"sf" > ha scritto nel messaggio , "l, not -l"
> wrote:
>
>> In my home, we have always served meals family-style; plates and
>> silverware>> at each place and food self-served from
>> bowls/platters/whatever.
>
> I absolutely hate family style, but I do require a properly set table> -
> fork on the left, knife on the right, napkin (folded) and placed
> *under* the fork.

I suppose Queen Elizabeth and all residents and guests of the White House
are hillbillies.
Putting platters on the table is the servantless version of having things
passed by footmen. Kitchen plating is really only for appetiser/antipasto
courses usually and seems to restauranty to me. I can't predict what or how
much people will want, so other than composed plates and occasionally
certain pastas, platters r us, but arranged and garnished.