How to set the table - Anna Post

擺設餐具的技巧 - Anna Post

譯者: Allyson Chen 審譯者: Regina Chu

Have you ever helped set a table

你曾經幫忙擺放餐具

and found yourself wondering

卻發現自己不知道

where to place the forks?

叉子到底該擺在哪裡嗎？

Or sat down to eat a restaurant

或是你曾在一家餐廳用餐

and wondered which utensils to use?

卻不知道該用哪些餐具？

Well, here's some simple, traditional etiquette tips

讓我告訴你一些餐桌擺設禮儀

on how to set a table.

簡單傳統的技巧

What would happen if you set a table like this?

假如你的餐桌擺設成這樣會如何？

It doesn't look good,

看起來不太好

and you have to clean up the mess

你還得先整理過

before you can even start.

才能開始用餐

Let's try another way.

試試另一種方式吧

To start, use a placemat or tablecloth,

首先，鋪上餐墊或是桌巾

but not both,

選一種就好

so the dishes aren't directly on the table.

這樣菜餚就不會直接接觸餐桌

This is more about looks than etiquette,

這和觀感有關，不是為了禮貌

but it's rare to see nothing under a plate

通常盤子下面不會什麼都沒有鋪

除非那是野餐桌

unless you're eating at a picnic table.

Set out any flowers,

你可以擺一些花

candlesticks,

蠟燭

or other decorations you like.

或其他的裝飾

Candles are usually only lit at night.

蠟燭多半在晚上才點亮

Start with utensils for the main course,

然後先擺放吃主菜用的餐具

putting your dinner fork on the left

把晚餐叉放在左邊

and your dinner knife on the right-hand side

晚餐刀放在右邊

since these are the hands we use them with.

因為我們是左手拿叉子，右手拿刀子

Here's a helpful tip:

有一個有用的技巧：

You always eat outside-in,

我們總是先用擺在最外面的刀叉

so to set for salad,

所以要擺放吃沙拉用的餐具

we'll put the salad fork

就要把沙拉用叉子

to the outside of the dinner fork

放在晚餐叉的外側

and the salad knife to the outside of the dinner knife.

沙拉刀放在晚餐刀外側

We'll have salad first,

因為我們會先吃沙拉

then our main course.

才享用主菜

Notice, too, that the knife blades

還要注意

are both pointed toward the plate.

刀刃要面向盤子

This is an old tradition

這是長久以來的習慣

from a time when dinner knives were quite sharp,

因為以前晚餐刀都很鋒利

and it was a sign of politeness and nonaggression

刀刃背向其他用餐者

to keep them pointed away from other diners.

是禮貌和平和的象徵

We might have some soup,

我們也許還要喝湯

and since soup usually comes first,

因為湯通常是第一道

the soup spoon goes outside the knives

所以喝湯用的湯匙要放在刀子外側

since we use our right hand to hold it.

因為我們是用右手喝湯

Here's another tip:

還有另一個小技巧：

Only set the table with what you'll need.

桌上只要擺放你需要的餐具

If you're not eating soup,

如果沒有湯

don't set a soup spoon.

就不用擺湯匙

Now, for dessert, we'll have ice cream

接著就是甜點，甜點是冰淇淋

so we'll place the dessert up top

那就把甜點餐具擺在正上方

since we don't need it for a little while.

因為我們待會才要用它

Notice that the bowl of the spool

要注意湯匙前端

is pointing to the left.

要朝左擺放

This way, when it's time to eat,

這樣的話，我們要使用時

you just slide it down

只需要把它移下來

and it's in the right spot.

就會自然在右手邊了

If you were having cake,

如果你要吃蛋糕

you'd set a fork and flip it 180 degrees

就擺一支叉子，方向和湯匙相反

so it would be right side-up on the left instead.

這樣就可以自然移到左手邊了

Next we'll anchor our setting with the plate.

接下來我們要擺上餐盤了

You can also serve from the kitchen

你也可以先在廚房盛上菜餚

then bring them to the table.

再端上餐桌

The bread plate goes up and to the left of the setting,

麵包盤要擺在左上角

and the butter knife goes on the plate at an angle,

奶油刀要斜擺在麵包盤上

again, with the blade pointing in.

同樣要讓刀刃面向自己

There's only one spot left,

現在只剩一個空位了

and that's for the drinks.

那裡要擺飲料

Set the wine glass to the upper right,

把酒杯放在右上角

and then place the water glass to the left of it at an angle.

把水杯斜放在酒杯左側

If you're like me

如果你跟我一樣

and can never remember which goes where,

總是記不清正確位置

think water, wine,

那就想想水是 water，酒是 wine

w-a, w-i;

w-a，w-i

a, i;

a，i

they go left to right in alphabetical order.

由左到右剛好符合字母的順序

Another tip:

To remember left and right with the bread and the drinks,

還有個訣竅：

要記得麵包跟飲料該擺在哪

think B-M-W like the car.

就想想汽車品牌 BMW

B, your bread plate, is on the left;

B 就代表麵包盤，要擺在左邊

M, your meal, is in the middle,

M 代表主餐，要擺在中間

and W, your water, is on the right.

W 就是水，要擺在右邊

Lastly, the napkin traditionally goes to the left of the forks,

最後，餐巾紙通常擺在叉子左邊

though it's okay to put it underneath them, too.

也可以擺在叉子下面

For a fancier meal like this one

但像這一餐這麼隆重

that takes up a lot of space,

佔用很多空間

we'll put it in the middle.

我們就把餐巾紙放在中間

Now we're ready to eat.

現在我們可以開始用餐了

Hopefully these tips will be helpful

希望這些技巧

the next time you're asked to help set the table

在你下次擺設餐具

或是坐下來享用大餐時能派上用場

or sit down at a fancy meal.

Enjoy!

好好享用吧!