"Set the table in the dining room. Use the good dishes."
"How come we're eating in there? It's
not Thanksgiving."
"And the linen napkins," she added. "The ones with roses on them. Six place settings. Wash your hands first."
"Jeez. She's just a girl. You'd think
the Queen of England or somebody was coming over."
Chesapeake Blue
________________________
Why so many people are embracing a
forgotten space
The formal dining room, long considered a
symbol of wealth and privilege, has been the subject of much debate over the
past 30 years. Some declared it dead, a relic of a bygone era when families sat
down together each night for a home-cooked meal. Others clung to it as a place
to welcome friends and family for holiday meals. All the while, American
families turned toward eating in more informal spaces in the kitchen or — gasp
— in front of the TV or on the go.