How To Properly Set Your Table For Your Thanksgiving Meal
When it comes to a special event like Thanksgiving Dinner in your restaurant, you want to make the right impression. One of the key ways you can do this is to set the table properly. Of course how you set the table will depend on the style of your restaurant. A buffet style will have a different set-up than a sit-down restaurant. For the sake of this, we are assuming that you have a sit-down establishment that is considered to be of higher class. Your goal is to impress your customers with more than just your food. You want them to have the entire package when they visit your restaurant and Thanksgiving Day is no exception.
A nice place setting says a lot to the customer. It shows them that you value style, quality and class. It also lets them know that you are well versed in the proper etiquette. When setting a table you should remember that everything has its place and that is what is makes it important. This is a uniform style that restaurants around the world take advantage of. Once you know the proper place for every item you can train your staff and then setting the table will be made simple.
Every place setting begins with the plate. It should always be in the center of the setting and everything else will be placed around it. Knives and spoons are always placed to the right of the plate while the forks and napkins are on the left. Plural is used because there are a variety of spoons, knives and forks that can accompany each meal. If you are serving bread, the plate should be placed to the left of the main plate. Soups should in a bowl sitting atop the main plate.
One thing that many people fail to remember when creating a place setting is the centerpiece. Often this is what sets each place apart and makes them unique. The place setting itself is uniform from restaurant to restaurant. It is what you include with it that will make you stand out. For a Thanksgiving Dinner you will want to find a centerpiece that is seasonal while still being quite attractive. Some great ideas are flower arrangements, gourds and even candles. You will easily find the right centerpiece and it will showcase the hard work that you placed into your table settings.
While the right table settings do not work for every style of restaurant, if you have an upscale establishment it is imperative that you utilize them. This is even more true when it comes to Thanksgiving Dinner. Your customers will expect this and you should be able to give it to them. It may seem difficult to remember in the beginning, but after working with table settings for a little while it will become much simpler to remember and master. Even your staff will soon be able to set the table properly in a matter of minutes.
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