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Carrying three plates is one of the key elements in banquet service.
If you want to be a good banquet server, you must be able to carry three plates.
The basics are as follows:
All plates, no matter what size, have a rim, an inner area,
and what we like to call a bevel.
Take your right hand and place it palm up.
Now take a plate and rest it on your three middle fingers
with your thumb and pinky finger resting on the rim to stabilize the plate.
Now take your second plate and use the bevel to find the sweet spot
just below the joints on your thumb and pinky
where you can rest the plate and keep it level.
If you cannot keep the second plate level,
try dropping your pinky finger down under the plate
and just stabilize it with your thumb on the rim.
Now pick up the third plate with your left hand and you are ready to serve.
You must be able to do this with both hands
and with different sized plates and bowls.
Make sure you do not put your fingers
in the inner area where the food should go.
Also, do not let your second plate slide too far forward
so it's sitting in the food on the plate below it.
And do not rest the second plate on your forearm
and lock it into your body using your elbow.
As soon as someone knocks into you, you will lose your grip.
When serving a hot entree,
the plate should be kept warm to keep the food from getting cold.
When handling a hot plate, always use server napkins to protect your hands.
Fold one cloth napkin either in half or in thirds
and cover your entire right hand and forearm.
Now take another napkin and fold it up into a tight square
to be placed in your left hand.
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Position the plates exactly as we did before
using the tightly folded napkin to hold the single plate
that will be served first.
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Be sure not to place the napkin in your guests food when you pick up the plate.
Also, be careful not to drag a loose napkin
over a guest or their place setting.
Stemware is very top heavy and can easily topple over.
When you are picking up plates in the prep area,
make sure to have your server napkins in place.
Be ready to grab your third plate in the position
that you want it to be placed in front of the guest.
You will not be able to rotate the plate once your hands are full.
Remember that the protein should be placed at "6 o'clock"
unless otherwise specified.
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