If you are throwing a party and need a new way to serve food, you might want to try a different serving style. You can have American, French, Russian, or Butlered service. Here are some of the differences between these styles. Choosing the right one depends on how much food you will serve and the size of the room. If you need to serve a lot of food, the American style may be the best choice.
American service
This style of service is common in busy dining areas. Platters are prepared and placed in the kitchen, then servers take them to the guests’ table. These servers use large silver forks to serve the food, which is then transferred to the guests’ plates. The servers move clockwise, serving from the right, while clearing dishes from the left. A server should move clockwise while working on the right side of the room, and counter-clockwise when working from the left.
Another style is called cart service. In cart service, the food is prepared in the kitchen, a cart carrying the food is brought to the table. The food is cooked in small quantities, and paired with the appropriate accompaniments. Cart service is often used in coffee shops, fast-food restaurants, and VIP dining. Cart service is considered to be less formal than tableside service. However, it is also more intimate than a traditional table service.
French service
The French service involves taking food plates from the kitchen to the dining area on carts, while other forms of service involve passing dishes around the table. French service is expensive, requiring a large dining room for the staff to move food plates and prepare them tableside. As a result, there are fewer guests per meal and more expensive food. This type of service also takes a lot of time.
In the French service, food is served to diners from silver platters or casseroles placed on silver platters, and a server sets the table with sterling silverware. The food is portioned out of the kitchen onto silver platters and placed on a sideboard with hot plates or burners. A waiter then picks up the silver platter from the hot plate and presents it to the host. After that, the waiter serves the guests with a service spoon and fork. The French service is considered to be the most expensive and labor-intensive type of service.
Russian service
The French and Russian versions of this style of service have similar principles, but they are slightly different in appearance. Russian service is characterized by food being served on plates, while French service relies on silver trays. Both styles of service have their advantages and disadvantages. The French style has the advantage of requiring less floor space per table, while the Russian style requires a little bit more space. Russian service also requires less staff, since waiters do not have to be as experienced. The only disadvantage is that it requires more table decorations, as different entrees require different silver platters. The first guest may be served with cold food while the second might not have had theirs.
After becoming popular in the 1800s, French and Russian cuisine became increasingly popular in Europe. This resulted in more restaurants opening, and Russian service became the norm. The French style of service was more economical, but the waiters were not accorded the respect that they deserved as the talented chefs of the Russian style. A great deal of credit for making serving guests a profession has been given to Cesar Ritz, who made service to guests a profession in the United States.
Butlered service
With the help of professional waiters, the bride and groom can have a more lavish wedding with butlered service. This style of service is similar to the traditional Russian service, with food being presented on silver platters and individual plates. The plates are prepared in the kitchen, and servers bring them to the tables of guests. A waiter will pick up each silver platter and serve it with a service spoon and fork. In both cases, the waiter will serve from the left side of the room.
Guests enter the dining area, pay for their meals, and then present the coupon to the waiter. Food plates are then taken across the room by a waiter. Guests can also select their dishes from a self-serve counter. Food plates are then taken to individual plates. Guests in self-service dining establishments are usually served in cafeterias and industrial canteens. Compared to the traditional service, this style requires less investment and less skill. Typically, this type of service is reserved for smaller VIP groups.
Silver service
In the world of fine dining, the silver service is used to present food. Food is presented on silver platters, hot plates, or casseroles. Each plate is accompanied by a service spoon. When a silver service is used, food is always presented close to the guest’s plate. Hence, this service method is very expensive, and is usually used in high-end restaurants.
The silver service is a more personalised form of service. During a dinner party, food is brought to the table directly in dishes and salvers. Guests are allowed to help themselves from each dish. In contrast, with a silver service, the food is portioned out into silver platters in the kitchen before being served. The silver platters are then taken across the room in food carts.