Crockery, cutlery and stemware

[Cactussed]

Am just about to lash out on some lovely presentation bowls, and it got me thinking. Just how important is crockery and stemware to the overall dining experience?

Personally, good food is good food, but I think a crisp tablecloth and some nice dinner ware can lift the average into good and the good into the truly memorable...

Or am I just kidding myself?

[Plotloss]

Well done on being one of the few people left that understands that a special meal does rely on an element of splendour.

You could be cooking 3 Star food but if you serve it on plastic school plates with a beaker and plastic cutlery its not going to be the same.

[Cactussed]

What I would REALLY like is some (preferably antuque) solid sterling Kings Pattern cutlery. Alas, budget does not extend that far just yet...

[Plotloss]

Kings is a bit fussy for me but if done properly in solid rather than plate its got a lovely feel in the hand so speak.

I do like a classic rat tail but again has to be solid.

[Anna_S]

Cactussed said:

What I would REALLY like is some (preferably antuque) solid sterling Kings Pattern cutlery. Alas, budget does not extend that far just yet...

Yeah it is lovely, have a full set at home that comes out for Christmas... benefits of being from Sheffield I think

[sleep envy]

it's essential IMO

[Stevenj214]

Plotloss said:

Well done on being one of the few people left that understands that a special meal does rely on an element of splendour.

So should the special dinner set be reserved for special occassions only?

[Cactussed]

Anna_S said:

Cactussed said:

What I would REALLY like is some (preferably antuque) solid sterling Kings Pattern cutlery. Alas, budget does not extend that far just yet...

Yeah it is lovely, have a full set at home that comes out for Christmas... benefits of being from Sheffield I think

Really????? No way!

[Plotloss]

Stevenj214 said:

Plotloss said:

Well done on being one of the few people left that understands that a special meal does rely on an element of splendour.

So should the special dinner set be reserved for special occassions only?

Absolutely not.

Every meal can be special or at least an occassion.

There would be less problems in the world if everyone actually sat down as a family and made time to eat.

[Cactussed]

Stevenj214 said:

So should the special dinner set be reserved for special occassions only?

In reality, I use the Ikea rubbish cutlery every day, but I ALWAYS drink from a nice glass (I have loads) and decent crockery (which is inexpensive but large and white, so looks good).

However, I only need the sniff of an excuse to dig out the good stuff. You're a long time dead, use it oftern I say!

[Cactussed]

Plotloss said:

There would be fewer problems in the world if everyone actually sat down as a family and made time to eat.

Couldn't agree more. Here endeth the lesson.

[Mobile Chicane]

Cactussed said:

Plotloss said:

There would be fewer problems in the world if everyone actually sat down as a family and made time to eat.

Couldn't agree more. Here endeth the lesson.

+ 1. Sharing good food, wine and conversation is what distinguishes us from beasts.

[Cactussed]

Mobile Chicane said:

+ 1. Sharing good food, wine and conversation is what distinguishes us from beasts.

That, and shagging for pleasure (with the exception of dolphins, apparently. They like food and wine too ).

[Coco H]

I absolutely hate silver cutlery. The darn stuff needs so mcuh special cleaning and polishing and then putting back correctly in its stupid box that I declined an heirloom canteen of the stuff. Likewise the antique waterford - to be sold at auction - at £100 a glass no thanks

[Eggle]

I have a great set of Robert Welsh cutlery, we use every day. Simple, understated but a pleasure to use

[Cotty]

Cactussed said:

In reality, I use the Ikea rubbish cutlery every day, but I ALWAYS drink from a nice glass (I have loads) and decent crockery (which is inexpensive but large and white, so looks good).

When my dad was 50 I bought him a cut glass tankard, it matched the other wine, whisky etc glasses he had. 13 years on he will only drink beer out of that tankard. Quality matters and its nice to use nice things. That glass cost £50 so appropriate for a 50th birthday present.

People take the pee that I always lay a table to eat my dinner. My parents divorsed a few years back and neither wanted the complete canteen of cutlery. Its in a box in the loft, it has everything from a full spread of knives and forks to fish knives and desert forks and tiny coffey spoons. I should really dig them out and use them.

[Cactussed]

Resurrecting this thread, I went to the silver markets and bought me a little pressie on the weekend! Its only a 6 place setting, but I only got me a little flat
Methinks I ought to throw a dinner party this weekend!

Edited by Cactussed on Monday 7th September 22:59

Edited by Cactussed on Monday 7th September 23:16

[Anna_S]

That's lovely, nice purchase
Definitely cause for celebration, and use every piece.... i see a fish course coming on

[Cactussed]

Anna_S said:

That's lovely, nice purchase
Definitely cause for celebration, and use every piece.... i see a fish course coming on

And a MASSIVE desert for two with those middle ones!

[Anna_S]

Cactussed said:

Anna_S said:

That's lovely, nice purchase
Definitely cause for celebration, and use every piece.... i see a fish course coming on

And a MASSIVE desert for two with those middle ones!

hmmmm, so soup, fish, something hugely meaty and then the worlds largest desert - what a menu!