Social Etiquette Tip of the Week - What's That Pretty Plate For?

[Maria Brady]

Many people wonder what they are supposed to do with those large decorative plates that are part of the place setting on a formal dinner table. They are called charger plates, and they've been around since the late 1800s. Chargers pretty much disappeared during the 1990s, but now they're back in vogue, and their proper use is a point of confusion for some.

Also known as a chop plate, service plate or under plate, a charger plate never has food placed directly onto it; it serves as an aesthetic place onto which food-bearing dishes are placed. Because it never comes into contact with food it can be made out of a wide range of materials. In addition to standard china, metal, wood, plastic, mother-of-pearl and even leather chargers can be had.

Charger plate etiquette varies, but some general rules apply. The charger should be in place prior to guests being seated, placed one inch from the edge of the table and between the silverware settings. Some hosts remove it before any food is served, but occasionally, soup and first courses are placed on the charger which is cleared before the entrée is served. Some hosts enjoy the appearance of the charger, and the ambience it adds to the table, and leave it on the table throughout the course of the meal. Manners mavens however, frown upon this and say that it should be removed before the main course, especially if the entree requires cutting; a dinner plate might slip and slide if it's placed on top of a charger. Everyone agrees that the charger should be removed before the dessert course.

A decorative charger plate is an elegant element of a place setting, and a wonderful way to add color and texture to your dinner table. Though the plates are often associated with formal affairs, they can be used for all occasions to spice up your dinner parties. A colorful charger with a harmonizing hue, or one made from a showy metallic material, can add a less stuffy touch of class to an informal gathering.

[Maria Brady]

That was bad manners and I am in full agreement that plates for each course should be cleared at the same time. Clearing a plate before everyone is finished draws attention to the people who eat too fast and it makes the person who eats slowly feel rushed. I will focus next week’s article on this topic…m

[Julie Trigg]

A friend and I was having dinner the other night and she finished her main course before me and the waitress came right over and proceeded to remove all of my friends dishes. Then we started talking about how today this is now the norm in just about all the restaurants.

Please state your position on this and maybe the restaurants will read your column!

To us, this was bad manners for the restaurant and we started talking about getting your opinion on this.