meal management - tools

Aluminum

best heat conductor

Iron

good conductor of heat and hold heat well

Stainless steel

more durable metal, will not easily dent, resistant to rust and stain but poor conductor of heat

Copper

good conductor of heat but dent easily and darkens with use.

Glass

holds heat well but not a good conductor of heat.

Pyroceram

glass with ceramics and borax, making it heat resistant to sudden and extreme changes in temperature.

Clay pottery

glazed or unglazed.

Improperly glazed pottery is hazardous because the lead in the glaze may dissolve in the food.

Teflon

non sticky resin finish making it possible to cook with less fat

Table Appointments

Refers to the tools used for eating, covering the table, and serving the food.

Dinnerware

The collective term for dinner plates, bowls, cups, and saucers, — one of the most necessary items in all of tableware

Place (Service) Plate

12-inch plate, used as an underliner for formal sit-down dinners

Not used to serve food nor used for eating

Dinner Plate

10-inch plate

Used to serve the entrée dish or the main dish

The plate resting just above the place plate

Luncheon Plate

9-inch plate

Used for multiple purposes like informal everyday dining, breakfast, or under plate for soup bowls

Bread and Butter Plate

6-inch plate

Used for serving breads, molded salads, rice, or desserts

Salad Plate

7-inch plate

Used for serving salads and desserts

May be used as an underliner for stemmed beverageware, cereal or soup bowl

Soup Plate

9-inch, DEEP plate

Used for soup, cereal, salad, or dessert

Usually served with an underplate

Cereal Bowl

6-inch, deep dish

Used for serving cereals, desserts, or rice

Can sometimes be used for salads with dripping sauce or dressing

Cup and Saucer

Comes in pairs

Used for serving coffee or tea

For informal event meals, soups can be served in them as well

Saucer has an inner groove or ring

Demitasse Cup and Saucer

Half the size of a regular cup and saucer

Usually served after dinner, black or espresso coffee or very hot chocolate

Pottery

Made from crude clay fired at very low temperature with large pores.

Absorbs moisture

thick looking

glazed

Stoneware

Made from white clay, fired once at a very low temperature

Usually in white

porous with a transparent glaze

Porcelain

“china”

Made from refined white clay, feldspar, and silica (quartz); fired at very high temperatures

Translucent, fragile looking

Belleek China

porcelain made in Ireland

Delicate and thin, creamy eggshell type of porcelain

Terra Cotta

Made from red clay

Unglazed and fired at low temp

Soft and very porous

Thermoplastic

Soft plastic, easily softened by heat

Not usually used for plates that need to be sterilized

Thermosetting

Harder than thermoplastic

not easily affected by heat

Wood

Not practical for constant use

absorbs water

vanishing wears off

Lead Glass

crystal

milk glass

pure bone ash and minerals

opaque

Borosilicate Glass

Made from boric oxide

heat resistant

Pyroceram

combination of ceramics and borax

heat and cold resistant

Enamelware

Made from a base metal coated with a liquid plus finely ground glass fused with metal by firing at high temperatures

Brassware

“Tabak” - gold in color

Made of an alloy of copper and zinc

Teflon / Silverstone

Carbon-fluorine polymers with synthetic coatings

Non-stick, easily scratched

Stainless steel

Mainly steal with 15% chromium and some nickel

Inlay

part of the base metal is replaced by sterling silver

Overlay

added silver is applied at these points and can be seen from the small slightly elevated circle of silver

Sterling Silver

92.5% silver with a 7.5% additive, usually copper

“Heirlooms of Tomorrow”

Silver-Plated

Made by electroplating individual pieces of flatware with silver nickel to distinguish the ware from sterling silver

Stainless Steel

Material used for stainless steel is an alloy of chromium, nickel and steel

Chrome nickel

high-grade ware, given a careful smooth and even finish - soft permanent luster

Vermeil

Gold-plated ware in which the base metal is either stainless steel or sterling silver

- Very expensive

Dirilyte

Type of gold flatware is an alloy of aluminum, copper, and nickel

Vermeil, Gold Electroplated

Manual dishwashing is also recommended to prevent scratching and denting

water goblet

8-12 oz

wide mouth, wide bowl glass, not so high stem

cocktail glass

2 ½ - 5 oz

long stem

champagne glass

4 ½ - 5 oz

saucer like body, hollow stem

sherry glass

2-3 oz

v-shaped body, very short stem

cordial glass

1 oz

tulip shaped body, short stem

white wine glass

3-5 oz

fluted body, long stem

red wine glass

3-5 oz

wide mouth body, long stem

brandy

5-11 oz

oblong-shaped body, arched moth, very short stem

pilsner

7-12 oz

long, narrow, triangular body, very short stem

sherbet glass

6 oz

wide mouth, saucer-like, thick

hurricane glass

8-12 oz

curved body in the middle

parfait glass

4 ½ - 9 oz

tall narrow body, same shape (top-bottom)

old fashion glass

7 ½ oz

narrow base, wide moth, thick body

high ball

12 oz

tall, same width (base-mouth)

tumblers

8 oz

narrow base, wide mouth and body

juice glass

6 oz

smaller than the tumbler

whiskey glass or shot glass

1 ½ oz

narrow base, wide mouth and body

collins glass

similar to high ball glass but smaller

beer mug

smaller to old-fashioned glass but thick with handles

Table Cloth

used to cover the entire surface of the table

overhang of about 10-15 inches from the table edge for sit-down dinners

Silence Cloth

used to minimize the noise while serving

Runner

long narrow strip of cloth placed on bare tables

placed either crosswise or lengthwise

Placemat

18-24 inches long.

It may come in a variety of shapes from oval, round, rectangular, or square

Topcloth

small piece of cloth placed on the top of the larger tablecloth

Napkin

cloth used by individual diners

Skirting

long piece of cloth is used to hide the table legs to make the table more presentable