Whatever you call these plates with a slot to hold your wine glass, you've got to admit they're useful. They allow your guests to mingle, shake hands, and even gesture, all while holding both their wine glass and something to eat.
They avoid the dreaded crush around the buffet table, or perhaps worse, people not having their full because they don't want to deal with the hassle.
Here's some of our favorites:
• Ironwood Gourmet, acacia wood, set of 4, $39.99
• Wrapables, melamine, set of 4, $19.95
• d'Glas mingle plate glass, set of 6, $23.90 + VAT.
These are especially great, because they fit on most bar glasses. Even if your glasses don't have a stem, they work.
• Disposable Social Plates by Acme. Case of 60, $49.95
We probably won't be buying these as even recyclable polystyrene doesn't feel very green to us. But we like the fact that a soda can or plastic glass works as well as a stemmed glass. Something for the plate designers to look at?
Related: PartyPal Plate
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Be careful when ordering the Ironwood Gourmet plates from Amazon.
When you click on the above link, the Amazon site says that the price is for 6 plates and also says it is for only 4 plates.
view LongIslandFoodie's profile
I say group a different passed appetizer on each plate and then send your friends out to mingle--they can meet, serve, and strike up conversation at the same time. ;)
view OneWallKitchen's profile
LongIslandFoodie - good catch. I'm guessing that it is only a set of 4, as when you order directly from the manufacturer, they are $9.50 per plate: http://www.ironwoodgourmet.com/Special-Sale-Items/Canape-Tray.html
which is slightly a better deal, if it is indeed a set of 4.
view NinaC's profile
We don't usually use plates. We tend to make things that you dip and pop into your mouth. It does mean that you hang around the food table a bit if you are hungry. Though you can always move a bowl of snacks closer to where you are mingling.
A special set of plates just for mingling seems like overkill to me. Maybe I wouldn't think so if I did this kinda thing very often.
view buda's profile