13.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF LINEN

The term Linen is broadly used to include the tablecloth, silence cloth,
runners, place mats, and napkins.
Linens come in varied types of materials, including fiber, plastic, and
paper. They provide the background for the dining table, as they come in
different colors, styles, textures, and designs to fit the theme, occasion, or
atmosphere in the dining room. They are chosen to blend with the other
table appointments and create the desired dining ambiance.
Linen includes table covering and napkins of all types. Table linen
should be durable and serviceable, attractive and suited to other
appointments, reasonably priced and easily laundered. Linen should always
be spotlessly clean. Well-laundered linen can make a table attractive no
matter how few and simple the appointments may be. Size is important
because the wrong size will look awkward.
The following are the different types of linen used when setting up a
table.
 Silence Pad
Many food service
establishments use a silencer or a
silence pad. It is used primarily as
a cover to line your table to protect
against scratches, reduce the noise
that the china produces. If a
silence pad is used, it should be
placed evenly on the table to avoid
hanging down below the table
cloth.

 Tablecloth
Once the silencer has been
placed, the tablecloth is placed on
top of it. Remember that all
corners should fall on an even
distance from the floor. It should
also be free from wrinkles, holes
and stains.
 Sizes of table Cloth
 36 inches square for 4
persons
 45” or 54” square for 6
persons
 72”, 86”, or 90” long for 8 to
16 people.

 Table Runner
 A table runner is narrow piece of linen or cloth that can either
be laid upon a table cloth or on a bare table. When laid down the
center of the table, its function is to add aesthetics on the table.
Meanwhile, when laid across the table, it is used to define seating. A
table runner is easier to maintain and care for than a table cloth. It is
also more decorative than a placemat.


 Placemat

A piece of cloth, paper, or plastic over

which the table appointments to be
used by a diner are arranged. Placemat
comes in different shape, sizes, color,
and material and is placed beneath a
place setting at a dining table.
Placemats are used primarily to prevent
the flatware from moving while the
guests are eating. Its size depends on
the function but normally it is 14” x 20”
for each person.
  Napkin
A napkin can be folded in different ways.
In formal dinners, the napkin is folded
and placed on the service plate. Napkin
folding is one of the many arts applied in
the food and beverage services.
 12” or 14” square for refreshments
 22”, 24” or 27” square for dinner
 18” x 20” for lunch
 4” x 6” or 6” x 8” for cocktail