Mar 21, 2024 | Guest Service, Superyacht Crew Training, Table Settings |
From Cutlery Chaos to Dining Delight: How To Set A Table
Ahoy there, fellow stewards and stewardesses of the superyacht world! While we’re busy ensuring our guests are sailing smoothly through the seas of luxury, there’s one task that can sometimes leave us feeling a bit like we’re navigating uncharted waters: setting the table. But fear not, for I’m here to guide you through the choppy seas of cutlery confusion and onto the shores of dining delight!
Now, setting a table may seem like a simple task, but for those of us in the world of superyachts, it’s an art form. After all, we’re not just setting a table; we’re creating an experience. So, grab your napkin folds and let’s dive in!
Guidelines for Setting a Table
1. **Know Your Space:** Before you start arranging cutlery like a game of culinary Tetris, take a moment to assess your table space. You don’t want your guests feeling like they’re dining in a cutlery jungle gym.
2. **Consider the Menu:** Just as a captain charts their course, plan your table setting according to the meal being served. Different courses may require different utensils, so make sure you’re prepared. Just allow your FRIENDLY chef some time to brief you properly.
3. **Mind Your Etiquette:** A superyacht stewardess is a paragon of etiquette, so remember to follow proper dining protocols. Forks to the left, knives to the right, and napkins neatly folded – let’s keep it classy, folks.
Imagine, if you will, a pristine white tablecloth gently billowing in the sea breeze. At each setting, gleaming silverware rests atop fine china, while crystal glasses stand at attention, waiting to be filled with the finest vintage.
**How to Set a Table with Cutlery:**
1. **Start with the Basics:** Begin by placing the dinner plate in the center of each setting. To the left, arrange the forks in order of use – salad fork, dinner fork – with the prongs facing up like little culinary antennae.
2. **Knife Knowledge:** On the right side of the plate, lay the knife with the blade facing the plate. To its right, position the spoons, each one ready to tackle its designated course with gusto.
3. **Don’t Forget the Extras:** Depending on the meal, you may need to add additional utensils. For example, a soup spoon or a seafood fork can elevate the dining experience from ordinary to extraordinary.
The Superyacht Stewardess’s Guide to Setting a Table – **Basic Table Setting Rules:**
1. **Keep it Balanced:** A well-set table is like a perfectly trimmed sail – balanced and poised for adventure. Make sure there’s an equal distance between each place setting to maintain harmony.
2. **Mind Your Space:** Avoid overcrowding the table with unnecessary clutter. Only include the essentials for each course to prevent a cutlery catastrophe.
3. **Stay Neat and Tidy:** Just as we strive for immaculate cabins, our table settings should be pristine. No crumbs, no smudges – just pure, unadulterated elegance.
Consider this your holy grail of table setting wisdom, passed down through the ages by generations of superyacht stewards and stewardesses (ha ha, not really, it was just written by this old girl). Treat it with reverence, for within its pages lie the secrets to creating dining experiences that will be remembered long after the anchor is raised.
In conclusion, setting a table as a superyacht stewardess is no mere task – it’s an opportunity to showcase our skills and elevate the dining experience to new heights. So, polish those silverware, straighten those napkins, and let’s set sail for culinary excellence! Bon appétit, my fellow stewards and stewardesses!
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Sep 15, 2022 | Guest Service, Superyacht Crew Training, Table Settings |
How to Set a Table for a 3-Course Dinner
A three-course meal on board a super yacht would be classified as a casual dinner, consisting of an entree’, main meal and dessert. It would often be reserved for just the family or primary charterers onboard.
As a superyacht stewardess is just a part of the job, right? Well, yes and no. It is in the steward/ess job description, but what makes a dining experience just that little bit extra is all the effort you go to. Please let me explain further.
For an informal three-course dinner, you will need to consider the following to create a truly magnificent dining experience:
Table linen.
In this instance, as it is an informal dinner, I would recommend using the evening placemats and serviettes. Depending on the menu, choose colours that will complement the food. If the yacht doesn’t have evening placemats, or you are just purchasing new table linen, then look for delicate fabrics such as fine linen in gold, silver, black and intricate lace weaves for that luxurious feel. If you need a little inspiration on opulence, have a quick look at the CHRISTOFLE website.
The table centrepiece.
The centrepiece or table decorations again would be kept to a minimum. Consider a less is more approach. Use elegant hues such as creams, whites, and gold to bounce the soft candlelight around the room.
Cutlery.
Next to go onto the table is your freshly polished cutlery. As previously mentioned, this will consist of entrée, main and dessert cutlery. Forks on the left and knives on the right, the main cutlery is laid down closest to the plate, and then entrée will sit next to the mains on the outer side. Should soup be on the menu, then the spoon will be placed on the right side of the main fork. The placement of the dessert cutlery has been debated over and over, but as a traditionalist, I would lay the dessert cutlery in two ways. The first would be to like to lay the cutlery directly above the main plate with the spoon below the fork, with the spoon handle facing to the right and the fork to the left, which the service staff will pull down once the mains have been cleared.
Or I would leave it off the table together until the main has been completely cleared, then I would lay the appropriate cutlery just before the service of the dessert. It really depended on how many guests were eating and how formal the guests liked to be served.
Glasses.
Lastly, consider the crystal wear. Do your guests drink wine? What wine will compliment the food. Because it is a three-course dinner, consider just placing a water glass and a wine glass on the table. I know this may upset some people, but nowadays, our guests know what they like, and indeed, the chef knows what wine will compliment the food. Of course, it is not a big deal if you would like to set the table with a water glass, a white wine glass and a red wine glass. But for an elegant dining experience, I would lay the table with minimal glass wear.
Finally, as a superyacht chief stewardess, you would always consider cultural diversity and differentiating service customs when you are briefing your junior crew onboard.
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Here:
How to Set a Table for a 3-Course Dinner
- Table Linen
- Table decorations
- Place mats and napkins
- Cutlery: (soup) Entrée, main, and dessert
- Glasses: Water and wine
Soupspoon only if required. Accompanying condiments, salt and pepper, and extra wine glasses to be kept on the waiter’s station to be served if and when needed.
Mar 15, 2015 | Table Settings |
How to Be Creative When Setting a Table.
Ok ok ok OK…… I can hear you all screaming at me… creativity must come from within….. Like some mystical force, writing and painting, singing and dancing its way out of your skin; or if you think it is reserved solely for those moody, broody purple hair dying “artsy” people, well I’m here to tell you that is just not the case!
Follow the simple steps on how to be creative below and you will be surprised at what you can do.
How to be creative in 3 easy steps:
Just picture this…. You are on a thirty day charter and you have set your superbly elegant and super creative evening table setting, when it hits you like a ton of bricks…
“Oh NO” its only day seven! ….. What are you going to do for the next 21 days?
Now let’s do some maths, the chef has probably already done the same,
- That’s another twenty three breakfast table settings
- Twenty two lunch tabke settings
- Twenty two dinner tables to set (please don’t think I’m exaggerating because this happened to me).
So you look to your table linen and decorations cupboards and call on all of the forces for inspiration. Before you fall into deep despair, engage your creative brain and follow these 3 simple steps:
How to Be Creative When Setting a Table – Step 1.
Remember, there is no right or wrong for this and there won’t be a test at the end. As a child you had the most brilliant imagination before school, society and aging did their best to knock it out of you.
Can you remember playing as a child?? Now just channel your inner child.
Things that you will need are:
• A good understanding of how to set a table, for breakfast, lunch, dinner, buffet, and cocktail hour.
• Knowledge of what crockery, cutlery, glassware, table linen, reusable and non-reusable decorations that you have on board (or in your home for my domestic goddess readers).
• Time to plan (if time is short as it always tends to be then you need to be able to manage it properly).
• A creative spirit (Most important tool).
How to Be Creative When Setting a Table – Step 2.
Ok, so you know you have x amount of table linens, table clothes, place mats, runners and napkins. So start to mix and match, add paper napkins into your fold for colour, use ribbons, rope or vine instead of napkin rings.
While you’re at it, mix and match your crockery add glasses if the design permits.
Remember, there is no right or wrong when you are creating something.
How to Be Creative When Setting a Table – Step 3.
“Introducing a random element helps you to change perspectives”. So you already know how to set a table properly, so let’s start to theme the settings, this is usually done for lunch and dinner.
Some creative ideas could be:
• Colour theme: Black and white.. Take black and white photos of the events of the day, print them out and the guests will love them as keep sakes.
• Daily quotes: Get writing or copy some of the most favourite quotes of all time. Print them on cards and decorate accordingly.
• Daily mementos from the places you visited: If the budget allows pop into the closest tourist shop and pick up a selection of fridge magnets, postcards, and trinkets.
• Candle it up: This one really depends on the weather, location and yacht policy on candles, but it is such a simple and elegant way of decorating a space
• Costume Party: Again, if it is in the budget and if you have the space, this is really a fun way to mix it up and the guests love it.
You can check out the really affordable costumes at the following link:
I could go on and on, but as it turns out the 21 days flew by and my team and I didn’t use the same idea twice. I will post specific decoration ideas a little later on but until then, don’t panic, channel your inner child to get your imagination going, and remember to mix it up!.
Thanks for reading my How to be creative article.
As always, safe travels and calm seas
K.xxx
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Dec 17, 2014 | Table Settings |
Christmas Table Setting Ideas
Yes, it’s that time of the year to get creative again. Christmas is a time of joy, love, laughter, good food and fine wine.
It is also a time of juggling many challenges at once, wearing many hats and meeting deadlines.
As a Super yacht stewardess you already have an artillery of attractive table setting ideas, so to add to this already impressive creative range, I have decided to share with you my top 5 Christmas Table Setting Ideas.
Get ready for some very pretty, festive and inspiring table decorating ideas.
Shimmery Table Setting
What I love About This Table Setting:
Everyone loves a bit of sparkle especially around the holiday season and this table setting is certainly full of sparkle.
I love the simplicity to it, use a simple crisp white table cloth as you base, followed by a dark coloured runner.
Next alternate gold and silver chargers.
Next let your imagination run wild, add the candles and sparkle.
Image Found:
Christmas Ball Table Setting
Could this idea be any simpler and cost effective? I think not J
What I love about this Christmas table setting idea:
I love the fact that it is just so simple, it won’t take up a lot of precious storage room on board and it’s a super cheap idea!
This could be used as a lovely lunch table setting
- Uses a simple crisp white table cloth or green or red place mats.
- Create the centre piece any glass or crystal cake stand.
- Make a pyramid from the Christmas ball. Here they have used red balls, however you can use any colour of your choice.
- Add the same colour Christmas balls to candle sticks to create some high on the table.
- Use a simple low napkin fold and add some festive green foliage and there you have it.
- Just perfect.
Image found on: Midwest Living
Red & Gold themed Christmas table setting
What I love about this table setting:
Oh wow… it’s just so pretty!!! So let’s state the obvious this is by no means a Cheap table setting. Therefore, I would reserve this for the main Christmas meal.
What I love about this Christmas table setting idea:
The actual setting is quite simplistic in design, however the use of quality fresh roses elegant gold trim and satin ribbon give the impression of elegance, luxury and something rather special.
- I believe this table setting was used for a wedding but it can easily be used for Christmas.
- Use a premium quality cream table cloth
- Next add the rose balls
- Use gold chargers if you don’t have glass with gold trim
- Again use a simple napkin fold here with the rose. If you don’t want to use fresh roses here you can use a sprig of holly with a high quality satin ribbon.
- Because not many people have access to these wonderful centre candelabras with the roses on top, experiment with what you do have, IE which can add a little height to the table.
Image found on: Styleathome.com
Nautical Theme Christmas Table
Who said you can’t be nautical at Christmas???…..
I mean lets face it you live and work on a boat and the people around you love the ocean, so lets get those nautical creative juices flowing!
What I love about this Christmas table setting idea:
I love the pure nature of it.
- Use a crisp white or beige table cloth.
- Build your center piece using green foliage, sea shells and star fish (we know you have plenty of those on board).
- Now to give it a Christmas twist adds a little bling.
- Keep the bling to silver and sparkling glass.
- To make the Christmas cheer pop, you can also use a splash of blue.
These table settings are perfect for Christmas lunch
Children’s Christmas Table Setting
What I love About This Christmas Table Setting:
Let’s not forget the younger generation at this time, I mean these little people really know how to party!
Indulge your children with tis magical Christmas table decoration.
- Keep it fun!
- Let’s your inner child run free… think candy canes and reindeer.
- Keep the colour combination to the traditional red, green and white.
- For something a little different you can add a few plastic snow men and snowflakes, from the award-winning movie Frozen.
- Keep the napkin fold simple so that little fingers can access it easily
Image found on: Southern Hospitality
