Flatware
How to set a table
Do you have the proper utensils?
Do you have enough of everything?
Do you have the right serving pieces for your menu?
Dinner at eight!
Here are some terms that might be helpful to you:
Flatware includes the Knives, forks and spoons.Hollow ware is tableware that is hollow inside. It includes most everything that isn’t flatware. Perhaps it is easier to think of it as serving pieces such as trays and bowls.Open stock means that you can purchase individual pieces separately
Place settings are preassembled sets. They usually come in sets of 5 pieces but can be larger. Often you get a serving set included if you buy multiple place settings. This can be helpful as it usually includes a slotted spoon, meat fork, large serving spoon and sometimes a ladle for soups. You will need all of these eventually and they can be expensive purchased separately.
Flatware includes the Knives, forks and spoons.Hollow ware is tableware that is hollow inside. It includes most everything that isn’t flatware. Perhaps it is easier to think of it as serving pieces such as trays and bowls.Open stock means that you can purchase individual pieces separately
Place settings are preassembled sets. They usually come in sets of 5 pieces but can be larger. Often you get a serving set included if you buy multiple place settings. This can be helpful as it usually includes a slotted spoon, meat fork, large serving spoon and sometimes a ladle for soups. You will need all of these eventually and they can be expensive purchased separately.
The Basic 5 piece Place setting:TeaspoonPlace ForkPlace KnifeSalad or pastry forkPlace Spoon or Soupspoon
You will always need extra teaspoons and salad size forks, as you will use that size for many different uses. Coin silver. This is a confusing term with varying interpretations. .925 sterling in England and .900 in the United States
Sheffield A technique of fusing two or more different metals together that was developed in Sheffield England.
Silver Plate describes the result of putting a silver finish over a less valuable base metal. Developed in the 1920
Pewter originally made from tin and lead, which is why old pewter should not be used for food or beverage. Modern pewter is made of tin, copper and antimony.
Sterling silver an alloy of silver and copper. In England .925 parts silver in the United States it is .921 parts silver.
Stainless Steel is a steel alloy mixed with chromium to resist corrosion.
You will always need extra teaspoons and salad size forks, as you will use that size for many different uses. Coin silver. This is a confusing term with varying interpretations. .925 sterling in England and .900 in the United States
Sheffield A technique of fusing two or more different metals together that was developed in Sheffield England.
Silver Plate describes the result of putting a silver finish over a less valuable base metal. Developed in the 1920
Pewter originally made from tin and lead, which is why old pewter should not be used for food or beverage. Modern pewter is made of tin, copper and antimony.
Sterling silver an alloy of silver and copper. In England .925 parts silver in the United States it is .921 parts silver.
Stainless Steel is a steel alloy mixed with chromium to resist corrosion.
Types of utensils found on a Victorian table:
FORKS: Seafood forkOyster forkSnail forkLobster forPastry forkDesert forkSalad forkFish forkLuncheon forkDinner fork
SPOONS: Dessert SpoonTablespoonIced beverage (more modern than Victorian)Sauce spoonClear soupspoonCream soupspoonCitrus spoonCoffee spoonTeaspoonIce cream spoon (sometimes an ice cream fork)Demitasse Spoon
KNIVES: Dinner knifeLuncheon knifeSalad knifeButter knifeCheese knifeFish knifeSteak knifeFruit knife
SERVING PIECES Butter serverJelly serverLettuce forkOlive forkHot meat forkCold meat forkPickle forkSardine forkFish serving forkAsparagus serverCake serverPie serverSoft cheese serverHard cheese serverTongs of all shapes and sizesSugar shellSugar tongsSlotted spoonCarving setSteak setLadles of various sizes and shapesTomato serverSauce serverMarrow fork and scoop (ugh)crumberCandle snifterWick trimmersPlace card holdersCaviar serversBon bon or nut serverSalad serversTea strainers
FORKS: Seafood forkOyster forkSnail forkLobster forPastry forkDesert forkSalad forkFish forkLuncheon forkDinner fork
SPOONS: Dessert SpoonTablespoonIced beverage (more modern than Victorian)Sauce spoonClear soupspoonCream soupspoonCitrus spoonCoffee spoonTeaspoonIce cream spoon (sometimes an ice cream fork)Demitasse Spoon
KNIVES: Dinner knifeLuncheon knifeSalad knifeButter knifeCheese knifeFish knifeSteak knifeFruit knife
SERVING PIECES Butter serverJelly serverLettuce forkOlive forkHot meat forkCold meat forkPickle forkSardine forkFish serving forkAsparagus serverCake serverPie serverSoft cheese serverHard cheese serverTongs of all shapes and sizesSugar shellSugar tongsSlotted spoonCarving setSteak setLadles of various sizes and shapesTomato serverSauce serverMarrow fork and scoop (ugh)crumberCandle snifterWick trimmersPlace card holdersCaviar serversBon bon or nut serverSalad serversTea strainers