Have you ever seen a photo of a spoon on social media and wondered, "What is that for?" Well, a few weeks ago, food writer Kat Kinsman, the editor-in-chief of CNN's Eatocracy blog, shared a photo of a spoon with an unusual design.
Unlike the typical food pictures we see, this spoon was attached to a question: "What is it and what is it used for?" Kinsman was dining with a group of high-end foodies at a fancy dinner hosted by world-renowned chef Thomas Keller.
As Kinsman later explained, her love for specialized, historic utensils like grape scissors or fish cutter stems from her background in fine arts with a focus on metalwork. A quicksearch reveals that the spoon in question is a special kind of soup spoon—designed to scoop soup without spilling, with a notch that filters out excess oil.
Tableware and It's Cultural Significance
It's not surprising that a food expert would feel confident with a piece of specialized tableware, but what odd is the fact that even someone like Kinsman, a seasoned expert, felt the need to seek approval from the global food community about the “classiness” of her dinnerware. As she admitted, seeing such intricate and elegant tableware left her feeling a bit lost.
The Role of Tableware in Social Status
As with many things accepted by the British, the fork quickly became a symbol of social status. During the Georgian and Victorian periods, tableware became more elaborate and the seating arrangements at dinner tables more complex. For those who wanted to maintain an air of sophistication but still look comfortable eating, a spoon with a wide, curved bottom became popular. It was especially effective for drinking soup without tilting the bowl. On the other hand, utensils like fish cutter—thought to be for cutting fish—were seen as unnecessary and a sign of showiness. This might explain why rumors suggest that the royal family doesn't use fish cutters, though Buckingham Palace has declined to confirm this.
How to Navigate Fine Dining
John Betjeman's poem How to Get on in Society humorously touches on the intricacies of table etiquette, mentioning everything from forks to napkins and even the placement of condiments. His 20-line poem offers one of the most insightful commentaries on how table settings in Britain reflect class distinctions. It reminds us that people may be more concerned with how the cutlery is arranged than what is actually on the plate.
Fine Dining at It's Best
To truly appreciate fine dining, we must understand the art of setting a table. This is evident in high-end restaurants that pride themselves on their meticulous table arrangements. When we had the privilege of attending a training session at Alain Ducasse's three-Michelin-star restaurant at The Dorchester in London. The restaurant features a table called Table Lumière, which is considered the most beautiful in London, surrounded by curtains with 4,500 shimmering fiber optics. In the display cabinets, you'll find fine dinnerware from ,all over the world . Each piece is carefully selected, and the experience is not complete without a dedicated dishwasher—yes, a real person, not a machine.
The Process of Table Setting
During the training, was given a uniform to match the restaurant's high standards. The process of setting a table began with aligning the chairs with the room's shape and ensuring that the lighting was just right. The tablecloth had to be perfectly ironed before being placed, and the utensils were polished one by one, then arranged according to a specific method. The measurement of spacing, based on the width of one's fingers, is a rule in Michelin-starred restaurants. This is an art, and even a small mistake in the setup can ruin the entire arrangement.
Despite the attention to detail, the restaurant's table setting philosophy is surprisingly simple. Gone are the days of having layers upon layers of cutlery. Now, utensils are placed on the side of the decorative plate, and they are switched out according to the dishes being served. The idea is to avoid overwhelming diners with too many utensils, allowing them to focus on the meal itself.
Minimalism vs. Over-the-Top Elegance
There is another school of thought when it comes to table settings, focusing on simplicity rather than extravagance. The St. John restaurant is a perfect example of this minimalist approach. The tables feature plain white dishes with mismatched cutlery. There is no distraction like fancy decorations or music—just focus on the food itself. Similar restaurants, like Andrew Edmunds and Hereford Road, embrace this philosophy, aiming to slide away the excess and let the meal take center stage.
Conclusion: The Meaning Behind Table Settings
Whether you prefer the opulence of fine dining or the simplicity of a minimalist setup, one thing remains clear: table settings are an essential part of dining culture. They reflect not only our social status but also our attitude toward tradition and class. As Betjeman might agree, the way we arrange our dining tables—whether to flaunt our wealth or to reject the bourgeois conventions—speaks volumes about who we are and how we perceive the world. So, next time you sit down for a meal, think about the table setting as more than just an aesthetic choice—it's a reflection of the larger dining experience.
