Where should the forks be placed ? Knives are held in the
right hand and forks in the left during the process of cutting.
Therefore, for convenience, a fork that is to be used with a knife is
placed at the left of the plate. In eating such breakfast foods as
an omelet, however, we use the fork in our right hand. If we
carry out the rule of placing silver used in the right hand at the
right of the plate and that used in the left hand, at the left of the
plate, we should place some forks at the left and some at the right
of the plate. When a knife is needed in eating a meal it is cus-
tomary to place all forks at the left of the plate without considering
in which hand they are to be used. If more than one kind
of fork is used, the forks should be placed in the order of their
use — the fork which is used first should be placed farthest to
the left. In case the menu requires no knife, a fork may be
placed at the right of the plate, thus taking the place of the
knife.
Where should the tumblers and bread and butter plates be
placed ? Each person at the dining table should have a glass of
water. The tumbler is held with the right hand. It is therefore
placed on the right side of the plate at the tip of the knife.
Since bread is served at almost all meals, it is customary to
give each person a small plate on which the bread and butter are
placed. This small plate is called the bread and butter plate; it is
placed at the tip of the fork. Sometimes a small knife with a wide,
dull blade, called a butter spreader, is used to spread butter on
the bread. (See Figure 35.) This knife is usually laid on top of
the bread and butter plate.
I IO
Breakfast
Figure 35. A Butter Spreader
Individual knives are used for
spreading butter on bread or
crackers. Butter spreaders may-
be used for placing cream cheese
or marmalade on bread. (Do
not spread these foods on bread.)
A butter spreader placed on a
bread and butter plate parallel
with the edge of the table is easily
grasped with the right hand.
Where should the napkin be
placed? Possibly because more
articles are placed at the right of
the plate than at the left, the
napkin is often placed at the left,
beyond the forks.
For formal meals, the napkin
may be placed on the plate.
What is a cover? We some-
times hear it said that a table is
set for a certain number of covers,
six covers, for example. What is a
cover ? A cover is the linen, glass-
ware, silver, and china that are
placed on the table for each person.
(See Figure 36.)
Most dining tables may be
lengthened or shortened by adding
or removing boards. In deciding
how long a dining table should be
think of the number to be seated
at the table. Then allow from
twenty to twenty-four inches for
each person. The dining table is
usually placed in the center of the
dining room, so that covers may
be placed on all sides of the table.
If there is an even number of per-
sons to be seated at the table, the
same number of covers should be
placed on each side of the table.
How many dishes and what
pieces of silver should be placed
at each cover? The number of
A Breakfast Menu — Setting the Table hi
Page 61
Presented as published in 1928. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
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Where should the forks be placed ? Knives are held in the
right hand and forks in the left during the process of cutting.
Therefore, for convenience, a fork that is to be used with a knife is
placed at the left of the plate. In eating such breakfast foods as
an omelet, however, we use the fork in our right hand. If we
carry out the rule of placing silver used in the right hand at the
right of the plate and that used in the left hand, at the left of the
plate, we should place some forks at the left and some at the right
of the plate. When a knife is needed in eating a meal it is cus-
tomary to place all forks at the left of the plate without considering
in which hand they are to be used. If more than one kind
of fork is used, the forks should be placed in the order of their
use — the fork which is used first should be placed farthest to
the left. In case the menu requires no knife, a fork may be
placed at the right of the plate, thus taking the place of the
knife.
Where should the tumblers and bread and butter plates be
placed ? Each person at the dining table should have a glass of
water. The tumbler is held with the right hand. It is therefore
placed on the right side of the plate at the tip of the knife.
Since bread is served at almost all meals, it is customary to
give each person a small plate on which the bread and butter are
placed. This small plate is called the bread and butter plate; it is
placed at the tip of the fork. Sometimes a small knife with a wide,
dull blade, called a butter spreader, is used to spread butter on
the bread. (See Figure 35.) This knife is usually laid on top of
the bread and butter plate.
I IO
Breakfast
Figure 35. A Butter Spreader
Individual knives are used for
spreading butter on bread or
crackers. Butter spreaders may-
be used for placing cream cheese
or marmalade on bread. (Do
not spread these foods on bread.)
A butter spreader placed on a
bread and butter plate parallel
with the edge of the table is easily
grasped with the right hand.
Where should the napkin be
placed? Possibly because more
articles are placed at the right of
the plate than at the left, the
napkin is often placed at the left,
beyond the forks.
For formal meals, the napkin
may be placed on the plate.
What is a cover? We some-
times hear it said that a table is
set for a certain number of covers,
six covers, for example. What is a
cover ? A cover is the linen, glass-
ware, silver, and china that are
placed on the table for each person.
(See Figure 36.)
Most dining tables may be
lengthened or shortened by adding
or removing boards. In deciding
how long a dining table should be
think of the number to be seated
at the table. Then allow from
twenty to twenty-four inches for
each person. The dining table is
usually placed in the center of the
dining room, so that covers may
be placed on all sides of the table.
If there is an even number of per-
sons to be seated at the table, the
same number of covers should be
placed on each side of the table.
How many dishes and what
pieces of silver should be placed
at each cover? The number of
A Breakfast Menu — Setting the Table hi