What will the efficient waitress always remember? To
serve a meal very quietly, not making any noise with the
dishes, and to move quietly and quickly, to be neat and
clean in person and appearance, hair properly brushed,
and finger nails clean.
When should finger bowls be used ? Always when fruit
is served. At breakfast they may be put on with a little
water in them (not ice water) before breakfast is called.
If individual portions of fruit are placed at each cover,
the finger bowl may be placed at left side just above the
Efficiency in Home Making 53
fork; if not place on fruit plate, in front of each cover
with doily between. For luncheon or dinner, they are
placed before the dessert is served, in front of each per-
son, on a plate with a doily between; each individual
removes his own with its doily to the left of his plate.
At a very formal dinner, they are placed before the black
coffee is served, after the dessert. '
When the family is through eating why is it well to
press the button twice for the maid instead of once? If
she is busy about something, or is eating her own meal,
or is not ready for her dessert, she can then wait a few
minutes undisturbed before going to the dining room.
If there is no waitress what is of great assistance? A
tea cart. Not only in bringing in the dishes and food,
and in removing them, but also in changing the courses.
Put the salad and dessert, and dishes for them, on top ;
the soiled plates can be put on lower shelf, without get-
ting up, if the housewife has the tea cart by her side.
SERVING THE COMPANY DINNER.
If dinner cards are used, where should they be placed?
On the napkins, but they should be small and simple,
just the name of the guest, or they may also have the
monogram or initials of the hostess, or a dainty little
hand painting.
How should the table be decorated? With a center-
piece, either of embroidery or lace, on which is a low
vase or bowl of flowers, and at elaborate dinners a bunch
of flowers, or a single flower may be placed at each place.
Are many courses desired at a company dinner? That
depends entirely upon the occasion, and the general style
of the establishment. It would be in very poor taste
to attempt an elaborate dinner without plenty of help to
prepare and serve it. A simple dinner, daintily served,
and every dish well selected and prepared, served at the
proper temperature, and most of all, suited to the income
of those entertaining, is vastly more enjoyable than an
elaborate one poorly cooked and badly served, or more
expensive than one can afford.
54 Efficiency in Home Making
Should the small silver or glass dishes with the relishes,
bon bons, and salted almonds, be placed on the table ? It
is proper to place them on the table, or the serving table.
Are butter plates used at a formal dinner? No; as
no butter is served at a formal dinner. Each course is
supposed to be served with its sauces.
Page 28
Presented as published in 1915. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
What will the efficient waitress always remember? To serve a meal very quietly, not making any noise with the dishes, and to move quietly and quickly, to be neat and clean in person and appearance, hair properly brushed, and finger nails clean.
When should finger bowls be used ? Always when fruit is served. At breakfast they may be put on with a little water in them (not ice water) before breakfast is called. If individual portions of fruit are placed at each cover, the finger bowl may be placed at left side just above the
Efficiency in Home Making 53
fork; if not place on fruit plate, in front of each cover with doily between. For luncheon or dinner, they are placed before the dessert is served, in front of each person, on a plate with a doily between; each individual removes his own with its doily to the left of his plate. At a very formal dinner, they are placed before the black coffee is served, after the dessert. '
When the family is through eating why is it well to press the button twice for the maid instead of once? If she is busy about something, or is eating her own meal, or is not ready for her dessert, she can then wait a few minutes undisturbed before going to the dining room.
If there is no waitress what is of great assistance? A tea cart. Not only in bringing in the dishes and food, and in removing them, but also in changing the courses. Put the salad and dessert, and dishes for them, on top ; the soiled plates can be put on lower shelf, without getting up, if the housewife has the tea cart by her side.
SERVING THE COMPANY DINNER.
If dinner cards are used, where should they be placed? On the napkins, but they should be small and simple, just the name of the guest, or they may also have the monogram or initials of the hostess, or a dainty little hand painting.
How should the table be decorated? With a centerpiece, either of embroidery or lace, on which is a low vase or bowl of flowers, and at elaborate dinners a bunch of flowers, or a single flower may be placed at each place.
Are many courses desired at a company dinner? That depends entirely upon the occasion, and the general style of the establishment. It would be in very poor taste to attempt an elaborate dinner without plenty of help to prepare and serve it. A simple dinner, daintily served, and every dish well selected and prepared, served at the proper temperature, and most of all, suited to the income of those entertaining, is vastly more enjoyable than an elaborate one poorly cooked and badly served, or more expensive than one can afford.
54 Efficiency in Home Making
Should the small silver or glass dishes with the relishes, bon bons, and salted almonds, be placed on the table ? It is proper to place them on the table, or the serving table.
Are butter plates used at a formal dinner? No; as no butter is served at a formal dinner. Each course is supposed to be served with its sauces.