Today we will tell you about the history, specifications,decor and materials that go into creating a cutlery item without which we cannot imagine any meal – a plate. Perhaps after our article you will reconsider your relaxed attitude towards such an interesting and multifunctional guest in your kitchen as a plate.
The history of the plate is somewhat shorter than the historyother cutlery. In the distant 7th century, Europeans literally devoured soups and stews from the table - from hollows carved into the tabletop. In the 13th century, treats were laid out on a slice of bread. And only in the 14th century did the first plates appear. Today, 700 years later, this cutlery has many varieties: tureens, salad bowls, ice-cream bowls, and so on.
The most striking representative of the platesspecific functionality is, perhaps, a caviar bowl. It looks like a container with a removable top, and you can put ice or butter at the bottom. However, instead of a caviar bowl, you can also use a small ice-cream bowl. Plates for bread and pies are small, only 18 cm in diameter. They are rarely used in Russia. However, if you can find them, remember: they should be placed at a distance of 10-15 cm from snack bars. There are special rectangular or oval plates for fish. But a dish in the shape of the fish itself will also be appropriate.
How many sets do we need for our daily diet?most often we use only 2 plates: deep and flat. However, for a "feast for the whole world" a couple of plates is still not enough. The ideal number of sets is four: everyday, festive, spring and Christmas sets. But you can replace them with one neutral set, which will suit any feast.
By type, plates are divided into flat and deep.They also vary in size. There are bouillon bowls with a capacity of 200-300 ml. Traditionally, they are used to serve broths and cream soups. As for the latter, they are most often served with croutons on a separate shallow or small deep plate, which is located to the left of the bouillon bowl.
Deep plates are divided into 20-centimeter, which hold exactly a glass of liquid, and 24-centimeter. However, now you can find larger plates.
Deep plates are usually placed on flat ones. Soups are best served in white dishes. "Cheerful colored" cutlery is suitable for porridges.
Better for appetizers, vegetable salads and hot dishesFlat plates are best. If the menu is fairly simple and includes only two types of dishes, a flat plate is placed under a deep one, which is reserved for soups.
DecorWhen choosing plates for a holiday, it is worthIt is important to remember that the color of the dishes and the patterns on them play a huge role in creating the necessary atmosphere and appetite. For example, cold colors muffle the feeling of hunger, while warm colors, on the contrary, make it stronger. Ideally, it is worth considering the color scheme of the room itself. Plates for appetizers and desserts are approximately the same diameter (about 20 cm), but differ in decor. It is better to use brightly colored dishes with images of fruits and berries for desserts, white ones or those with images of vegetables, cheeses and meats - for appetizers. As for hot plates, they are very similar to appetizer plates, which means you will not go wrong if you decide to use the same dishes for these dishes.
The most expensive and, as a result, the mostThe festive option is porcelain. It will decorate any feast. Manufactory porcelain tableware is considered to be of the highest quality. Such items are created by hand and are very expensive. Embossed porcelain is somewhat more affordable. But most often, feasts are served with earthenware sets with thickened edges (as a cheap replacement for porcelain). Ceramics are famous for their ability to keep dishes warm. Thus, hot drinks in a ceramic mug do not cool down for a long time, and in a jug made of the same material, milk does not turn sour even in the hottest weather. Such tableware is better suited for use in the oven than any other. But there are also disadvantages: it is difficult to wash.
For everyday use it is brilliantGlassware has proven itself, and many do not disdain to serve even large celebrations with it. Glass does not like high temperatures, so we recommend choosing items made of tempered glass. Metalware is rarely used for serving: it is more suitable for cooking. An exception can be considered silver plates, which, however, require additional care: before serving, they have to be thoroughly cleaned. Plastic tableware is usually used on hikes, picnics and in summer cottages. You can also find wooden plates, but they are more suitable for theme parties with the appropriate external entourage.
