Dining Etiquette Water and Bread Correct Creative Table Setting and Seating Assignments

Over the Counter Etiquette
Harold Almon
Be at Ease School of Etiquette Austin

In a private home, a water holder is a pitcher. It can be used to ensure each water goblet is to be filled ¾ full prior to the time people come to the table.

Informally a water holder can be a recycled wine bottle with the labels removed (by soaking each in water and vinegar) chilled in a refrigerator with cold water in it, with or without a screw on cap.

In a commercial dining room, water is to be served after people are seated.

At a banquet water glasses can be filled prior to the time people come to table.

Serving Bread

Bread served or placed at table is to be a roll, biscuit, muffin or bun.

Bread can be served center a place setting underneath a folded napkin. It may be placed on a bread and butter plate. The bread and butter plate is to be placed above the tines of the place fork. It can be placed to the left of the last fork, with the top in approximate line with the plate space or tines of the place fork. It may be placed one inch up from the edge of a round table. The use of this plate is optional. It can be omitted from a truly formal place setting: Where butter is omitted;

When bread is to be placed in a place setting, the butter spreader is placed horizontally across the top back of the bread and butter plate, handle pointed to the right, blade facing the edge of the table. It can be placed diagonally with the handle pointed to three o’clock. It may be placed to the right of this plate, in a vertical position parallel with the place fork, blade-facing left.

The bread item may be laid directly on the tablecloth unbuttered to the left of the place setting. At an informal meal the bread item may be pre-buttered and placed directly on the tablecloth or place mat.

A bread holder, basket, or tray is to be used to hold bread that is to be passed. It is placed on the table where space allows.

Informally a bread holder can be an extra plate.

Butter could be placed in a butter crock and placed on a table without an underlying plate. In a private home, it may be omitted.