Firstly, we need to understand the different cutlery and their placement. The cutlery comprises of a fork, knife, and spoon. A formal table setting includes other items such as salad forks, oyster forks, dessert spoons, and coffee spoons. The cutlery should be placed at the correct position where the person seated feels comfortable using it.
Starting from the left side, the first piece of cutlery should be the fork. The fork should be placed with the tines facing up. To the right of the fork should be a dinner knife with the sharp edge facing the plate. If there is a need for a salad knife, it is placed to the right of the dinner knife. In a formal setting, the oyster fork is kept to the right of the dinner fork. The soup spoon is placed on the right of the knife. If a dessert is part of the meal, the dessert spoon and fork should be placed above the plate, horizontally. The spoon should be placed with the handle on the right side and the fork on the left.
When placing the cutlery, it is important to note that the cutlery should be placed in the order of use. The bread and butter knife should always be placed above the plate, with the blade pointing inwards. If the meal is soup-based, a soup bowl should be kept on the plate with the soup spoon on the right of the knife. When the soup is over, the soup spoon should be taken away and the bowl removed, following which the main course should be served.
It is essential to understand the place setting for different types of meals. For a formal dinner, a charger or a service plate is placed in the center. The guest then places their dinner plate or soup bowl on the charger. The cutlery should be placed accordingly to the setting around the charger.
A casual meal setting involves minimalistic cutlery requirements. The knife and fork should be placed to the left and right of the plate, and the dessert spoon and fork should be placed horizontally at the top of the plate.
Apart from the formal and casual setting, there is also an informal place setting. An informal setting comprises similar cutlery placements as a casual setting with the addition of a salad fork.
The placement of cutlery should never be overcrowded or distracting. The presentation of the table should be as natural as possible, and the cutlery should be placed and arranged in an orderly manner. The cutlery should be kept and polished to complement the presentation of the table.
In conclusion, the placement of cutlery is an essential aspect of table setting. The proper arrangement of cutlery ensures the comfort and convenience of the guests. By keeping in mind the necessary guidelines, the presentation of the meals can be significantly enhanced. A well-set table not only elevates the ambiance of the occasion but also reflects on the effort and thoughtfulness invested by the host.