How to set the table - Anna Post

Can't remember where your soup spoon ought to go? What about your salad fork? Knowing how to set a traditional table can seem like antiquated etiquette -- but it can come in handy! Anna Post, great-great-granddaughter of etiquette expert Emily Post, shows how to set a table with a plate full of tips and tricks to boot (even your grandmother will be impressed).

Lesson by Anna Post, animation by TED-Ed.

[niclerose]

The way you set your table is important, because it influences three things: It indicates the tone/feeling that people have about being together. It lets people know that you think they are important enough to put in extra effort for them. It influences the appearance of the food served. This video really gives us lots of ideas about setting a table.

[ZachyCraft]

"Have you ever helped set a table and found yourself wondering where to place the forks?"

No.

[joshatronify]

Useful! Many don't know this and it's always a nice refresher for those who do know.

[DannyandPatty]

When I once learned to set the table, I always took out so many knives and forks, and because my family is Chinese, they would always be like 'Put it back, we're Chinese, and we eat with chopsticks.'

[LamusMaser]

Another great way to remember placement of the utensils: FORK is LEFT (four letters), KNIFE/SPOON is RIGHT (five letters).

[sanjnaization]

Thanks TED for the collaboration of great educators and animators to create this lesson that is so worth sharing like how could I even imagine passing out of high school without this!! Thank you so much! You saved my life and I owe you one!! Keep making amazing videos like this and I wish you the best of luck! :)

[rdjwpvi]

i never learned any of these when i was younger and im so glad someone on the internet teaches this for free. i hope modern people nowadays learn back the old ways like this. its more interesting 😊

[keomonyduongkeo]

Me: as a left-handed
Guess I'll stave

[Peonyandbee]

As soon as you walk into a house and the table is set like that you know you’re about to have a “relaxing” and “comfortable” dinner experience 😂

[nikitaromi]

Great and very useful! It was amazing help for my school project on setting the table

[alanhorowitz]

Excellent. I've made countless dinners for people and have only winged it. Finally, I watch your video and it's all clear. Btw, I never knew that it's either a table cloth or place mat but never both. I'd been making that mistake for years.

[crystxalfrosty]

The utensils can be doubled or tripled depending on which food or meal you will need. The most important thing is about its place arrangements.

[GabrielKnightz]

Thanks, that's pretty cool.
The more you know.

[dantheman]

I love the intro so much better then the new ones

[ramlydiosa]

all I need are my hands, a banana leaf to eat anything.. plus a glass of water

[GKSTR]

Etiquette and the study of social interactions during mealtime can actually be very very interesting material

[paulmag]

I hoped there would be some mathematical reasoing behind it.

[irfanprabowo]

Thanks for the video, but i'm Indonesian, we are eating with hands.

[vanessasanchez]

Thank you I don’t usually set a complete table but It’s nice to once in a while do it

[Tupster]

That makes sense! I was wondering why it would just be assumed that you'd use your off hand for your fork. I would only want my knifes on the right personally, even though if I'm doing knife work I use my left hand. Next time I eat a fancy meal I'm going to "fix" the layout, lol