Fabula
Object
Object

Tray of Cheeses and Meats

A modest, elegantly arranged tray presenting a selection of cheeses and cured meats, carefully portioned and artistically displayed to entice and comfort. The tray's polished wooden base contrasts with the rich textures of the delicacies, inviting tactile and gustatory engagement. Positioned within the holodeck's Paris café setting, the tray serves as both a physical and emotional gesture, embraced by Edouard as he offers it to Captain Picard and the assembled guests, evoking warmth and hospitality amid underlying tension and introspection.
6 appearances

Purpose

To carry and present small, ready-to-eat savory appetizers to Ten‑Forward patrons; to allow servers to circulate food and to provide tactile social props during introductions and informal diplomacy.

Significance

Functions as the social lubricant for the diplomatic gathering: it frames introductions, offers excuses for touch and proximity, and punctuates moments of attraction and rivalry (Troi/Ral, negotiators). The tray's circulating presence helps stage interpersonal maneuvering amid the public spectacle of the wormhole reveal.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

6 moments
S1E18 · When the Bough Breaks
Silent Defiance: The Children's Hunger Strike

The tray of food serves as a tangible symbol of Aldea’s attempt to impose control and forced assimilation through nurturing gestures. In this event, it becomes the focal point of the children’s silent hunger strike, culminating in Harry removing and rejecting it physically, emphasizing their refusal.

Before: Held by Leda as she enters Wesley’s room, freshly prepared as an offer to the children.
After: Removed from the room and placed outside the door by Harry, symbolizing the children's collective defiance.
View full event
S1E24 · We'll Always Have Paris
Picard’s Lingering Hope at the Paris Table

A tray of assorted cheeses and cured meats is delivered by Edouard to Picard, reinforcing the authentic Parisian café experience and serving as a symbolic gesture of warmth and comfort amid the emotional exchange.

Before: Prepared in the holodeck kitchen, ready for delivery.
After: Set on Picard's table as part of the ongoing scene.
View full event
S1E24 · We'll Always Have Paris
Echoes of Love and Hope in the Paris Holodeck

The tray of cheeses and meats is delivered by Edouard and sets a tone of comfort and care, enhancing the illusion of the Paris café and providing a tangible element around which the conversation unfolds.

Before: Prepared and ready in the kitchen or service area.
After: Placed on Picard’s holodeck table, partially consumed ambiance element.
View full event
S1E24 · We'll Always Have Paris
Picard’s Reverie in Paris: Naming Laura and the Weight of Lost Love

A tray of cheeses and meats is delivered by Edouard to Picard as a comforting gesture of hospitality during the scene, reinforcing the sensory warmth and Parisian authenticity of the holodeck setting.

Before: Prepared in the holodeck kitchen, awaiting delivery.
After: Placed on Picard’s table, untouched but contributing to the ambiance.
View full event
S3E8 · The Price
Ten Forward: The Wormhole and the Gaze

A tray of warm, bite‑sized hors d'oeuvres circulates through Ten‑Forward, establishing a convivial, social atmosphere and underscoring the diplomatic theater where informal exchanges and introductions occur.

Before: On waiters' trays, being served through the lounge as guests gather.
After: Still being circulated; continues to support social mingling as attention shifts to the wormhole reveal.
View full event
S3E8 · The Price
Entrancing Arrival — Devinoni Ral Fixates on Troi

A Ten-Forward tray of hors d'oeuvres is passed by waiters, establishing the scene's convivial, ceremonial tone. The food reinforces the gathering's social lubrication, keeps guests engaged, and underscores the contrast between light social ritual and the high-stakes negotiation unfolding.

Before: Tray of hors d'oeuvres being carried through Ten-Forward by uniformed waiters, warm and attractively presented.
After: Partially consumed/remaining on trays; continues to circulate as the crowd shifts focus to the windows and the wormhole revelation.
View full event