Rules for Serving Food
1. Place and remove plates from the left of the person being served. Hold the 
plate in your left hand. If you are carrying two plates, place on the table first 
the one in your left hand, then transfer the other plate to your left hand, and 
place it before the next person being served.

2. Place and remove beverages from the right, with your right hand. If you are 
serving tea, coffee, cocoa, or any other hot beverage, take care that the cups 
are not too full. Hot liquid that is spilled can easily cause a painful burn.

3. Refill glasses or cups from the right, leaving them in position on the table rather 
than picking them up.

4. Carry plates in such a way that you do not touch the surface from which food 
is eaten. Avoid touching the rims of glasses. When placing silverware, touch 
only the handles.

5. Offer food to the guest from the left, holding it low enough so that he can easily 
serve himself with his right hand.

6. Never reach across in front of a guest when serving food or removing dishes.

7. When a course is finished, remove all dishes used in that course. Remove 
serving dishes and silver first, then remove the dishes from each person's cover, 
usually beginning with the hostess or guest of honor.

8. Avoid stacking dishes on the table in front of the guest in clearing the table. 
Use your left hand to remove the plate, transfer it to your right hand for the salad 
plate or other dish.


Serving and Removing Food


When you are serving plates of food, carry one in each hand. Standing at the 
left of the person you are serving, place in front of her the plate you are holding 
in your left hand. Then transfer to your left hand the plate you were holding in 
your right hand, move to the next person, and serve her in the same manner.

When you pass food to a person at the table, offer it at her left, low enough so 
she can reach it conveniently with her right hand. Then move to the next person 
at the first parson's right.

When you remove soiled dishes, stand at the left of the person and take the 
plate in your left hand. Transfer the plate to your right hand, leaving your left 
hand free to remove the next plate.

If a guest requests more water, fill her glass or goblet without removing it from 
the table. Hold the pitcher of water in the right hand and a folded napkin in the 
left hand to catch any water that drips as the glass is being refilled. As a 
matter of routine, water glasses or goblets are refilled after the main course 
plates are removed, and before dessert is served.

Buffet Service
Another service that is often used when a quick, informal meal is planned for a 
large crowd is called "buffet service." All the food is placed on platters or in 
bowls on a table, together with silverware, plates and napkins.

Each person serves himself. It is important that the food be easy to serve as 
well as eat. Each person then takes his food to the place where he will eat it.

The hostess may have set up card tables or small folding TV tables, or she may 
have planned that her guests will use lap trays while eating the food. 







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