Usually after a long day’s work, people unwind by meeting up with friends for dinner in a new restaurant to catch up and probably to have another food adventure. Usually during special occasions like a wedding, party, or feast, or probably a special date between two people, dinner is usually the heaviest and largest meal of the day. Restaurants, especially fancy ones, have five to seven courses of this. Depending on the culture, the number of courses depends. Chinese lauriats served on weddings usually have a ten-course meal.
For those who count their calories, it may be a light meal. The logic is this, after the meal, there would be less activity since people are about to wind down and go to bed. It may be a light soup with bread siding or a vegetable platter. With the famous “after-six diet,” it’s usually taken earlier during the day, and usually consisting of a light meal. This is to facilitate easier digestion so bedtime can be earlier. For those who may want it extra special it may consist of hefty servings of soup, salad, main course, and a wonderful dessert enjoyed by children and adults.
For formal settings, it may be noticed that there are various sets of utensils on the table setting. Each utensil corresponds to a specific course. The salad fork is usually smaller than the fork for the meats or main courses. The soup spoon is wider and rounder than the dessert spoon. In formal settings, both soup and salad may be served, followed by a main course and then dessert. The dessert may also be shared among the group, especially for couples, usually a cake or pastry presented attractively, the way a meal bows out like a show. For dinners at home, table settings may be simpler, and presentation may be simpler. This is a meal to be enjoyed as parents and children catch up and talk after a long day at school or at work. Just like sit-down formal meals or a party, a simple meal at home may be a chance to bond between members of the family, and share stories, whether it be a recipe idea or what happened in school.
After dessert, tea may be served to cleanse the palate and for healthy digestion. For non-caffeine drinkers, hot or lukewarm water with a lemon slice may be served, especially if the meal is heavy. Some prefer coffee as they are a guest and would need the energy to travel home. Wine for adults may be served as the plates are about to be put aside and the conversation continues on.