Are you ready for Thanksgiving Dinner?
October has come and gone, our 2008 presidential election has taken place, and before you know it we’ll be sitting down to enjoy our Thanksgiving dinner. If dinner will be taking place at your home, then it’s a good idea to begin thinking about the menu now and taking a good look at your tableware and kitchenware collection to make sure you have everything you need.
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.
The center of the place setting is marked by the location of the dinner plate, and each setting should be allotted about 30 inches of space. Knives and spoons are placed to the right side of the plats, turning the sharp edge into the plate, and your forks are on the left of the plate. If you’re including a bread plate for the guest, you can place it towards the left side 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.
