by Sharon Cohen

Created on: April 25, 2007   Last Updated: April 27, 2007

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This holds especially true when serving food at a formal buffet or a potluck supper. Whether setting a buffet table from your own kitchen or arranging dishes for a potluck supper, appearance can change a culinary mistake into a masterpiece.

Space permitting, the buffet table should be placed in the center of the room. However, if space is limited, the table may be along the side of the room.

A long buffet table, in the center of a room, provides access from all sides and will accommodate the largest group of guests in a timely fashion. If not, with the table along an outer edge, space should be made for the servers to replenish from behind.

Once the placement of the main buffet table is determined, cover the table with a cloth. Ideally, the cloth will extend to the floor on all sides presented to your guests.

The buffet table should then be set in the following order going around the table, if possible, or from one end to the other.

1) Dinner plates and/or bowls
2) Rice, Noodles or starch based dishes
3) Main dishes, meats, casseroles, hearty soups, etc.
4) Hot and/or cold vegetables
5) Salads
6) Breads
7) Relishes, condiments, dressings, etc.
8) Eating utensils
9) Napkins

Beverages, cups or glasses and additional napkins should be placed on a serving table remote from the main buffet table. If possible, it is ideal to set beverages on each dining table.

If dessert will be served plan to prepare yet another serving table in much the same fashion as the buffet table was prepared. Additional use of levels, layers and decorative items will fill the space not utilized for desserts if serving a single sheet cake or similar large item. Dessert plates, napkins and utensils should be placed at one end.

The secret to a fabulous display is not never place all the food on one level surface. It gives the appearance of bringing livestock to a trough.

Prior to bringing out the food, the buffet table should be prepared. Create all of your levels, steps, heights and valleys. Large books, empty baking dishes turned upside down, and sturdy but shallow boxes are appropriate. Allow sufficient space so dishes won't easily be knocked off and then cover the created surfaces with additional fabric or table cloths.

Indicate where food platters or bowls can be placed by setting empty dishes of comparable size or chargers to hold the actual dish.

Use decorative items, suited to your theme, to further raise some dishes above the others. I find that plant stands

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