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[Spurt]

Very pretty!

[Sooner]

I think it is perfect. 

The hostess is seated and takes her napkin to her lap and the guests take the cue and do like wise.  Then she takes the goblet and coaster and places it to her right and the guests do the same.

The butler comes and serves the first course on the small plate that was beneath the goblet.  That is removed when the guests are finished.  A salad may or may not be served on the next plate.

That plate would be taken away and the serving plate and dish on it would be removed and replaced when the main dish, which is already plated, is served.  

You aren't supposed to leave a guest without a dish in front of them.  If you have help.  So that would sort of be the way it works. 

Do NOT ask how I know that!!!!  LOL!!!  

[GingerPeach]

Nicely done, @Sooner 

[bluetail fly]

Sooner of course that's how we've always done it in the past. However my butler recently ran off with the upstairs maid, and now half the kitchen staff wants Thanksgiving week off.

Afraid my guests will have to suffer through a less elaborate setting with the turkey and ham platters and serving dishes on the table.

[Sooner]

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@bluetail fly wrote:
Sooner of course that's how we've always done it in the past. However my butler recently ran off with the upstairs maid, and now half the kitchen staff wants Thanksgiving week off.

Afraid my guests will have to suffer through a less elaborate setting with the turkey and ham platters and serving dishes on the table.

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@bluetail fly Yes. Tragic isn't it?  LOL!!!!!

You can't depend on the help nowdays!  LOL!!

Actually, I'd never seen more than one plate on the table at a time maybe with a salad BOWL, when I was growing up, and in my job I knew I'd have to attend served dinners occasionally.  SO I got a copy Amy Vanderbilt WAY back in the day and STUDIED!  

I was ready for anything and never felt uncomfortable.  SO that's how I know this stuff.  LOL!!!  Want to HIRE ME???? I'm available!  And I love dinnerware!  

We could go see Downton Abbey!!!!  

[stevieb]

@Sooner  Tsk tsk... at my country estate and at my in-town manse, the footmen do the serving and the butler oversees them... Have you cut back on your staff? 

[GingerPeach]

I had some folks over on Saturday, @Sooner , and I thought you needed to know this:

Inspired by Downton Abbey, and many etiquette books over the years, I made it a point to line up the bottom edges of the flatware with the line of stitching in the placemat I used. Of course, the bottom edge of the plate was lined up with that as well.  

And, you know, it actually gave that nice, clean look to the whole table.  

[Sooner]

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@stevieb wrote:

@Sooner  Tsk tsk... at my country estate and at my in-town manse, the footmen do the serving and the butler oversees them... Have you cut back on your staff? 

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@stevieb No, I still have the same couple I've always had.  

But would you like a dinner for you and a "guest" at one of my humble palaces, with a complete 5 course dinner served by my couple? Italy or France. . .  I thought you would be asking for that when I saw my name paged.

We could also provide a ladder for the fireman. . . 

[Sooner]

@GingerPeach   It's always those details that set up apart isn't it?  LOL!!!!!!!  If the red cups are out of line things are SO untidy. 

[GingerPeach]

Indeed, @Sooner 

Sadly, I lost all my staff back in 2008 and have had to make do on my own ever since.  Sigh.

Stiff upper lip and all that.  We must carry on.