There's that wonderful moment when the table is set, the silver gleams, glasses shimmer, candlewicks stand straight, plates are poised, and the flowers idle at their freshest, delighted to have been picked for this party.  It's called anticipation - a moment that's as wonderfully delightful as the event itself.  Savor this private moment as you set the table!

Sep 7, 2007 - Kelly Packer & Brandon Fisher
Sep 8, 2007 - Jane Klocke & Jace Woodley
Nov 10, 2007 - Kim Drennan & Brett Schilling
Nov 10, 2007 - Anna North & Jon Harkin
Nov 24, 2007 - Manisha Gadia & Ravi Bewtra
Dec 29, 2007 - Crystal Houge & Dana Brugman

Food has always brought people together.  Holiday parties, family gatherings, birthdays, and fond memories are all celebrated at the table.  Experiencing the joys of those special meals involves more than just the food; it's also the ambience that invites us to relax, reflect, and nurture our communal spirits as well as our bodies.

It all begins with setting the table.  From elevation of an everyday supper meal, to the most special of occasions, choose a style of dining for enhancing:

Informal Gatherings - Gather a few close friends, try some new recipes, fashion a creative table setting, and let the good times roll.  Centralized serving dishes encourage guests to congregate nearby while mixing tastes and stories.

Dinner Parties - After a summertime full of casual eating, blend your creative forces with your organizational skills and plan a more formal occasion.  From the details of counting out the dishware, polishing the silver, and unfolding the tablecloth, to the selection of serving accessories, the evening's composition evolves and emerges.

Everyday Mealtimes - If the family is too starved to wait for a centerpiece, everyday meals can still be made special with colorful placemats and dishware set invitingly for a calm moment.

Once the context is set, serving styles will also help to define the event:

Family Style - With this informal style, diners serve themselves from bowls and platters passed around the table. Food makes its way around the table in a counter-clock motion; dishes always moving to the right.

Buffet Style - Separate from the eating table, the spread is laid out as one sumptuous feast.  Warming trays, chafing dishes, and ice beds will keep "Hot foods hot, and cold foods cold."  This style of serving works well for larger groups or when entertaining in small spaces.

Plated Style - A more formal style, the food is arranged on the plate and brought to seated diners.  The old rule stated, "Serve from the left, take from the right," but this may vary slightly in different situations.  The overriding rule is to serve in the least obtrusive manner.  Always pour drinks from the right of the guest.

Table etiquette - It's one of those things enjoyed silently when present, but glares embarrassingly when it's not.  Slurping soup from a spoon, scooping your hand into a communal dish, or dipping fingers in a cleansing bowl, are all appropriate ways to eat, as long as you're in the right country!  While etiquette varies with the culture, some practical tips will help provide confidence when setting the table, dining with your family, or partaking at a lavish dinner party:

• When setting the table, center the dinner plates, place forks to the left, knives and spoons to the right.  The cutting edge of the knife faces toward the plate.  
• For successive courses, utensils should be used from the outside of the setting to the inside.  
• Place used utensils on your finished plate parallel with each other at the four o'clock to ten o'clock position.  Any utensils necessary for dessert will arrive with the dish when served.
• If a knife is used to cut food into smaller pieces, cut only one or two bites at a time. 
• If you need to step away during a meal, fold your napkin informally and place it to the left of your place setting.  Alternatively, you may place the napkin on your chair, but not if the napkin is soiled.
• "Keep your elbows off the table!" "Sit up straight!" Your mother was right!
• When in doubt, follow the lead of your host and hostess.

Linens lay the foundation for a wonderful dining experience.  A table adorned with a beautiful tablecloth, runner, or placemat helps distinguish the formality of a meal.  Whether it's crisp white linen or cotton splashed with autumn colors, each sets the stage.

A great looking table is marked by neatness and balance.  Start with a beautiful center arrangement, positioned on the table such that each place setting is a similar distance away.  Each component in the place setting demands impeccable placement and alignment with each place setting similarly ordered to the next; symmetry reigns.

Place settings vary by occasion and menu, and the accompanying diagrams illustrate standard ways to set the table for casual, informal or formal events.

Tip #1:  Impress your guests with exotic napkin folds; this task can be accomplished days in advance. Check out the step-by-step instructions for 27 designs at napkinfolding.com.

Tip #2: Set the table with linens, flatware, dinnerware and glassware a day in advance.  Cover the entire table with a lint-free, clean, white sheet, or an older tablecloth to prevent dust and pets from intruding on the pending party.   

Q:  What is a plate charger?
A:  A charger is a large plate that acts as a place holder and platform for the different dinner courses at a formal meal.  The soup course, salad course, etc., are placed on top of the charger.  Chargers are a great way to add color and sophistication to a formal table and are removed with the plate before the dessert course is served.

Q:  Bones, pits, and "oddities" sometimes land in our mouths during a meal.  How does one finesse their removal?
A:  The rule of thumb is "how it went in, is the same way it should come out."  So if a salad olive has a pit, it may be removed from your mouth onto your fork and placed back onto the salad plate.  If the piece of food has been chewed, discreetly dispose of it in your napkin.

Q:  What does the 18/10 notation on my stainless steel silverware refer to?
A:  The "18" corresponds to the percentage of chromium and "10" to the percentage of nickel.  This ratio represents the finest grade of stainless flatware.  In order to be classified as stainless steel, it must contain at least 10.5% chromium.  Both metals aid in the prevention of corrosion while nickel contributes to luster and hardness.

Q:  How can I remove candle wax from my tablecloth?
A:  While lit candles look great and establish ambience, wax drippings are not the least bit romantic.  Prevention is the best angle, but if candle wax does manage to get on the tablecloth or placemat, grab an ice pack, a credit card, an iron, and 2-6 brown paper bags or kraft paper.  Place the ice pack directly on the wax to freeze it; this will make the wax brittle and easier to break away.  Any remaining wax may be removed by gently scraping with a credit card or a dull butter knife.  With the excess removed, place one bag under the linen and the other on top.  With the heat set on low, iron the bag and slowly move it around.  The heat will transfer the remaining wax onto the bag.  Replace bags as needed and continue until all remaining traces of the wax residue are removed.