Silver Service (article)

Silver Service

Who’s Waiting Articles: What is Silver Service?...

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Silver Service Waiting :

What is a Silver Service Waiter ?

Referred to by the French as "English Service" or service anglais, silver service technique has all but died out in private homes (except perhaps for those of great wealth). Silver service actually describes the process of serving diners from a "silver" service dish to the diners plate, rather than the more common practice of serving the plate to the diner.

Thus the silver service waiter or waitress must bring the food to the guests via a silver service platter and must be well acquainted with silver service etiquette and technique.

Origins

Silver service waiting has it's origins in the manors, country seats and fine houses of the British middle and upper classes of previous centuries. It has a sister term of "butler service" which emanates from the age old practice of giving the waiting staff Sunday evenings off – the butler, who presumably was not given the evening off – would serve the diners from a silver platter which he carried from person to person. One can easily imagine that the food on the platter would be the re–presented meats etc. from a large Sunday lunch – perhaps the guests were still rather full?.

Silver Service Technique

Meals are served to the diners from silver service platters carried to them, not by laying down plates of food on the table.

The guest to the host's (hostesses) right is served first.
Service is conducted in a clockwise direction.
Silver service food is always served from the left and cleared from the right.
Glasses are served and cleared from the right
Glasses are laid out to the right in a diagonal fashion with the water glass in front of the diner – ordered in sequence for the wines by course.

Is Silver Service still popular ?

It is a convivial practice although not always particularly practical. This being said – many people really enjoy silver service etiquette and in the right setting it can really add style to an event or function.

Where can I find a Silver Service Waiter ?

Who's Waiting are a Sydney based company who have a Gold Star System for choosing hospitality staff for events. All wait staff must meet the following criteria:

5 years service in the industry
Intimate knowledge of all major function types (dinners, corporate functions , cocktail parties etc.)
Team work and punctuality credentials that meet the groups high standards