FASCINATION WITH DINNERWARE

Since I was a child, I always had a keen interest on the types of plates and cutlery (spoons, fork and knives) that were used to serve food in the house of my relatives, friends and rich acquaintances. More often, these beautiful dinnerwares were placed in kitchen cabinets or in the estantes (aparador cristalero?) that were on display in the living room and I often wondered whether they were ever used at all.

We did have some dinnerware and coffee sets in the past and I remember two brands: Duralex (France) which I am using until now, and Noritake. We also had a beautiful coffee and tea set (Nestle Milkmaid) and other plates that were given as wedding gifts to my parents. After transferring from one residence to another (five times) and with accident-prone house help, only memories are is left.

Hence, this veiled desire to replace heirloom dinnerware that were lost in the past. My wish list includes the Monique Lhuillier for Royal Doulton dinnerware and a dream list similar to the Mingming Gullas collection but, to be used, excuse me, on a daily basis. We are all entitled to any dream, no matter how ridiculous it is!

What kind of dinnerware should you buy? Do you want the best because it is the most durable and has the best colors and design, or something that will last the longest because it merely sits on the cabinet?

It all starts with the person’s budget; if it is medyo tight, you can use banana leaves, barato na, environmentally friendly pa. It can be used for all occasions, including wedding receptions in India. It is readily available even in La Niña weather and disposal makes your friendly environmentalist smile.

 Paper, styrofoam or plastic dinnerware is often used in many quick-service establishments (KFC-India) and in homes in the absence of house help. If you go green, there is a new generation of bioplastics that are made into dinnerware; these are strong and non-absorbent but cannot tolerate high temperatures.

Pwede pud glass dinnerware like the plates used in Manny O’s, Hilton Cebu Resort & Spa. Currently, “the more popular style is hand painted dinnerware, because the marketplace has embraced the use of reds and other strong colors in home decor and hand painted dinnerware allows for bolder, brighter colors.” If my beloved readers have the cash to spare, it is available in ELOISE (The QC Pavilion, Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, phones 231-6349, 231-3720). It is called D’ Angelo by Piell Kristal of Germany and a set for 12 persons (65 pieces) cost, ahem, only P84,990.

If you plan to host a formal dinner, it would be more reasonable to hold it in a hotel or restaurant than your house because you need one plate for each course and one wine glass for each type of wine served. Simply too many dishes and glasses to wash! Best sample was the table setting during the 16th Anniversary of La Chaine des Rotisseurs at the Grand Ballroom, Marco Polo Plaza.

Each of us has our own preferences on what appears on the dining table and your favorite food columnist prefers the colors gold and black: black plates (Arcoroc) and gold (spoons, fork and knives), never mind if gold plated lang. ?