The quick, upbeat rhythm of modern life has shed its light on all our life aspects as Americans, especially on how we eat and how we prepare food. Junk food is dominating the food market, and “eating fast” is the new approach.
On the other side, the Europeans did not let go of their eating traditions. They love a good meal, and they’d take their time to savor it. The dining etiquette and the European table setting style are a big part of that.
Who won’t admit to fancying a luxurious dinner in a European restaurant where you can eat and feel good? Well, why not do it at home?
Whether you’re hosting a formal event or just want to impress your guests, a European dinner table setting is the way to go. It’s elegant, sophisticated, and functional. Above all, it’s super easy to assemble!
Today, we’re going to tell you all about the European dinner table setting, alongside some tips and tricks on the key differences between the American and European dining styles.
How to Set Your European Dinner Table – A Step by Step Guide
Gather your plates, napkins, glasses, and silverware. Yes, you’re ready.
Tablecloth
Let’s start with the basics. An appropriate tablecloth is the first thing to lay on your dinner table. You’re free to choose whatever you want as long as it complements the room’s decorations, tableware, and centerpiece if any.
Europeans usually go for simple linen tablecloths. Something plain and neutral to go with everything and to which you can match a napkin easily. Yet, there are some elegant designs that you go for without breaking the allure of the European dining table.
Here are a few impressive picks available online.
Maxmill Flaxy Faux Linen Tablecloth
A minimalistic textured tablecloth that features two subtle shades of color to break the monotony of a plain tablecloth. It’s available in four shades -which are all variations of grey and beige- and six different sizes.
The texture gives a luxurious impression, and it feels soft as well. Lucky for you, this tablecloth is machine washable!
DII Everyday French Stripe Tablecloth
You can dive knee-deep into the world of European dining etiquette by embracing the french traditions, and this tablecloth is your starting point!
This tablecloth is made of 100% cotton, and it features woven blue nautical stripes at the edges, paying tribute to the classic French style.
We love the fact that this French style is timeless, so this is not an item that’ll be considered old fashioned after a couple of uses. Plus, it’s available in a bunch of colors and pattern variations. There’s the French stripe collection, the checker collection, the chambray, and other patterned versions. You ought to find something you love here!
Pro-Tip
A clever tip we’d like to give you is to double cover your table. Start with placing a thick cotton tablecloth on the table, then cover it with your primary tablecloth. This will absorb the sound of silverware, and it’ll be more comfortable for your guests to lay their elbows on.
Plates
In front of each seat, center a serving plate. The base is a serving plate. Its only function is to be a base for other food plates. You should not place food on the serving plate, but rather place other plates above it and exchange them along the meal course.
Then, you place the first dish above the serving plate. If the first plate will be already served when the guests are seated, place the napkin on the dish’s right side. If not, fold the napkin and put it on the top plate.
In front of the place, you should place a small spoon as opposed to a small fork. The spoon is for coffee/tea, and the fork is for dessert. Place them in a manner where the spoon’s bowel is facing left, and the fork’s head faces right. Needless to say, you should place these horizontally.
The Plate’s Right Side
Knives go to the right side of the plate, their toothed edge facing the plate itself. The meat course knife is the most important. Ideally, you should place a smaller salad course knife on its left side and a fish course one on its right side.
Spoons come next. Actually, you only need one main big soup spoon on the right side of the knives. If you’ll be serving another round spoon for eating, place it next to it, on the outside. Then, add the seafood knife, if any.
If you’ll be serving tea or coffee, you should put the teacup on its small platter in the right corner, somewhere between the knives/ spoons and the glasses.
The Plate’s Left Side
This is where the forks go. Just like the knives, you start with a salad’s fork, followed by a meat course’s fork, then a fish course’s fork.
If you intend to be a little bit extra, you can place a small flatbread dish at the upper left corner, alongside a butter’s knife. Leave someplace for the breadbasket itself.
Glasses
When it comes to the glasses, you shall put them starting at the top right corner of every dish.
The glass of water should be the nearest to the dishes, followed by wine glass(es). If you’ll be serving white and red wine. Then place the red wine after water, followed by the white.
If you have more glasses, try to place them at a distance from these. In case you have the space for that.
Napkins
Don’t overdo it. Just fold the napkin as your skill level allows you. A simple square or triangle will do just fine, and if done right, they can create nice volume.
As we said before, the best practice is to place the napkin on your guests’ plates’ if the plate is served full, the French love to fold a napkin and put it in the biggest glass.
Table Manners and Dining Styles – The European Way
While table manners and dining etiquette vary widely across different nations, the American and European ways aren’t that different. In fact, they have a lot in common. Yet, Europeans are significantly more strict with their table manners than Americans.
No resting elbows on the table, no rocking your chair on its two back legs, and you should definitely not switch the fork and the knife’s positions. The left hand is for the fork; the right hand is for the knife. This last one is known to be the continental style, a European style that exudes grace and sophistication.
Among other principles of this style is that the spoon and the fork never go together. It’s either the fork with the knife or the spoon alone for soup. The only exception is during dessert. You might want to use a spoon with a fork for that.
We established that not switching the fork and knife in your hands is a pillar in the continental style. “What shall I do with my hands then?” you might ask. Well, you should place your knife and fork crossed in your plate in between the bites. When you’re done, rest them in a diagonal figure on the plate parallel to each other, roughly pointing to four o’clock. The knife should be on the outside, with its blunt edge facing outwards.
During the whole meal, you should never ever let your eating utensils off your plate. They’re not to touch the table. Remember how valuable the tablecloth to this setting is? Also, do you remember how pale and simple this tablecloth was? We don’t want to ruin that.
Off we go to the napkin etiquette. The napkin has one purpose only that is to dab your mouth clean during and/or after eating. You’re not supposed to use it to wipe your mouth, and definitely not your hands. After you finish eating, you should leave it unfolded to your left side of the table.
Did you know that salt and pepper should be passed together across the table? Even if the person asked only for one of them?
Wrap Up
Having a proper extravagant European dinner every once in a while is never a bad idea. You change the room’s mood, radiate elegance, and impress your guests. More importantly, you indulge in a whole different experience. What’s not to love about that?
Don’t think of it as a challenge, but rather a skill. If you know what to do, you’ll be fine, and supposedly you’ve learned everything from this guide.
Go ahead and try out the European dinner table setting with your guests or on holidays with your family. Tell us how it goes in the comment section.
Bon Appetit!
