The pinnacle of table setting, sure to impress any dinner guest, is the formal European style. While it may be a bit over the top for most occasions, it's sometimes fun to pull out all the stops. Building on the more casual settings, the formal setting includes multiple pieces of silverware, multiple glasses and a few extra finishing touches. Follow the rules of order by placing silverware in the order it will be used, starting with the outside. One classic European arrangement includes three forks on the left: fish, dinner and salad (always an end course in Europe), matching knives on the right, a large soupspoon, and a seafood or shellfish fork on the outside right. This last example is an exception to the "forks on the left" rule. The bread plate and butter knife are always present on the left above the forks, and to the right of them are traditionally a small set of salt and pepper shakers. Glasses are all placed on the right in descending order of height with the water glass (the tallest) nearest the plate. Additional glasses might include a red wine glass, a white wine glass and a sherry glass (often served with dessert). If champagne is served, it is common to place a tall champagne flute between and just above the water and red wine glass to create a triangular look. The signature European touch is to place a small dessert fork and/or a dessert spoon horizontally above the plate with the fork handle on the left and the spoon handle on the right. If both dessert utensils are placed, the fork should be on the bottom. If the meal begins with a soup course, place the soup bowl on the plate before the meal begins and then remove it after the soup course has ended. If soup appears at some point after the first course, bring bowls to the table when they are needed. The perfect finishing touch is a hand-written name card placed either on the center of the plate or just above the dessert-ware.
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