We received a question from a reader asking about the most useful and essential serving pieces. Carrie said that she just inherited a set of fine china, but the set (as well as her everyday Fiestaware) has no serving pieces. If you're in the market for serving pieces, like Carrie, what should you get? Here are our picks for the most useful, basic, and essential serving dishes, and we'd love to hear your take on this as well.
I have to preface this list with a disclaimer: I adore servingware. I have far more cake plates than I will ever need (bad habit, that) and I always look longingly at the platters, bowls and footed stands on sale at every home store I walk into. So perhaps my few essentials here are still more than you would need, but I did pick them with an eye to adaptability, versatility, and practicality. And there's nary a cake stand among them!
This list doesn't cover serving utensils; we'll cover that some other time. These are just the dishes. Also, I decided not to give you fancy and practical versions of the same things. I feel that, depending on your entertaining style, if you choose classic-enough serving dishes they're equally as good for an outdoor barbecue as for Thanksgiving dinner. And of course adjust for your own style; these are mostly basic, classic whiteware; you may want serving pieces with more flair and color!
• 1. Several small to midsize serving bowls - These can actually be the cereal bowls in your china set, although I feel that midsize pasta bowls are the perfect thing for serving a lot of food at the table. They're not huge, and they hold plenty of rice or pasta for a dinner party of three or four. They are also good for bread; fold in a nice towel over half a loaf of sliced bread or a dozen biscuits. Source: Large Bistro Bowls, 8" diameter. $5.95 each at Crate & Barrel.• 2. Large serving bowl - Along with your smaller pasta-sized bowls, I find that it's helpful to have a large bowl for when your main dish is something that needs to be served in a bowl, like a mixed pasta or a big salad. Source: Bistro Serving Bowl, 11.75" diameter. $14.95 at Crate & Barrel. The companion serving bowl to the Bistro Bowls above.
• 3. Oversized and dramatic serving bowl - One more bowl! I often use three bowls for dinner: A smaller soup or pasta bowl with bread, then a large serving bowl with salad, then a big centerpiece bowl with a mixed pasta or grain salad. Source: MUD Nest Bowl, $100 at Horne. This is an expensive piece, I realize, but I included it because I feel that this big, centerpiece serving bowl is the place to perhaps spend a little more. I love organic, asymmetrically shaped bowls like this one. But look at the sale shelf at Anthropologie, as well as at discount stores like TJ Maxx. Those are great places to find both basic and unique servingware.
• 4. Square platter - A square platter (or two) is good for serving dessert, like cake or cookies, as well as some main dishes. I find that a square platter is a little more versatile than a round one. Source: Chelsea Serverware, $42 at Williams-Sonoma.
• 5. Oval platter - A good platter for serving a whole chicken, a mess of asparagus, or any other big meat dish or roasted vegetables. Source: Italian Whiteware Oval Serving Platter, $32 for the largest size at Sur La Table. This is a little deeper than the type of platter I have, but that might add to its versatility.
Just to repeat: All of these items are for example; you can probably find much better deals and prices at Target, IKEA, and TJ Maxx and other discount stores. But these were pretty good representations of the pieces I use every day for serving food.
This list also doesn't include the everyday items that I often use for serving at the table; I reuse a lot of cookware and baking dishes when entertaining. For instance:
• A nice big cutting board doubles as a cheese board and appetizer platter.
• Ramekins do double duty as prep cups and individual dessert cups.
• The red or black Dutch oven is always handsome enough to bring to the table.
• As mentioned above, soup bowls and other small bowls are always handy for serving fruit, rice, and vegetables.
• Plain white gratin dishes can be pressed into service too.
OK, those are my own basics, and all of those are quite close to things I actually own. What about you? Any total essentials for entertaining, dining, and having dinner with friends?
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
The italian whiteware platters at Sur La Table are HUGE...most people might be satisfied with the smaller size.
I've heard some reports of Crate and Barrel whiteware breaking—does anyone have experience one way or another?
view maggie (p/c)'s profile
I love the C&B whiteware. I have several platters that I've used for years and had no problem with breaking or chipping. (Maybe it is an issue with new pieces?)
Working with a caterer made me a big fan of having nice white serving pieces. You can dress them up with green leaves, brightly colored flowers, paper or cloth napkins, etc. to go with every occassion.
Over the years I've collected some vintage pottery in yellow and green which I use to add a pop of color when I feel like it.
view Marie's profile
I've picked up some nice white serving pieces from Portugal at Ross and Marshall's. Also, tons of platters and plates on the vintage market, of course. Estate sales etc.
view IroquoisCasual's profile
Totally agree Faith. It's a terrible habit to get into, not having enough cake to fill all your cake plates!
I'd recommend a plain white cake stand, with a glass cover if you can find one. Use it with or without the cover to add some height to a buffet or dining table full of other food. Failing that have a look at the Donna Hay ones that don't have covers. They come in three sizes and look great on their own, side by side or stacked on top of each other to give a teired effect.
view Will @ The Red Whisk's profile
Per usual, Ikea Marketplace provides the answer!
Much as I love the ramekins in every size and the ~99 cent series of glass bowls, pie dishes, etc., the 365 bowl is my go-to for many prep and most serving situations. It fits more than you might expect, has a lovely shape to it, the sloped edges and roudned corners work well for tipping things out. Great for cracking eggs into and gently spilling them into a pan for sunnies. 3.99 and infinitely useful!
view SamLRoth's profile
I really like the Pottery Barn PB White stuff, but I have some of those awesome Ikea 365 bowls as well. The bigger ones don't seem to wear well--they're a tad lightweight for their size--but I'm with SamLRoth: the small ones are lovely.
view Elizabeth B's profile
I wish I had more space to buy more dishes!!! I love them, especially the ones I use to take photos of food.
Here are some of my favorites:
1) Black, white and green plates from CB2
2) small bowls and a rectangular dish from C&B
3) colorful bowls from Sur La Table
view orchidgirl1979's profile
I have Macy's Cellar Whiteware. I plan to add other white pieces and some pretty colored things, but I have to restrain myself as I, too, have a serious servingware problem. While I share my glassware addiction with the bf, he doesn't quite understand my need for a soup tureen. Whatever you do, do not search for vintage serving pieces on Etsy!
view Emily G.'s profile
If you want to match a china set (fine or every day), replacements.com is an amazing place. If you don't know the name of the pattern, you can email them a photo & they will reply within a few days, and include what they have in stock. Prices vary, depending on the condition of the items they have, rarity, etc. I was able to get a 15" platter that matches my inherited china! Plus, they carry silver, crystal, etc. It's simply fantastic!
view tallsarah's profile
I own one of those three tier stands you see at very fancy tea parties, and it's surprisingly useful. Drop three salad plates on there and really, you could load it up with nachos and it would still look fancy. Like a cake stand, something with a little height to it makes a lot of difference on a buffet table.
But I totally agree that the most useful things of all are pasta bowls - one HUGE bowl and at least four personal sizes.
view cedargr0's profile
i love the ikea white ceramics - especially the Epistel platters. they're a lovely modern fee-form oval shape that looks elegant - but the big one is only $12. cheap and pretty and useful.
view lilalcarese's profile
I am often happy with Pier 1 and World Market for plain white servingware in interesting sizes and shapes. They are cheap enough that I couldn't care less if I need to replace them occasionally.
~k
view kdear's profile
Yes I just realized I barely have enough plates for when my family comes to visit (5 of us) let alone serving dishes (read: NONE). So I've been in the market.
I enjoy the first two pics of the plain white small and medium bowls. Where are they from?
:)
Thanks for this post - comes at a great time!
view alisaan's profile