When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Mary Hollis Huddleston Setting a perfectly laid table is an essential part of hosting.

Most people walk into a restaurant, glance at the menu, maybe check the lighting, and sit down without giving the table itself a second thought. That's a mistake. People who have spent years working ...

The intricacies of table settings have gone the way of butlers and parasol flirtations, calling cards and dressing for dinner. But that may be changing. After all, Downton Abbey was wildly popular for ...

When dining In a restaurant, do you puzzle over which bread-and-butter plate belongs to you? Do you know how to communicate to your server — without speaking —that you’re done with your dish? The ...