There are dinner plates that can cost a lot of money and are used for formal occasions. They can be hand-painted bone china that often have to be washed by hand rather than be put into the dishwasher. Then there are plastic ones that are appropriate for more casual meals, such as picnics and box lunches. In between can be stoneware or plates made of materials other than china that are more durable and appropriate for everyday meals. Does this Spark an idea?
Square Plates
Until Americans were influenced by the Asian culture, square plates were primarily used for things such as hors d'oeuvres, candy and nuts, but they have become fashionable when used as dinner plates. They are made of many different materials ranging from bone china to woven grass, and they are used instead of round plates.
Casual Dining
In today's culture, we are more casual and that extends to the way we dine. Whether you are having friends over for dinner or simply dining as a family, your choice of dinnerware, including plates, can affect moods and the way things taste. Just because you are dining casually, it doesn't mean that you have to scrimp on dinner plates. Higher-quality stoneware or earthenware that you can simply pop into your dishwasher after a sumptuous meal can be a reflection of casual dining.
Designer Plates
Some people go all out when they entertain guests at dinner and look for unique ways to serve food. One way is to spend a little more on dinner plates to impress those guests. Modern convention suggests that the plates chosen be of the same design or be different from one another.
Paper or Plastic
Plates made of either paper or plastic can be thrown away after a meal, which makes them an ideal solution for many dinners. They are most appropriate if you are entertaining extremely casually such as having a barbecue at home or a picnic in a park. Plastic or paper plates also can be a fraction of the cost of more durable place settings.
Tags: dinner plates, bone china, china that, more casual, more durable