Elements of the Table: A Simple Guide for Hosts and Guests - Hardcover

Rosen, Lynn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0307339335 ISBN 13: 9780307339331

Publisher: Potter Style, 2007

Synopsis

Elegance is the art of not astonishing, said Jean Cocteau, but often the idea of a formal dinner party is intimidating to both hosts and guests for one reason: the table setting. Why is there a spoon above my plate? Do I really need five different glasses? Where do I put my napkin when I leave the table? Lynn Rosen comes to the rescue with this practical, charming, and informative guide to all things tabletop. Organized by category, Lynn’s advice is sensible, her explanations are clear, and her historical asides will provide plenty of lively dinner conversation. You’ll learn about:

Napery. What to do about that crease in your tablecloth, how to use a table runner, and the history of napkin rings (hint: they came into use not for decoration, but for an exceedingly practical purpose!)

China. The difference between a rim soup bowl and a rimless coupe soup bowl, when to bring out the coffee cups, and why we call it “china”

Silver. Basic rules for arranging the setting (evenly spaced, about a half-inch apart, with the handle bottoms lined up), using flatware to signal you’ve finished eating, and why the fork was slow to catch on as a dining implement

Crystal. How to tell a red wine glass from a white wine glass, when to use a dof glass, and what famous European queen is said to have been the model for a champagne coupe glass

Table Décor. Why place cards are always a good idea (and where to put them), the evolution of centerpieces, and how to turn a napkin into a cardinal’s hat, a bishop’s mitre, or even an artichoke

Elements of the Table covers everything from linens to basic etiquette, so your next dinner party (whether you’re hosting or attending) will be a relaxed celebration–and the only astonishment will come at the end of the night, when you realize how much fun you’ve had.

About this title

About the Author

Lynn Rosen is the author of several books, including The Dinner Party. Formerly
a book publishing executive, she lives in Philadelphia with her husband and two sons.

Reviews

In her introduction to this slim dining etiquette reference, author Rosen (The Dinner Table) sets the tone: "It is one thing to possess elegant tableware, it is quite another to know how to put it to proper use." While she certainly covers basics like setting places and wrangling utensils, it's her passion for trivia that sets the book apart. Readers will learn that that the tradition of giving a gift spoon to an infant originated in the Middle Ages, that Cardinal Richelieu introduced the concept of the butter knife in 17th Century France (he found sharp knives to be threatening), and that the wife of President Grover Cleveland found it necessary to melt down Dolly Madison's silver to have it molded into a new design. Rounded out with a list of common dining mistakes and step-by-step instructions for a handful of different napkin folds, Rosen's primer on entertaining and dining with decorum is a welcome reference.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Edition details

• Publisher: Potter Style
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0307339335
• ISBN 13: 9780307339331
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 128