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  • Wine
  •     — How Wine and Food work together
  •     — Italian Wines
  •     — Wines around the world
  •     — The Glasses
  •     — Whine making
  •     — What is Wine
  • Credenza
  •     — Newspapers and magazines
  •     — Flower Arrangement Design
  •     — Welcome basket
  •     — Credenza, What it is and what it is used for
  • Roles and Responsibilities of VIP Flight Attendant
  •     — Pre Flight Duties
  •     — Pets on Board
  •     — Kids on Board
  •     — Professional language
  •     — Professional protocol
  •     — Inflight duties
  •     — VIP FA Role
  •     — Professional Categories of Flight Attendants (FA)
  •     — Oshibori
  •     — Post Flight duties
  • THE WORLD of CAFFEE & TEA
  •     — Afternoon Tea
  •     — Coffee
  • SILVER SERVICE & TABLE SETTING
  •     — Cutlery Classification
  •     — Table Setting
  •     — Silver Service
  • CATERING & MENU
  •     — Menu
  •     — Catering
  • PRIVATE AVIATION
  •     — Fleet - Types of private Jets
  •     — Commercial aviation and Corporate aviation
  •     — Introduction in Private Aviation
  • GOURMET FOOD
  •     — Cheese
  •     — Fois Gras
  •     — Caviar
  •     — Salmon
  • BEVERAGE
  •     — Italian Wines
  •     — Wines Around the World
  •     — Red Wine
  •     — White Wine
  •     — Champagne
  •     — Wine
  •     — Cocktails
  •     — Champagne-based Cocktails or Sparkling Cocktails
  •     — Digestive Liqueurs
  • Basic Vocabulary and Expressions
Silver Service, SILVER SERVICE & TABLE SETTING
Silver Service: An Introduction and Its Different Styles
SEE ALL LESSONS

Silver service is s a method of food service at the table, with the waiter transferring food from a serving dish to the guest's plate, always from the left.  Servers will use clips (fork and spoon), and hold the cutlery like chopsticks or pincers to transfer the food from the silverware to each guest’s plate.  Traditionally, food is carried in on silver platters hence the term silver service.  As a guest it’s a special experience to be served in this way, and staff can control guest portions if needed.

Silver service is a type of service that adds a certain amount of style to an occasion. If it is done well with flair, customers will be impressed and think very highly of your professionalism. In order to become proficient at silver service, you must practice, preferably not on customers. One of the best places to practice is at home. You can very easily silver serve dinner to your family every evening to become comfortable and efficient at this technique. This will ensure that you will not be nervous when you serve customers and that they can enjoy the ceremony of having the beautifully presented food on the service platter transferred to their own plate.

A variation of silver service is called Gueridon service. In this case, a trolley is placed next to the customer’s table and food is served onto plates from this trolley. Gueridon service also refers to cookery at the guest’ table. In this case the waiter will do the actual cooking of a dish next to the customer. Popular Gueridon dishes include Crepes Suzette and Steak Tartar.

It is extremely important to follow all relevant health and safety principles and food hygiene principles. You must also be comfortable with silver service techniques in order to provide service that meets customer’s expectation.

Before attempting to silver serve food to customers, you must be prepared (mise-en-place). All your service items and equipment must be clean, undamaged and positioned ready for service.

Types of Silver Service – Explained

Silver Service

Traditional high-end British service where food is served from a

platter to the guest’s plate directly at the table, from the left-hand side,

using silverware (spoon and fork). It symbolizes elegance and manual

skill.

• Used in luxury hotels, private jets, and formal banquets.

Russian Service

All dishes are pre-portioned and plated in the kitchen and then served

directly to the guests on warm plates.

• Very formal, used in diplomatic dinners and royal banquets.

Service is done from the right-hand side.

English Service

Similar to family-style service: the host or head guest serves the food

and passes it around, with assistance from the waiter.

• Less formal but still elegant, often used in private

representative dinners.

French Service

Highly elegant and complex: food is presented on a guéridon (serving

trolley) and portioned tableside. Requires two staff members: one to

serve and one to present.

• Used in fine-dining restaurants or on yachts and private jets

with expert crews.

Italian Service

A hybrid between French and Russian service: food is brought out in

serving dishes and then either plated in front of the guest or served

directly.

• Highlights presentation, tradition, and the enjoyment of taste

and conversation.American Service

Food is pre-plated in the kitchen and delivered straight to the guest.

Fast, practical, and hygienic.

• Standard in commercial flights, international hotels, and

upscale events.

Yacht Service

Highly personalized and flexible. Combines elements of French, Silver,

and Butler service while adapting to the motion of the sea, limited

space, and comfort expectations.

• Requires discretion, creativity, and expert mise en place

skills.

Butler Service

The most exclusive and tailored service. The butler is dedicated to a

single guest or family, fully aware of their preferences and in charge of

everything: wardrobe, meals, welcome, and personal care.

• Bespoke luxury service, often found on private jets, yachts,

villas, and presidential suites.