[Yammos]

For home dinners where serving platters/bowls are passed (no servers), what should be done with the covers of serving pieces? Should they be removed before bringing the serving piece to the table (which defeats the purpose of keeping the food warm) or should the hostess/host remove the cover just before passing the piece (which then brings the question as to what to do with the cover)? If the cover is taken to a sideboard, should that be the last of it or should it be replaced after the dish has been passed to everyone? Thanks.

Geo.

[Curlyben]

If this is for home, then do whatever works for you.
Unless this is a formal dinner, for example impressing the boss, then there' no need to be so rigid.

[Yammos]

Thanks. I guess I was asking about a situation where it's not just a family dinner. A little more formal with the "good" dishes and crystal but no servers. Not trying to make a big deal about it but just wondered if there is a way that didn't seem awkward or too fussy.

[Wondergirl]

The purpose of etiquette is to make everyone comfortable. If it's important for that bowl of food to stay hot, leave the cover on it and remove it only to scoop out each serving. This can be done by the hostess with the bowl near her, or the covered bowl can be passed around the table with each diner helping himself. Of course, an effort has to be made by the hostess to keep the diners from burning themselves on the handles, so that bowl might have to be in a special basket or small potholders sent around with the covered bowl.

In my family, we keep such bowls on a decorative electric hot tray at the hostess's end of the table or on a sideboard, so she scoops from the bowl for the diners rather than the bowl traveling to the diner.

If it isn't important for the food to stay piping hot, the cover should be left in the kitchen or on the sideboard.