Stemware is placed on the table in a way that is comfortable, convenient, and symmetrical. Stemware is aligned symmetrically at the top right of the plate. The arrangement of stemware is based on space. At a multi-course meal, there is a lot of tableware, including a water goblet and two or three wine glasses. To save space, stemware is arranged in the shape of a triangle or a diamond. In the triangle arrangement, the dessert glass forms the highest point. The water goblet is angled to the lower left of the dessert glass, and the glasses for red and white wine are placed on the lower right side. When sherry is served, the sherry glass is placed on the lower right of the white wine glass. The diamond shape is the same as the triangle arrangement, except the white wine glass is angled to the lower left of the red wine glass, and the sherry glass to the lower left of the white wine glass. At a simple meal, less stemware is required. Usually one wine glass is used along with a water goblet.

There is room to arrange stemware in any way one chooses, such as in a straight line parallel with the edge of the table or a diagonal line angled toward the table's edge. Stemware is placed on the table in the order of use.The water goblet is placed in a position closest to the hand, approximately 1 inch above the tip of the dinner knife.Wine glasses are placed on the table in the order that accommodates the service of wine. Normally at a simple meal, one wine is served, and the way the wine glass is placed on the table is not important. But at a multi-course meal, the appropriate wine glass is placed nearest the hand.The sherry glass is placed on the table when sherry is served to accompany a course in which sherry is an ingredient. On an uncrowded table, the sherry glass is placed on the right side of the white wine glass. However, when space on the table is crowded, the sherry glass is placed to the left front of the white wine glass.The white wine glass is arranged in the form of a triangle or a diamond.

In the triangle arrangement, when a sherry glass is placed on the table, the white wine glass is positioned to the upper left of the sherry glass. If a sherry glass is not placed on the table, the white wine glass is placed to the lower right of the red wine glass. In the diamond arrangement, the white wine glass is placed to the lower left of the red wine glass.The red wine glass is placed also in a triangle or a diamond. In the triangle arrangement, the red wine glass is placed to the upper left of the white wine glass, generally above the spoon. In the diamond arrangement, the red wine glass is placed to the upper right of the white wine glass.The dessert wine glass is angled to the right rear of the water goblet when space is at a premium. Otherwise, it is placed directly to the right of the water goblet.The champagne glass is placed on the table to the right of the water goblet when champagne is the only wine served. If champagne is served to accompany a particular course, the champagne glass is placed on the table in the order of use.

The juice glass is placed in the center of the cover on a small underplate when juice is served as a first course. If juice is served to accompany a meal, the glass is placed directly on the table at the top right of the cover. The way a table is set contributes to the ambiance of a meal as much as the food and wine. A few simple guidelines will help you establish the desired tone. Each place should be set with all the glasses that will be used during dinner (except dessert-wine glasses, which may be brought out when the dessert is served). wine bars nyc 2015The water glass belongs to the right of the plate, just above the knife. where to buy wine in laxWineglasses should be set to the right of the water glasses in the order in which they will be used.best type of wine for dieting

The only pieces of china that should be part of a table setting are the bread plate and a charger, if desired. A charger (or service plate) is a purely decorative, oversize plate used to add texture, color, or pattern to the table. Chargers may be made of china, pewter, brass -- even straw or papier-mache. Food is never served directly on the charger, but a first-course soup bowl or salad plate can be set on top of it. The charger should be cleared along with the bowl or plate. A proper silverware setting follows one simple rule, no matter how formal or relaxed the event: Set the silverware on the table in the order it will be used, from the outside in. The fork for the first course is the one farthest to the left; to the right of the plate, the knife for the first course is the farthest to the right. Any spoons needed before dessert (say, a soupspoon), should be placed to the right of the knives. Dessert utensils should always be placed horizontally above the plate, or they can be brought in later, with the dessert course.

Although a harmonious table maintains a uniform level of formality, creating a mix-and-match table from your collections of china, glassware, and silverware is appropriate on many occasions -- and has the benefit of providing you with a unique table setting for each event. Just keep in mind that something should tie the elements together: If you combine dishes and flatware from different periods and styles, make sure that they share similar proportion or complementary lines. A classic, informal place setting begins with a dinner plate only when soup or another first course is served. Dinner plates are not on the table when guests take their seats if there is no first course. Of the five basic flatware pieces, only the teaspoon is left off the table; it will arrive with coffee or tea, placed at the saucer's edge. A water glass (placed over the knife) and single wineglass are set, suggesting that one wine will accompany dinner. A folded cloth napkin adds a touch of elegance. This formal place setting includes a charger and is set for European dining, where the salad follows the main course.