How do you serve food?

[ettieb]

Talking to a friend and she said she went to friends for dinner recently and they plated up the food for her which she found very odd. She and her family have always put food into serving dishes on the table for guests to help themselves. Am I committing a faux paux by plating up food?!

It's depends on who your guests are, the occasion, the type of food being served. There aren't any hard and fast rules as far as I'm aware.

Friends & family, I plate up for them. They do the same for me.

I don't own any serving dishes!

It depends a bit on what is being served - some things are messy to help yourself and easier to plate up. But as a general rule I would let guests help themselves.

For family I would sometimes plate depending on what was being served, but I would always let guests serve themselves according to their preference on foods, portion size etc.

My table is too small for settings AND food in the centre, so I plate up, but I do ask how hungry people are.

If serving afternoon tea then everything goes on the table.

Totally depends on what I’m serving and who is eating with me.

Helping yourself is the the informal way. My Nan would probably have called that a ‘kitchen supper’ with a big cottage pie and veg or something.

Serving for your guests and just giving them what you’ve plated is more ‘dinner party’ to me.

I always put food in serving dishes and we help ourselves . I hate waste and what's ever left goes in the fridge for left overs.

I plate up. I was brought up with food being plates up.

The in laws ALWAYS put every thing in bowls/platter to help yourself. It always seems dealt stressful and a guddle. Kitchen is always a tip afterwards too. Plus there's nearly always loads of waste that just gets thrown out.

I don't think there's a right or wrong way to do it, just comes down to personal preference.

Always in serving dishes and help ourselves, every day even if just DH and me. Also when camping!!

We plate up usually but it depends what is being served so some meals e.g. a roast would be in dishes.

I was brought up with serving dishes on the table. It was a learning opportunity for please can you pass the ,,,,, etc. thank you’s and table manners.

My partner plates up and I find it weird. Sometimes I plate the main dish band bring it to the table but I like to have the veggies, bread, salad etc on the table.

Being served plated up food is one of my pet hates.

Despite asking for a small portion, I invariably am served a huge, stacked up plate. Which is so off putting.

I always let people serve themselves for every meal.

I usually plate up. Otherwise known as 'share out' the food. My lads will eat whatever they can get their grubby mitts on, and when I put a stew or pie on the table it can be grim being the last one in.

Utterly depends on the meal and how many people it’s for.
Also how many dishes involved.
Sunday roast with 5 or 6 dishes and more than 4 people- in serving dishes.
Cottage pie and carrots for just my family - on the plate.
If there are choices and people outside the immediate family then I’m dishes is easier - people can pick and choose what they want without embarrassment.

Food in middle of the table, help yourself, pass it around.

Serving dishes for me.

Serving dishes and serve yourself.

If it's just my husband and me, we usually have meals plated up. With guests we tend to put things on serving plates as I think it's nicer if everyone can serve themselves what and how much they want, but with just two of us it's easier to ask how much he wants in the kitchen (and I'm still in the habit from when we had a tiny dining table). If we have a child we'd probably switch to that kind of set up but it works for now.

Always serving dishes here whether I'm eating with my kids or with other grown ups.

I can't imagine being given a plate full of food! That would be really odd, especially at a dinner party.

Our table is quite small so I plate up but I ask people what they want as I'm serving

@Itsnotdeep

Always serving dishes here whether I'm eating with my kids or with other grown ups.

I can't imagine being given a plate full of food! That would be really odd, especially at a dinner party.

Restaurants must be a shock

I generally plate up for family in the week and use serving dishes at the weekend or when we have guests. Serving dishes didn’t work when the kids were little, they made a mess and tended not to try new things, just took what they liked best. Some meals lend themselves to serving dishes , like wraps and fillings or salads. Others it’s often easier to plate up, eg stews and casseroles, though I usually ask how much people want!

As a child I was always given a plate, and expected to eat everything regardless of appetite or preference.

I have always served in dishes. My children grew up serving themselves. They learned to only take their fair share, and they could always take more later. Also that they could try a small amount of something, without the pressure of a whole portion to commit to.

I always put food in serving dishes so guests can choose what and who much they want. Again, they can always take more.

In restaurants I generally choose a starter and a side of veg or salad. I cannot eat large portions these days, and restaurant portion seem to be huge.

If someone plated food for me, however kindly meant, I would not hesitate in leaving what I did not want to eat. It would be a waste though.