Host Tips
Be ready for unexpected guests!
Ding-dong…who’s there? When guests come knocking and you’re not prepared, don’t fret. Keep a few things in the pantry and fridge and you’ll be ready. Try these tasty snacks made from items you can easily keep on hand:
- Smoked turkey breast, Havarti cheese, sesame seed crackers, and stuffed olives
- Harvarti cheese, green grapes, roasted almonds
- Cheddar cheese, apple slices or dried fruits, walnuts
- Baby dill pickles wrapped in ham slices
- Your favorite deli meat and cheese combo on a cracker; broiled till cheese melts
- Others: microwave popcorn; chips and salsa; cheese fondue with crackers for dipping; marinated roasted red peppers, artichokes, and/or olives
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How to Set the Table
Ever feel like you need a refresher course in how to set your table properly? If you’re just not sure which fork goes where, read these basics. Then pull up a chair and enjoy your place at the head of the table!
Plates and Bowls
- If using placemats, dinner plates should be centered on the mat. With or without placemats, plates should be placed about two inches from the edge of the table, and centered in front of the chair.
- If serving a soup course, place soup bowls on top of the dinner plate.
- Salad plates should be placed just above and slightly to the left of the forks.
- The smaller bread plate goes just to the right of and slightly above the salad plate.
Silverware
- Silverware is placed from the outside in, with utensils that will be used first (such as salad fork) farthest from the plate.
- The cutting edge of the knife should be turned toward the dinner plate. Butter knives should be placed across the bread plate.
- Make sure all silverware is nice and straight and lined up evenly, about ½ inch apart.
- Use only the silverware needed for the foods you’re serving.
- An extra fork for dessert should be placed above the dinner plate.
Glasses and Cups
- Place water glasses or goblets just above the knife. Wine glasses (red and/or white) can be placed just a little further back.
Miscellaneous
- If you’re using place cards, put them just to the left of drinking glasses.
- Napkins can be placed either on the plate, to the left of the forks, or tucked festively in a drinking glass.
- Make sure your centerpiece isn’t so high that guests are unable to see each other across the table. Avoid overly fragrant flowers, which might overwhelm the food aromas or even cause allergic reactions in some guests. Use unscented candles for the same reasons.
- Serve from the left; remove from the right.
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