When entertaining, you and your guests know that the accessories you place around your table and home speak a lot about your personality and style. They tell stories about places you have been. They can help to share your taste in types of food or in certain colors and shapes. They can even say a lot about your desire for order and efficiency by either matching and being the proper item for use or not.
When selecting your kitchen and dinnerware accessories, therefore, it is important that you take ample time to investigate options as far as tools go. Most people choose to spend time looking through home decorating magazines or shopping around at their local kitchen decoration store before settling on a singular style or type of dinnerware.
Here is an overview of some of the essentials that you will need. Keep in mind that these essentials will all have style and variety of their own. So, while these are the things you will need, you will be on your own when choosing the style that speaks to you best.
Cutlery
Cutlery is probably one of the most important and telling accessories. It is both functional and aesthetic. Keep in mind that you cutlery should all match and it should carry a certain weight. No one enjoys eating from a spoon that they can practically throw across the room when they try to pick it up! Your cutlery should be as durable as your meals. Make sure that if you are serving meat, you have an adequate steak knife on hand to help your guests cut without too much distraction.
Plates and Bowls
Like cutlery, your plates and bowls will say a lot about your style and efficiency. Everyone at the table should have a matching set of plates and bowls. The main course plate should be set on top of a charger, which is a large plate that holds the other plates. The plates and bowls should be either very thin and dainty or thick and sturdy. Your guests will get an impression about you and your cooking from your plates, so choose your selection wisely.
Napkins
Unless you are serving lunch, be sure to serve your food with a cloth napkin. The napkin should be nicely pressed and, if available, held by a napkin ring. All napkins can match, but individuality is more than acceptable. After all, if you know which napkin you have, then you will not pick up and use your neighbor’s dirty napkin.
Cups and Glasses
When serving a nice meal, you should have both a water glass and a wine glass available. If the meal is extremely fancy, then you can also have a glass of champagne or several varieties of wine glasses. The glasses should always be nicely cleaned and should be placed in the upper right hand corner of your table. Many people enjoy purchasing oversized wine glasses because they appear to carry more weight and bulk, even if the wine only rests in a small portion of the glass.