Plate Chargers: What's Their Purpose?

The day of your dinner party has arrived and final details as coming together. As you begin to make the final touches to the table you are contemplating whether to use a plate charger has become the most trivial finishing touch to a perfect table setting.There is no right or wrong way in charger plate etiquette. Usually larger in size than most dinner plates, their function is for the sole purpose of being a decorative touch to a place setting, since no food is actually served on them. Many restaurants opt to keep the charger plate until the patron has finished the entire meal, while others take the charger plate after the soup and salad course. Choosing to leave this decorative plate until the end of the meal is your option.

If your decision is to use a plate charger, here are some pointers:

• Place the charger plate on to the table exactly 1 inch from the edge at each place setting.
• Silverware should be placed on both sides of the place setting.
• Set first course dishes, such as individual soup bowls, on to the center of the charger plate.
• Remove the first-course serving dish from the charger plate. If there is any food residue on the charger, remove it from the table. Take the charger plate to the kitchen. You can quickly wipe the food residue from the charger or hand wash it, if necessary. Replace the charger plate.
• Serve the next first-course dish. For example, a salad plate would be set in the center of the charger plate.
• Decide if you wish to keep the charger plates on the table during the entree serving. You can place the entree dinner plate directly onto the charger plate.
• Remove the charger plates from the table before serving dessert.

Whatever the decision, your selection of plate chargers to chose from are limitless. Stores like Macy's and Potterybarn offer a great selection of modern and unique styles. Plate chargers are available in a variety of material such as acrylic, porcelain and metallic and in many colors and shapes. The most common charger plate is round, but square and octagon shaped chargers are also an option. Whichever style you choose, your tablescape will surely be stylish!