The Blue Plate Meal Service involves dividing a plate into sections and serving preset portions of food in each section. It originated in the early 1900s using actual blue plates. Advantages are convenience and being economical for small spaces or tables, while disadvantages include limited choice and fixed portion sizes. The food is cooked and plated in the kitchen then served to diners seated at their tables. It was popular for family meals and children's parties due to its ease and is considered a precursor to modern fast food service.

1. The Blue Plate Meal Service

2. 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 .

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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!

8. How is Blue Plate Performed? After the food is cooked, each dish is placed on a specific portion of the blue plate. Platters are not used. Instead, each portion of the plate is filled with a specific dish directly from the kitchen. The plates may be served before or after the diners are seated, either by a waiter or gotten by the diners themselves.

9. How is Blue Plate Performed? 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.

10. The Blue Plate Table Setting Decorations may be placed at the center of the table The 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.

11. Blue Plate Practices For Family Meals:

12. Blue Plate Practices For Children’s Parties

13. Blue Plate Practices For Children’s Parties

14. Blue Plate Practices In Diners

15. Blue Plate Practices In Diners

16. Blue Plate Practices In School Canteens or Cafeterias

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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