Background
For centuries, royalty around the world enjoyed luxurious meals with elaborate set ups. Traditional table settings are representative of global cultures. Table settings not only bring a celebratory aesthetic to a meal but also influence the way diners interact with each other. Guests form expectations in their minds based on what they when they arrive at their tables. These expectations are related to style of service and quality of food. We have studied table settings across cultures, social instances, settings and eras. There’s a lot more than what meets the eye when it comes to setting the table right to deliver unforgettable experiences.
Setting the Table
Setting the Table, an exploration of eating rituals across cultures that goes far beyond four legs and a surface. The practice of dictating the precise arrangement of tableware has varied across cultures and historical periods. We studied the principles of basic table setting from an architectural lens; with a focus on ergonomics, comfort and measurement. How we set the table varies based on time of day; the social setting and mood; as well as across global cultures.
A Korean bansang is very different from a Japanese ichiju-sansai; just as there are evident differences between a traditional meal eaten in China vs. in Vietnam. The set up, service style and formal dining etiquette followed in the Unites States is different from its French counterpart; irrespective of there being three, five or seven courses. In India too, a traditional thali (served in stainless steel) is very different from a traditional Sadhya, which is served on a banana leaf!
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