Style Hints
- How to use itfor Gien
Faience and Limoges dinnerware
Make your own statement...
Follow your
instincts and build up your dinner service in your own special way. With
a little experimentation, you'll find that each piece can be used as you
wish. Like changing a recipe to make a dish more imaginative, varying the
uses of your dinnerware can make your table into a personal fashion
statement. Following are a few helpful hints you can try as you start to
develop your personal entertaining style:
Presentation Plates
The presentation plate, also
called service plate or charger plate, is used to set the tone and serves
to highlight the presentation of each course. By using these plates to
frame each course, your table remains elegantly set from start to finish.
Side Plates
Side plates, Canapé plates or bread and butter plates, are designed to
hold bread, but you can also use them to serve a small assortment of
canapés or cocktail snacks; petit fours at teas; or desserts.
Bowls and Dishes
The cereal / fruit bowl is a noteworthy addition to your dinner service.
It can be used to enhance the presentation of a soup appetizer, a colorful
salad, a gazpacho, or even a dessert such as a fruit compote. The rim
soup plate can be used in the same way as the cereal / fruit bowl,
although its traditional look means it is usually reserved for a more
formal occasion. For larger servings of dishes cooked in sauces, such as
stews, stuffed cabbage, or bouillabaisse, the rim soup plate is perfect.
Salad / Dessert Plates
Magnificent
accents add life to any table, whether placed in the center of your dinner
or charger plate or to the side. Salad / Dessert plates are smaller than
the dinner plate, and are versatile enough to be used for salads,
desserts, appetizers, and as tea plates. Also useful as luncheon plate or
as breakfast plate.
Serving Platters
Service with style... the Round Flat and Oval Platters may be used
interchangeably or in tandem at any occasion. The round flat platter is
best suited to appetizers or cold entrees; the oval platter is best used
to serve roasted meats, grilled fish, or poultry.
The Round Deep Platter is best suited to dishes served in a sauce.
Or a heap of spaghetti.
It is also called chop platter.
Oblong Serving Platter or
Tray
The perfect way to display a home-made cake, this plate also can be used
for terrines or other dishes turned out of rectangular moulds; or to serve
finger sandwiches, cheese and crackers, or other snacks at tea or over an
impromptu glass of wine. Also ideal as a tray for your tea pot, creamer,
and sugar bowl.
Coupe
Carrée or Square Platter
This platter is rather spectacular. It is slightly concave. Use it for
cakes, cup cakes, and other sweets. Serve cheese, sliced salmon, etc.
Display grapes, a few fine apples or a big display of fruit. The square
platter also looks great on its own.
Round Cake
Platter
Use it for serving cakes, obviously and all small savories. It is also
a great cheese platter.
Soup Tureen
This has always been the preferred way to serve soup, since it offers
beautiful design plus practicality. A lid to keep the contents piping
hot, and handles to prevent burns. At home in both casual and formal
settings, the soup tureen can also be used to serve couscous, beef stews,
chili, and similar dishes.
Covered Vegetable Dish
The ideal serving piece for hot vegetable dishes, with a lid that helps
keep the contents warm - especially handy at buffets. This piece can also
be used for small servings of soups or stews.
Square Dish
Ideal for compotes and fresh fruit salads, this dish can also be used as a
vegetable dish or small salad bowl. (Available only in some patterns, i.e.
Gien Toscana and Pont aux Choux)
Salad Bowl / Open Vegetable
Naturally, this bowl is used to serve salad and vegetables; however, it's
also appropriate to serve pastas, rice, or risotto; in addition, you
could try using it for desserts such as floating island, chocolate mousse,
or fruit salad.
Sauce Boat
Traditionally used for serving hot gravies, the sauce boat is equally
adept at holding cold sauces, salad dressings, mayonnaise, pesto - even
custards, preserves, or other dessert toppings such as hot chocolate
sauce.
Relish Dish
Designed for serving butter and condiments, the relish dish can also be
used to hold snacks at a buffet cocktail hour. You might also consider
them for a formal sit-down dinner, where they can be placed at each
setting to hold an assortment of mini-appetizers. |
