of cooking and serving...
lately, we've been doing a lot of cooking in the house. i even pulled out a couple cookbooks to get tips/ideas for desserts to use up some of the eggs and flour, as my cookie baking day is coming up this Saturday.
(which reminds me, I must email folks by tomorrow noon)
in one of the cookbooks (dated 1946), table service is explained and diagrammed two different ways: one, if you're doing it yourself, and one if your maid is doing it for you. this goes along with what beverages to serve with which course, and where to best set up your dining area.
Buffet service has become a feature of simple home entertaining. In these days of small houses and smaller apartments, it is the only way that a number of guests can be entertained. The buffet type of service can be carried out with success and charm if the menu is thoughtfully planned, even though there is not a maid in attendance.
The table should be arranged well in advance, the details of its setup depending upon facilities in the individual home.
If your dining-room is large, leave your table in the center of the room and arrange it as shown in diagrams VI and VII. Guests follow the arrow. After helping themselves or being helped to the various dishes, guests go to the living room to eat.
If it is necessary to conserve space, a round table may be pushed into a corner and arranged as shown in Diagram VIII. An oblong table can be used against a wall as shown in Diagram IX.
It is well to experiment with the actual dishes you plan to use, to see which position is best from the standpoint of convenience and appearance. The general rule is that everything should be so placed as to be accessible for guests to help themselves and the grouping as a whole should present a balanced pattern. Sometimes members of the family or designated guests serve certain dishes
Try to provide a place for each guest to sit; although it is quite correct for people to stand while eating at a reception or tea, at a buffet meal of this type they are more comfortable sitting down.
If space permits, card tables or miscellaneous small tables may be set up in advance with covers and flat silver. In this case, the silver is not laid out on the buffet table. This work can be done early in the day or someone can put up the tables quickly and cover them after the guests have gone into the dining room. If the living room is not large enough for this arrrangement, use occasional tables.
Is it any wonder these women were on drugs? Seriously, between the pierogies and the entertaining stress... why did they even get out of bed?
(Bree Van De Camp would be proud.)