I was listening to NPR this morning and they did a report about the fact that foods taste better if you eat them off silver and china. Researchers have been studying how “cutlery, dishes and other inedible accoutrements to a meal” can alter our perceptions of taste. I’ve said this for ages.
When I moved two years ago, I made the decision to use all of “the good stuff”. I was given beautiful Royal Copenhagen china, 
So I do. Everything but the silver, which sort of scares me. The knives are more than 12 inches long and sharp as swords. I use my beautiful French Ivory silverware, including the gorgeous spoons that the lovely “House of Beauty & Culture” had made for me. 
I have oodles of linen napkins, which I use all of the time. Since I generally paid about 50¢ a piece for the napkins, I don’t worry too much if they get stained. I don’t bother ironing them, I just hang them on the clothesline to dry them and then fold them. 
Do you use your “good stuff” every day? If you don’t, why not?
Yes, indeed! Being lucky enough to have inherited a large variety of Waterford, Limoges and various silverware and serving pieces, I use them everyday. My grandmother always said "What's the use of having nice things if you don't use them?" After all these years, only one chip on a wine glass.
ReplyDeleteI agree! If you're careful, these pieces will last forever! I hand-wash everything, but that's because it's just me, and it's easier to do that. Also, I am horrified that the dishwasher takes 80 minutes to do a load of dishes.
DeleteYes, we use the good stuff! I love to set a beautiful table. Eating a meal should be an experience, a time to savor the food that was lovingly prepared. I agree with with you, even a morning bowl of yogurt or cereal is elevated when served in a pretty dish.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! If you're going to go to the trouble of preparing the food, why not eat it off something wonderful!
DeleteYes I do but there is a side of me that feels sorry for the unused dishes that are not so pretty so then I use that so I am being fair. Sounds crazy but true! But I don't want to be the person who has never used their good stuff, that always seemed so sad...
ReplyDeleteI love china, and when I came back to the States, I would pick up pieces of Blue Willow, which was sort of matching, but not exactly. I loved it all... But when I moved, I decided to just use the RC china. I do have some great patterned tin plates, which I use outside.
DeleteYes, me too -makes such a difference; It elevates eating!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more! I use china and silver and linen on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteThe perfect Life
Cynthia... why not? I kept thinking that i had all of these great things, stored away, so if I am not worth it, who is?
DeleteI agree and always use my china (I have several sets of Rosenthal). Love to buy cloth napkins and cocktail napkins, which I wash and fold and put on the bottom of the pile so they iron themselves. Plus, it saves landfill space by not buying paper products.
ReplyDeleteWe grew up eating on china, with silver and using linen. Most of it inherited from one source or another. It's a green way to go, but in an elegant way!
DeleteMy "everyday" china is also blue and white, and when company comes I used the fancier sets. There is something so homey about blue and white, no matter how expensive the brand. Maybe it has to do with my Swedish background. My kitchen curtains are blue and white gingham. Very Scandinavian. But it always looks clean and fresh and crisp.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted Half Lace is my regular china, and I love my Black Victoria, esp. the demitasse set. I use my sterling flatware and candelabras, etc. even at breakfast. They do make even simple toast more of an occasion.
ReplyDeleteAn aside: I'm just down the way in Alexandria, Va, where the weather has become monsoon like. To mangle a Tweet of India Knight, if the weather were a purchase, I would return it to the shop and make a dreadful scene.
Monsoon season indeed, here in Annapolis. Crazy to think that I was wearing sweaters only days ago. I will now abscond with the weather return scene quote and use is shamelessly as my own!
DeleteHear, hear for using the good stuff. I use my silver every day and the only reason I don't use the china is because I don't like the pattern the ex-spouse chose (but then wouldn't take when we separated). But that means my teenage daughter will get it to use as regular crockery when she gets her own place.
I'm in Alexandria too. The rain could at least stop long enough to pull the weeds!
DeleteYes i always use my assortment of linen napkins, use the china and crystal! My daughter keeps hers in the china cabinet, so when my granddaughter visits we use everything, even for lunch!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
2013 Designer Series
Yes, I use my "good" stuff everyday. The napkins, I iron them when it seems they need it. A great way to go green. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. It's so fun, and not to be hidden away! We deserve to be treated like company!
ReplyDeletexo Nancy
Yes... I do. I've been a little hard on family silver by throwing it in the dishwasher - all but the knives. It's still beautiful. Linen napkins, indeed! Fancy teacups, yes. I don't however, use my fancy Rosenthal China daily only because I prefer my vintage collection more!
ReplyDeleteMeg - I still remember having dinner at your place. Deeeee-lish!! And your Royal Copenhagen china - be still my heart! You lucky girl :)
ReplyDeleteTalk soon,
Loi
I'm with you, Meg. I haven't used paper napkins for years. Even when we picnic, I take along cloth napkins. I have a favorite thrift shop in Easton where I buy them to use in sewing projects, but often I bring them home and find they're too lovely to cut and they go straight to my dining room.
ReplyDeleteMeg, I agree with this premise and in fact our everyday china is a plain white English bone china, so simple and it goes with everything. I always use cotton or linen napkins but don't always iron them either! I do have some psychological resistance to using sterling flatware or antique china for every day because they have to be hand washed!
ReplyDeleteFrancie
Two things turned me around about "saving for special events." 1) A school friend came from a generation of people that had been "the" silversmiths-goldsmiths for Williamsburg. Her father (now brother) made all of the Phi Beta Kappa keys (PBK having started at William & Mary.) She told me silver was meant to be used daily and not set aside. 2) Sometime after my mother died, I realized I was foolish to not be using "the good stuff," and, like you, I read an article about how it's a sign that you take care of yourself and show respect to yourself to use all of your pieces. So I started doing this.
ReplyDeleteI use all the good stuff. Years of seeing unused linen tablecloths, silver and china sell for next to nothing at auctions convinced me that it is sad to see things preserved that were meant to be enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteAlways! Grew up with it too.
ReplyDeleteI made a decision about a decade ago to use all my 'good silver and china'. because, really, what am I waiting for? Food does taste better on wonderful plates, and the wine finer in crystal. I was lucky enough to inherit absolutely beautiful oriental plates and bowls - in addition to the gorgeous Spode and Coalport china I was gifted when I married almost 40 years ago. I've finally convinced my un-husband of almost 15 years (who was a proponent of paper plates) that the improved taste is true, and he now serves me my tea and breakfast bits on the finest of our collection. I agree with Washington Cube - using the finest you have is a sign that you are taking care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog.
Joanne
Hi Meg -
ReplyDeleteThis post reminds me of a trip I took to France a few years ago with three couples. We all fell completely in love with the knife set in the house we were staying in. They were Laguiole - and the town was only a few hours away! We went and visited one shop after the other seeing all the styles and choices. My set has been in constant use ever since. The others chose, initially, to keep theirs in with the good stuff, packed away. Luckily seeing mine on such a regular basis (yes, we're all still friends!) has encouraged them to add their's to the daily utensil drawer and they're so happy they did!