If your menu involves numerous courses, it is a good idea to go over a few rules, particularly if you are organising a more formal get-together: which is the right sequence? If you want to be the perfect host, there are a couple of rules to follow. Hot starters are served first, and only then can you bring out the cold starters. Next up are the first courses: first serve those with a subtler flavour before progressing to those with a stronger one. For the second courses, serve the fish dish first, followed by the meat dish. If there is more than one meat dish, start with white meat and serve red meat afterwards. Some courses can be served twice, others cannot: so second helpings of starters and second courses are fine but never serve the consommé, soup, cheese or fruit courses twice. Remember to bring out new glasses each time you change the wine. And finally, it is good manners to serve coffee and after-dinner drinks in the living room rather than at the table at the end of the meal.
