My
sister says that my daughter and I are the only two people in the world that she
knows that use a charger plate for a dinner party or holiday meal.
Yes, I use charger plates. I just
love to set a beautiful table... chargers, wine glasses, candlelight, linen
napkins, linen tablecloth, centerpiece, etc. because I like to make the task of eating a meal a beautiful and
enjoyable visual experience. When I set that 108-inch table in the dining room (it doesn’t happen as often as it used to), my family may sit at the dinner
table for at least a couple hours, enjoying each other’s company, laughing and sharing the
events of the days and thoughts of their lives. Now that is my idea of quality family time! And why not make it as special an occasion as possible. Believe it or not, I believe you
could put a charger under a dinner plate and soup bowl, serve Campbell’s canned Clam Chowder and - voila, it would be a special experience (and
trust me, shhhhhhh – I have).
Do you know what a charger plate is and how to
use it?
A
charger plate is a large, decorative base setting for other dinnerware to be placed
on top of during formal occasions such as catered events, weddings, upscale
parties, banquets, or in fine dining restaurants.
Also
known as service plates, under plates, or chop plates, charger plates are
merely decorative and are not meant to come in direct contact with food.
Charger
plates provide an elegant way to serve multiple course meals, where each course
is served in its own separate bowl or plate, and placed on top of the charger.
Charger
plates are available in a variety of colors, materials, lengths/diameters, and
shapes to choose from to match the décor, mood, and style of a particular
event. Chargers are used in multiple course meals as an elegant way to serve salad
plates, soup bowls, and main dinner entrees in order to create unique
presentations for guests.
Why should I use a charger plate?
Charger
plates have many practical purposes, besides the fact that they provide
elegance and enhance the table setting’s décor. Not only do they anchor the
dining table, create ambiance, and are aesthetically pleasing to guests,
chargers also protect the table and tablecloth from becoming dirty during
service. Charger plates can catch pieces of food, and prevent spills and messes
that would otherwise stain the tablecloth or flow onto the table. Chargers also
help to retain the heat in dinnerware since they are placed directly underneath
plates and bowls.
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| visit www.calaisio.com for more beautiful choices in chargers |
How to use charger plates
1. Choose
a charger plate that will help complement the décor of your dining table, and
add visual interest to your event’s overall feel. Take into consideration the
type of plates, bowls, beverage glasses, flatware, serving platters, and linens
you plan to use, and then choose a charger that will balance those styles.
Don’t forget about the tablecloth, fabric overlays, floral arrangements, and
centerpieces that will be placed directly beside the charger plates.
2. Place a
charger at each guest’s corresponding place setting. Set it on top of the
tablecloth or place mat, in between the arranged flatware, and below the beverage
glasses. Chargers should be two feet from one another to give guests enough
elbow room.
3. Align
menu cards, napkins with napkin rings, or name cards in the middle of the
charger plate for use before the dinner service.
4. When
guests are ready to be served, soup bowls, salad plates, and dinner entrees are
then placed directly on top of the charger.
5. After
each course, charger plates should be wiped clean, or replaced to maintain the
purity of the table.
Charger plate etiquette
Follow
these specific etiquette rules when using charger plates at your upscale
catered event, wedding, fine dining restaurant, or dinner party:
Charger
plates should be dressed and ready when guests arrive.
Chargers
are always removed from the table after all guests are finished eating the main
entrée. Chargers should then be taken away with the dinner plate still on top,
as this clears the table and leaves it ready for dessert to be served. Chargers
are never used when serving dessert.
Chargers
can be removed once all guests are seated, or they may remain on the table
throughout the entire length of the meal.
Place
charger plates one inch away from the bottom edge of the table to create
perfect alignment.
Never
serve food directly on top of a charger plate, unless it is coated in a
food-safe material.
Now, if
you have been paying very close attention, you will have noticed that each one
of the photos above have been of a woven rattan charger. However,
each setting has been unique as well as formal or informal. In other words,
there is no set styles or rules when it comes to when to use and where to use a charger.
The
following photos are just a few other types of charger materials (there are more that
can be listed – EVER - so I just picked some photos to share with you that I found beautiful).
METALLIC
WOODEN
WOVEN HYACINTH
CHINA/STONEWARE
DIY: WRAPPED JUTE ROPE
DIY: CUT BUTCHER PAPER
DIY: BURLAP COVERED PLASTIC
DIY: CORK BOARD
The
point is… whatever works for you – works!
Just because
it isn’t a formal dinner, doesn’t mean you can’t use a formal setting with a
formal metallic charger.
And
just because it is a formal dinner, doesn’t mean you can’t use an informal setting with an informal wooden charger.
The combinations are limitless... experiment, have fun, be adventuresome with your tablesettings.
And chargers, just aren't for dinner anymore...
Other uses for charger plates
Use
charger plates as a tray or platter to pass around small appetizers or
desserts, but you may need to make sure to place a doily or a linen napkin on top of the
charger when coming in contact with food.
Group
pillar candles together to create an elegant centerpiece.
Set
floral centerpieces on top of chargers to create a colorful base.
Do you or anyone you know use chargers?
After reading this post, do you think you might just give it a try?
