Oct 6, 2019
In Praise of White Plates
I love beautiful things. I love entertaining at home. Sometimes the two clash. A generally decisive person — me — can find herself in a corner babbling like an amateur drinker. Do I use the antique plates? Square plates? Green plates? Paper? Plastic? Oh yeah, that one decision can mess me up.
Well, it used to mess me up.
One day I was in a local thrift store and noticed that someone had donated what looked like a zillion white plates in all shapes and sizes, white bowls, and white coffee cups — the real kind that have round bowls. I bought six of everything. And I was quite pleased with myself.
My loot cost less than ten dollars.
Those white dishes most likely came from a restaurant that either went out of business or changed their plates. I started thinking about seeing nothing but white plates in restaurants for as long as I had eaten in restaurants. Even the expensive restaurants had white plates. (White plates are cost-effective.)
Food looks prettier and more appetizing on a white plate. It certainly photographs well on social media. People cooking suspect stuff and ‘plating’ it on brown or tan or blue plates are not exactly making a case for their food. It could be the lighting but no it is the food and ceramic the color of gravy. Truthfully, I do not think it would look better on white but…maybe.
I sing the praises of white plates not because I am frugal or indecisive, but because they are like canvas waiting for the colors found in food. A fried chicken wing on a white plate is art. A salad made with fennel, beets, onion and Boston lettuce and a drizzle of dressing when served in a white bowl is art.
On the table, there is little to coordinate with white dishes. Your cutlery, drinking glasses, napkins and tablecloth can be any color or pattern with white plates. You can use every color in the rainbow on that table with a white plate and have a setting that is spectacular.
I admire people who can use patterned china to serve their meals without taking away from the meal. They are gifted.
I am not.
White plates have made my very imperfect cooking look tolerable. That alone is reason to sing their praises.
