Served at the table

There was a time when a formal dinner was considered to require 3 male waiters in white gloves for every 6 guests! Fortunately, today we have to keep things simple.

You’ve hired someone, or you ask your housekeeper to come in for the evening, ideally, to do excellent, being 2 helpers for 12 people.
The dress of the service will be sober and dark, the use of gloves not being necessary.

The table is of course already set, with all the necessary care, cold or warm starters can be presented on the table. The guests in the living room sit down to the table as soon as «Madame is served».

The waiter makes sure to serve water and wine. After entering, the person in charge of serving stands behind each guest and removes the soiled plate with the left hand through the left and replaces it with the right hand with the right.
The second dish is presented to the left of the guests, and at the correct height. In the dishes presented, the cutlery will be placed to serve, handles facing the guests. Each dish is passed twice, except the soup and the cheese.

After the cheese, the waiter removes all the plates, one after the other, without putting on new ones; it also removes everything that will no longer be useful: salt shakers, bread plates, etc.
Then with a brush or small shovel provided for this purpose, he picks up the crumbs. Then, still on the right, he places the dessert plate in front of each guest, the dessert cutlery already on the table.

The dessert finished, the hostess gives the signal to go to the living room, for coffee.