with casual dinnerware and simple holiday touches. Whatever your personal preference, some basic table setting guidelines will help make your holiday dinner table look wonderfully complete.
There are a lot of different versions when it comes to setting the table. For instance, if you’re serving both red and white wines, it’s nice to have different glasses but not necessary, especially if space is a consideration. It’s also recommended that you include a water glass for each guest as well. Place the wineglass just above the knife with the water glass just above the wineglass on a diagonal towards the center of the plate.
With the plate denoting the center of each place setting, try to allow for about 20 inches of space for each guest if you can. You’ll want to put the spoons and knives on the right-hand side of the plate, sharp edge turned towards the plate, with the forks placed on the left side. If you’re planning on adding bread plates, these are generally situated above and to the left of the fork.
When it comes to the seating of the guests, tradition generally calls for the “boy-girl-boy-girl” arrangement. This rule isn’t always easy to follow, but it’s something fun to keep in mind if you would like to pre-arrange where your guests will sit. You can even create festive and simple place cards or decorations to place at each setting, which will jazz up your holiday table even more.
Mostly, just keep in mind how much smoother your holiday gatherings will go it you handle the smaller details days or weeks in advance. As soon as you can, tally up the guest list and figure out the holiday menu in advance so you can purchase various ingredients ahead of time. You might want to pad the menu amounts to allow for some last minute guests. At the very least there will be some delicious leftovers to enjoy after the holiday. Take a little time now to shine up your silverware and glasses. Take a good look at the state of your serving bowls and dinner dishes to make sure you have the right quantity and sets to complete your table without it looking too mix and match for your holiday table.
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