Colorful or simply sombre, plain or intricately patterned,
traditional Chinese or any of the delicate modern variety, table wares like
crockery and cutlery are always a treasure to behold, exhibit and use.
A little while after the entertaining aspects commence, the
attention of the guests turn to the tableware placed before them. Admiring
their attractive designs and patterns, they also appreciate the aesthetic sense
of the host in choosing such elegant crockery and cutlery. In addition to the
external beauty and novelty, they should be practical and convenient.
Traditionally Chinaware is the regular buy, but it is not
always suited for serving in for small children, or it may be too heavy to
handle in buffet spreads. Nowadays, the choices in them is varied and limitless
in addition to being trendy and handy.
For formal groups:
For small sit-down dinners, ceramic plates and other
flatware come in bright shades such as blue, orange, sunshine yellow etc., They
might be either plain or filled with modem designs. They are heavy and breakable,
hence ideally suited for a small and exclusive sit-down dinners. These could be
matched with colored candles in silver or brass holders. Designer tableware is available
in lifestyle stores and crockery sections of malls. Complementary cutlery
should be either in silver or in white metal.
There are many other attractive options for small dinner
gatherings like wood plates with a smooth finish, transparent glass with etched
designs, colored glass, smoked glass and crystal. After a gap of time, stainless
steel has also made a comeback as a formal choice, in its buff, matt- finished
form. It lends an ethnic feel to the layout.
For Buffets:
When there are more guests and the atmosphere tending
towards more of an informal one, it will be better to go for a buffet spread. Anyhow,
in this case, since the plates have to be easy to hold, the best option is melamine
and other non-breakable material. Both the aspects like good look and light weight
are covered by materials such as Light China which might be bone china or
porcelain and for garden parties disposables like laminated woven rattan and paper
mache are easy to hold and carry and also good to look at. Oven and microwave
safe crockery come in beautiful designs, and so easy for those guests who want
their food piping hot.
For Children:
The first choice for children are melamine plates that are
deeper in the centre than at the rim. Stainless steel is a time-tested traditional
and safe option, especially if it has compartments for the various items as children
love to experiment with each taste separately. For very small children, vacuum plates
with a hot water compartment are a boon. The vacuum holds the plate to the table,
while hot water keeps the food warm.
As children are attracted by more colors, it would be a wiser
buy for going into colorful cutlery in good quality plastic with rounded edges
and handles for children.
Accessories:
Always the table accessories should coalesce and complement
with the crockery and cutlery and never overshadow them. While it is possible to
layout expensive embroidered or lace napkins for small, sit-down dinners, for
large gatherings opting for paper ones would be preferential. Nowadays the paper
napkins available resemble and feel like fabric. They come in floral, checks, geometries
and in pastel or floral, thick or thin to suit different tastes.
Sky is the limit for the materials in which tablemats are
available- lace, vinyl, jute, bamboo, khadi and many more. They could be co-ordinate
with tableware so that the colors do not clash. Likewise, center-pieces for tables
could be formal or informal, modern or ethnic.
For more details,
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