A festive dinner starts long before the first course. The table is laid, the candles are lit and every guest finds a complete place setting waiting. This guide helps you choose cutlery for a dinner with guests: which set to buy, when steak knives and cheese knives earn their place, and how to lay, clean and store it all.
The short answer
- A matching cutlery set is the base. Count one full place setting per guest, including a dessert fork and a teaspoon for the last course.
- Steak knives belong on the table whenever you serve meat that needs a proper cut.
- Cheese knives turn a cheese board into a course of its own.
Add a tidy drawer and you can lay the table in minutes. Here is how to choose each piece.
The cutlery set: one look for the whole table
Mismatched forks are fine on a Tuesday. At a festive table, matching cutlery makes even a simple menu look considered. Start with the number of guests, then check that the set covers every course you plan to serve.
- Up to 6 guests: the Hi Nature® Cutlery Set, 36-Piece gives 6 people a dinner knife, dinner fork, tablespoon, teaspoon, dessert fork and steak knife each.
- Up to 12 guests, or as a gift: the Hi Nature® Cutlery Set Pro comes as a 36-piece set for 6 or a 72-piece set for 12, in a luxury gift box that doubles as storage.
- Material: both sets are made of 18/0 stainless steel and are dishwasher safe.
- Keep in mind: buy for your largest table. With 8 guests and a set for 6, two people end up with the odd fork.
Steak knives: cut, don't saw
A dinner knife is made for vegetables, fish and tender food. Steak, roast beef, game and chops need a sharper blade, otherwise your guests end up sawing and the meat tears.
- Best for: steak, roasts, chops and poultry on the bone.
- What to look for: a hardened blade that holds its edge and a handle that sits well in the hand.
- Keep in mind: a sharp edge lasts longer when the knife is washed by hand.
Both Hi Nature® cutlery sets include a steak knife per person. Need extra, or happy with the cutlery you already own? The separate Hi Nature® Steak Knives come as a set of 4 or 6, with hardened, corrosion-resistant blades and ergonomic handles, presented in a gift box.
Cheese knives: the right blade for every cheese
A cheese board after the main course is the easiest festive dessert there is. It only works when guests can serve themselves neatly, and one knife cannot do that for every cheese.
- Soft cheese: brie and camembert need a wide knife that does not squash the cheese.
- Hard cheese: aged gouda needs a short, stiff blade, and parmesan is broken into chunks rather than sliced.
- Serving: a fork-tipped knife lifts the piece you just cut, and a spreader takes care of fresh cheese and chutney.
The Hi Nature® Cheese Knife Set has 6 pieces in hardened stainless steel: a wide soft-cheese knife, a hard-cheese blade, a fork-tipped knife, a cheese plane, a parmesan knife and a spreader.
The cutlery tray: order behind the scenes
Good cutlery deserves better than a rattling drawer. Sorted by type, it stays free of scratches and you can count in seconds whether there is enough for everyone. The Hi Nature® Expandable Cutlery Tray adjusts from 33 to 57 cm wide and has up to 8 compartments, so knives, forks, spoons and serving pieces each get their own place.
Festive cutlery at a glance
- Cutlery Set, 36-Piece: complete place settings for 6, steak knives included.
- Cutlery Set Pro: 36 or 72 pieces for 6 or 12 people, in a gift box.
- Steak knives: set of 4 or 6, hand wash recommended.
- Cheese knife set: 6 pieces, dishwasher safe.
- Cutlery tray: 33 to 57 cm wide, up to 8 compartments.
Which piece for which course?
- Soup: the tablespoon.
- Fish or vegetable main course: dinner fork and dinner knife.
- Meat main course: dinner fork and steak knife.
- Cake or dessert: the dessert fork.
- Cheese board: cheese knives on the board, ideally one per cheese.
- Coffee and tea: the teaspoon.
Laying, cleaning and storing
Laying the table
- Forks go to the left of the plate, knives and spoons to the right, with the blade facing the plate.
- Work from the outside in: the cutlery for the first course lies furthest from the plate.
- Dessert cutlery goes above the plate, or comes to the table together with dessert.
Cleaning and storing
- Rinse cutlery soon after dinner. Salty and acidic leftovers can leave marks when they sit overnight.
- Both cutlery sets and the cheese knife set can go in the dishwasher. Dry them promptly to keep the shine.
- Wash the separate steak knives by hand and dry them immediately to preserve the edge.
- Put everything away completely dry, sorted by type.
Frequently asked questions
How many pieces of cutlery do I need per guest?
For a dinner with soup, a main course and dessert, count on a dinner knife, dinner fork, tablespoon, dessert fork and teaspoon. Add a steak knife when meat is on the menu. That makes six pieces per person.
On which side of the plate does the cutlery go?
Forks on the left, knives and spoons on the right, with the knife blade facing the plate. Guests then simply work from the outside in.
Do I need steak knives if I already have dinner knives?
For fish, vegetables and tender dishes, a dinner knife is enough. For steak, roasts and game, a steak knife cuts cleanly without pressure, which keeps the meat intact and the plate tidy.
Can stainless steel cutlery go in the dishwasher?
The Hi Nature® cutlery sets and the cheese knife set are dishwasher safe. For the separate steak knives, hand washing is recommended so the edge stays sharp.
Is a cutlery set a good gift?
Yes, especially for a wedding or housewarming. The Cutlery Set Pro, the steak knives and the cheese knife set all come in a gift box.
Conclusion
A festive table does not need to be complicated. Start with a matching cutlery set that covers every guest, add steak knives for the roast and cheese knives for the board, and keep it all sorted in the drawer. Then laying the table becomes the calm part of the evening.
Related Products from Hi Nature®
Lay a table your guests will remember with these picks from our range:
1. Cutlery Set, 36-Piece
- View the product
- A complete 18/0 stainless steel set for 6 people, including 6 steak knives and 6 dessert forks. Dishwasher safe, with a 2-year guarantee.
2. Cutlery Set Pro
- View the product
- Stainless steel cutlery with steak knives and dessert forks, as a 36-piece set for 6 or a 72-piece set for 12. Comes in a luxury gift box.
3. Steak Knives
- View the product
- A set of 4 or 6 steak knives in hardened, corrosion-resistant knife steel with ergonomic handles. Presented in a gift box.
4. Cheese Knife Set
- View the product
- Six hardened stainless steel pieces for soft cheese, hard cheese and parmesan, plus a cheese plane and a spreader. Dishwasher safe.
5. Expandable Cutlery Tray
- View the product
- A drawer organiser that adjusts from 33 to 57 cm wide, with up to 8 compartments. Made of BPA-free plastic and wipes clean.