Prepare items such as sauces and garnish mixtures hours before guests arrive and set them aside.

Warm the plates in a low-temperature oven or with hot water a few minutes before serving.

Add an equal amount of garnish to each plate using the same measuring spoon.

Finish the one that cools slowest (such as soup) first and the one that cools fastest (such as a fried item) last.

For a large gathering, choose shared-platter service; for a small gathering, serve each plate individually.