The Luncheon Table
At your table there shouldn't be candles, they have no place on a lunch or breakfast table. Plain white tablecloth that is correct for dinner is not used for a luncheon, although colored damask is acceptable. Traditionally the lunch table is "bare," which means set with place mats made in literally unrestricted varieties of linen, needlework, or lace. A runner, matching the mats but two or three times as long, may be used in the center of the table.
The decorations are practically the same as for dinner: flowers or an ornament in the center, and two or four dishes of fruit or candy where they look best. If the table is very large and rather too bare without candles, four slim vases with small sprigs of flowers matching those in the centerpiece - or any other glass or silver ornaments - may be added.
The places are set as for dinner, with a place plate, a fork, a knife, or a spoon for each course. The lunch napkin, which should match the table linen, is much smaller than the dinner napkin and is not folded quite the same: it is folded like a handkerchief, in a square of four thicknesses. The square is laid on the plate diagonally, with the monogrammed ( or embroidered ) corner pointing down toward the edge of the table. The upper corner is then turned sharply under in flat crease for about a quarter of its diagonal length; then the two sides are rolled loosely under, with a straight top edge and pointed lower edge, and the monogram displayed in the center. Of course, it can be folded in any simple way if one prefers.
Posted by Eugene Vodovoz at 28 December 2011, 4:34 PM 
Categories: Etiquette
Tags: luncheon damask linen lace decor dishes fruits centerpiece handkerchief
Categories: Etiquette
Tags: luncheon damask linen lace decor dishes fruits centerpiece handkerchief
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