Blueplate Meal Service

The Blue Plate Meal Service

The Blue-plate or Apartment Style Meal Service A meal service wherein the food is served from the

side rather than from the table. Characterized by the “blue-plate”, a plate that is

divided into sections.

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The Blue-plate or Apartment Style Meal Service In contemporary American culture, “Blue-

plate Special” refers to relatively cheap budget meals consisting of one serving of meat and three servings of vegetables.



The Blue-plate or Apartment Style Meal Service Its origins may be traced to the early decades

of the 1900’s (some sources indicate it started during the late 1800’s), the term “blue plate” coming from actual blue plates that were used in serving the meals.

Comparable to the “cafeteria” setting.



Advantages of Blue Plate

Convenient Economical/ Does not occupy too much space Quick Ideal for small dining tables Practical for serving food in children’s parties, when

diners are too young or small to get their own food, or do not know their appetite.

Also used for entertaining large groups for a sit-down service.

Disadvantages of Blue Plate

Often, since the meal is pre-made, the diner is forced to choose between “combos”.

Also, the serving sizes are often fixed. The “no substitution” rule is sometimes

enforced. Designed for a relatively small number of

people.

How is Blue Plate Performed?

Example: Children’s party

Just imagine that the plates are divided into portions

Kitchen Counter

This is a birthday party!


1. After the food is cooked, each dish is placed on a specific portion of the blue plate.

2. Platters are not used. Instead, each portion of the plate is filled with a specific dish directly from the kitchen.

3. The plates may be served before or after the diners are seated, either by a waiter or gotten by the diners themselves.


4. After the diners are finished, each diner may bring his/her own plate, flatware and beverageware to the kitchen. In other cases, waiters do the clearing.

The Blue Plate Table SettingDecorations may be placed at the center of the tableThe dinner plates are not immediately placed at the table

Also, serving flatware is not set on the table.Individual covers are set with the flatware, beverageware and napkins.

Blue Plate Practices

For Family Meals:




For Children’s Parties




For Children’s Parties




In Diners






In Diners




In School Canteens or Cafeterias



Significance of the Blue Plate Style

The Blue Plate style emerged to cater to the needs of those strapped for time. Since the food served in the Blue Plate is pre-made and ‘packaged’ in a single plate, it is very convenient for the time-constrained individual.

Most Blue Plate meals are less expensive than regular meals.

Significance of the Blue Plate Style

Blue Plate is considered the precursor of modern fast-food meals. With the Blue Plate almost ready-to-eat and conveniently presented, fast food chains have borrowed taken many of the factors that made Blue Plate popular.

Other Meal Services

The Blue Plate style is similar to the cafeteria or karinderia setting. Some karinderias offer complete meals, with meat, vegetables, rice and soup presented in a single plate.

The Tray Service is very similar; the main difference is that a tray is used instead of the plate.

References:

Leocadio, Corazon,1986, Essentials in Meal Management, U.P. College of Home Economics, Diliman

http://home.comcast.net/~dinerware/bitz21.html

http://robertsdairy.net/cookbook/basics/meal-service

http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-blu3.htm

Technology

Blueplate Meal Service