Author Suzanne von Drachenfels has drawn upon a wealth of information she acquired as a Tabletop Consultant for Fitz & Floyd and working in the West Wing of the White House! She has shared her passion on television and in seminars, and now in this impressive volume.
The Art of the Table begins with a glossary of terms used in table settings, and in chapter after chapter, the author expands on the intricacies of proper placement, selection, history, decoration, styles, and uses for various pieces of tableware ("an inclusive word for dinnerware, flatware, and glassware; the ware from which food and drink are taken."
If there's a question you have about table setting, you will certainly find the proper answer in this book. If you must know, or are just curious about, the difference between a lug soup bowl and a cream soup bowl, you'll find them simply drawn to proportion on the pages of this book.
Read on to learn the history of the tablecloth, how to select the right size, and how to properly store a tablecloth when not in use. Learn about napkins and see line-drawn illustrations of simple napkin folds.
Learn about tea, coffee, wine, and iced tea. Not just when to serve it and how, but where it originated, how to brew it, and the aroma and flavor of various varieties.
While most readers may not need to know how to filet a whole fish at the table of a formal dinner, you'll find the information here. In fact, the reader will find the proper way to eat almost any food imaginable, and the information can prove to be very helpful.
The simple yet detailed illustrations help to make the most difficult description clear. Beautiful colored photographs are few, but show exquisite silver, pottery, china, and glassware set on tables from formal to rustic, informal to al fresco.
In the words of the author, "When it's time to leave. . .make the departure brief but cordial." Happy reading!