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When setting the table for breakfast, the plates are placed after covering the table with the molleton fabric and the tablecloth. Then come the cups with their saucers, cutlery and serviettes. When setting the table attention must be paid that a high level of symmetry is maintained so that a consistent and well-rounded impression can be achieved.

Plates

Firstly, the dessert plate is laid. Each plate is placed about 1 cm (or a thumb's width) from the edge of the table. In the case of rectangular tables the plates should be aligned next to each other. There are two possible forms for placements opposite each other. In the first case, the plates are laid opposite each other (→ Figure), and, in the other, the place settings (→ Figure). Following the dessert plates, the cups and saucers are laid. In this case, the upper edge of the saucer should be aligned with the upper edge of the plate, although, in some households, the cup and saucer may also be laid a little higher.

Cutlery

The knife is placed on an imaginary line about 1cm (or a thumb's width) from the edge of the table to the right next to the dessert plate. However, you may also place it on the plate in combination with a serviette. The teaspoon is laid next to the cup with its handle parallel to the handle of the cup. Finally, the serviettes are either placed upright or laid down.

Figure 1: Place setting for breakfast

Types of breakfast

Early morning tea

This is most commonly known in Great Britain Here, a cup of tea is drunk before breakfast in the morning between 6am and 7am. In certain cases, some pastries are served in addition. In Great Britain many hotels provide a kettle with which guests can prepare tea themselves.

Simple breakfast

This, for example, is practised in France. It consists of coffee (sometimes also tea) and a breakfast pastry, such as a brioche or croissant with butter.

Full breakfast

A good breakfast in Germany classically consists of coffee, tea, cocoa, milk, fruit juice, bread rolls and bread, butter, preserves and honey. This may be expanded to include cooked meat and cheese, breakfast cereals, muesli and yoghurt, quark, egg dishes and fruit. Further possible additions are fresh grain porridge, semolina pudding and sweet pastries.

Intercontinental breakfast

Hierunter versteht man ein Frühstück mit einem Getränk (z. B. Kaffee, Tee, Kakao, Milch), Butter, Marmelade, Konfitüre und Honig sowie Frühstücksgebäck. Dazu können verschiedene andere, regional übliche Gerichte (wie z. B. Eier und Eiergerichte, Fischgerichte, Pfannkuchen oder auch Porridge) bestellt werden.

English breakfast

The classical English breakfast is extremely substantial. It consists of fruit juice, tea, porridge, baked beans, bacon, sausages, fried or scrambled eggs, grilled tomatoes, fried mushrooms and toast.

Porridge is also eaten at breakfast in other countries, such as, for example, in Sweden where there is "Havregrynsgröt" (porridge oats) which is eaten with a spoonful of strawberry or cranberry preserve or with apple sauce. A further variant is semolina (Mannagrynsgröt) with apple sauce.

Increasingly frequently breakfast is served in the form of a buffet so that guests can choose between the dishes which are provided.

Brunch

This is a combination of breakfast (breakfast) and lunch (lunch) and takes places generally between 11am and 2pm. As the name suggests, breakfast and lunch are combined here into one single meal.

References

Siegel, Lenger, Stickler, Gutmayer: Service - Die Grundlagen, 2006
Loddenkötter, Marion, So geht's: Tischdecken Arbeitsanleitung, aid infodienst, 2005

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