2 Thanksgiving Musts: How to Set a Table and Fold a Napkin

The holiday season often marks a time when innkeepers and hosts begin to see a rise in reservations after their busy season during the warmer months.  Guests may be paying extra attention to their food this time of year, so it is crucial that properties review their dining situation.  It could be a good time to review the dining basics since they can so often be overlooked.  How do you properly set a table and what are some of the best ways to fold a napkin?

How to Set a Table

Those working in hospitality are likely to be more familiar with setting a table than others, but many may simply have a care-free attitude when it comes to this since most guests will just be looking for a meal that tastes good and satisfies their appetite.  The following is a step-by-step process for setting the table.

1. The placemat goes on the table at each eating space.
2. Center the plate on top of the placemat or the charger. A salad plate and/or soup bowl can also be stacked on top of the main plate.
3. The napkin will be placed to the left side of the plate, on top of the plate, or in the water glass in a fancy fold.
4. The fork will go to the left side of the plate either on top of the napkin or the placemat with prongs at the top. For more formal dinners, the salad fork would go to the left of the dinner fork.
5. The knife is placed on the right side of and closest to the plate with the blade facing inward.
6. The spoon should be on the right side of the knife. A smaller soup spoon would go to the right side of the spoon.
7. If bread is involved, a bread plate and butter knife should go above the napkin.
8. The glass of water should be on the right side of the plate directly above the knife.
9. Any other beverage glass such as those for wine typically goes above and to the right of the glass for water.
10. A dessert spoon or fork can go above the plates with salt and pepper shakers on either side of the spoon.
11. The tea cup rests on the saucer to the left of the plate.

How to Fold a Napkin

Silverware Roll

The Silverware Roll is a very practical roll that can be found at all kinds of restaurants and can easily be done at home as well.  The following is a step-by-step process for how to make a silverware roll.

1. The silverware roll should be used with a square napkin.
2. Fold the top left corner of the napkin over to the bottom right section of the napkin which will result in a triangle being formed.
3. The triangle should be rotated so that the longest side is laid out on the bottom.
4. Place the silverware at the bottom center of the napkin and face a parallel direction to the long side of the triangle.
5. Fold the left and right corners of the triangle to cover the silverware.
6. Tightly roll the napkin from the bottom to the top to help keep the silverware compact and secure.

Rose Napkin

The Rose Napkin will add a romantic and formal feel to your table.

1. Starting with the napkin in a diamond shape, fold the top and bottom corners to the center of the

   

   napkin with the tips of the folds touching one another but not overlapping.

2. Fold the top and bottom edges to the horizontal middle of the napkin folding in the already folded corners and then repeat this fold once more.
3. Fold it in half along the horizontal middle with the top part above the bottom.
4. Your left thumb needs to go on the bottom  about a few inches from the right side where you will then upwardly fold over the linen on the right side of the thumb at around a 90-degree angle.
5. Roll it tightly and in a spiral moving from the right to the left direction.
6. Turn over the now rolled-up napkin and tuck the loose end in.
7. Turn it back over so that the upturned piece sticks out from the bottom like a leaf.

Bow Tie Napkin

The Bow Tie is another common fold that utilizes a napkin ring.

1. Using a square napkin, fold the top and bottom to the middle, overlapping slightly and resulting in

   

   a rectangle.

2. The left and right sides should then be folded into the middle which forms a miniature square.
3. Flip it over and pinch it in the middle across the whole vertical length.
4. Slip the ring on one side of napkin and slide it to the middle. Fluff to get the bow tie look.

InnStyle Has Dining Linens for Your Property

Bedding and amenities will always be important to hospitality properties.  However, dining linens such as tablecloths, napkins, placemats, kitchen towels, and potholders are another feature that should be reviewed by management periodically.  InnStyle offers dining linens that come in a wide variety of colors to help with the needs of your property.  Please give InnStyle a call about any dining or hospitality-related questions that you may have.  Their account managers would be more than happy to help.  InnStyle can be reached at 267-354-6020 or 800-877-4667.  Their website is https://www.innstyle.com/.