Art of the table and the art of entertaining
Physical and digital products at the service of gastronomy and the art of living...
L’art de la table est intimement lié à la gastronomie. Cet art instaure la convivialité, le partage, la communication et le confort. L’art de la table privilégie l’ésthetique, les couleurs et la comodité.
L’art de la table va reposer sur 6 éléments physiques essentiels:
- Cutlery
- Plates
- The tablecloths
- Towels
- Les verres
- La décoration
The art of the table
The arts of the table are practices associated with communal eating, arrangement and presentation, service, decoration and food. This being said, the art of the table is a disappearing art. It is important to review the practices and codes to maintain this art and pass it on to the next generation.
When preparing a table for a dinner party, the first thing to do is to set the plates. You should also make sure that all the cutlery is in order and ready to use.
- Place a plate in the middle of each place setting.
- Put a soup bowl on each side of the plate.
- Place a salad plate on either side of each soup bowl perpendicular to it.
- Place a bread plate on either side of each salad plate perpendicular to it, with its edge touching the edge of the salad plate.
- Place the knives and forks on either side of each bread plate, with their handles pointing towards them and their blades towards each other so that they form an inverted V when viewed from above.
The art of entertaining
The art of entertaining is also something that has been lost over time. People don't have time to entertain or cook anymore, so they go out to eat or order take-away food instead of inviting friends to dinner.
Both the art of the table and the art of entertaining require attention to detail as well as skills in cooking and hosting. They also require creativity when it comes to decoration and choice of themes.
Good table manners
Table manners are a set of rules that dictate how one should behave when eating at a table. The rules vary according to culture and the type of table used, but there are general guidelines that apply in most situations.
The first rule is to always introduce yourself before you sit down to eat. This is especially important if you are meeting someone for the first time or eating with people you do not know well. If you have been invited to a meal, it is polite to arrive on time and bring a small gift such as flowers, wine or dessert with you.
Before you sit down at the table, make sure your hands are clean and your mouth is empty (unless you have just finished eating). Once seated, try not to put your elbows on the table or cross your legs underneath. Keep your hands away from the food as much as possible and never eat until everyone has been served.