For an informal dinner, use either a tablecloth or place mats, which may be of linen, cotton, straw, or plastic. A silence cloth or pad should be laid beneath the tablecloth (which should have a center crease only, running the length of the table). Colored linens or place mats with matching or harmonizing napkins are attractive, particularly if the glassware is colorless. The centerpiece should enhance the table but should be low enough not to obstruct the view of the diners. Place it either formally in the center or at an unused end of the table. Candlelight lends a festive air to dinner; white or ivory candles are best.
Allow 20 to 24 inches for each guest, measuring from center to center of place settings. Napkins, folded in squares or rectangles, are placed with open corner at the lower right, either in the center of each cover or to the left of the forks.
Place silver 1" from table edge in a straight line with no more than three pieces on either side of the plate. Silver is used from the outside in on each side: on the left, first the dinner fork, then the salad fork, and dessert fork (all with prongs up); on the right, first the soup or bouillon spoon, then the teaspoon, and closest to the center, the knife with sharp blade toward the plate.
Cocktail forks may be placed on the appetizer plate or at the extreme right. The water glass or goblet is placed directly above the point of the knife, cups and saucers at right of spoons with handles turned to right. Salad plates are set to the left of forks.
The salt and pepper, cream and sugar for coffee, and dessert silver may be on an informal table from the beginning of the meal, but all silver service pieces incidental to the serving of the main course are re¬moved before the dessert.
Bread and butter plates may be used for an in¬formal dinner. If used, the butter knife is placed horizontally across the top of each plate. Coffee may be served throughout the meal for those who wish it. After-dinner coffee is served either at the table with dessert or in the living room in demitasse cups with a short coffee spoon on each saucer.
