Presentation

When the kids were little, there was no presentation. Food got on the table, and I could count on a glass full of milk or something getting knocked over at least a couple times a week.

I have a tiny house and we eat in the kitchen, there is no formal dining room. But as the kids grew up and learned to be less rowdy and more appreciative of a really nice meal, I bought nice tableware, pretty dishes, and so on. I have a collection of copper pots that hang from potracks that I think look nice.

My latest project is an old brass and crystal chandelier found on Ebay, I am going to refurbish it, add some additional crystals, and hang it over the table.

Do you have any favorite cookware, accessories or decorations you use when you cook?

Great topic Lucille!

Presentation is everything. I use white plates. Food looks great on white plates. If you notie in fine restaraunts most of them use white for presentation.

I have Havilland china service for 12 and silver flatware for those special occasions.

I also have a complete Victorian Coffee/Tea service 3 coffee pots, a creamer, and sugar bowl. I wish I had pix to show because they are really incredible! (it's all sitting in a storage building out back)

shhhhh don't tell anyone that I'm a girly girl and still like to have tea parties.

I recently got some square plates. They are meant for sushi, but I've found that the square and rectangular darker-colored ones make for nice presentation. The larger, long ones are great for any food served on skewers.

Originally Posted by Laura Fopiano

shhhhh don't tell anyone that I'm a girly girl and still like to have tea parties.

I do too Laura Jasmine Tea is my favorite!

I'm still in the "kids are too young for good china" stage. But hopefully withing the next couple of years I will be able to start looking around. I have no clue what I want, and since we don't have a decent dept store here any more (stupid forgein buyout companys) I will have to go out of town to look or maybe one of the antique stores that are on the outside of town.

I like to use clear dishware. I have a huge set from Princess House Crystal that I love.
I really like that I can change the entire look of the dishes with a different color table cloth. It's almost like having a new set for every occasion.
For holidays, I use different colored place mats. I'll alternate red and green for Christmas. Fall colors for Thanksgiving, and so on. The plates will take on the color of mats they're on, and I dress the table accordingly.

One of the things I liked to do when the kids were younger was allow them to help make something special for the table. Once, we used little pine cones glued to (new) hair scrunchies for napkin rings. Another time, they did colored hand cut-outs with guest names on them and glued them onto popsicle sticks. Added to a few flowers into a small vase for "reserved seating". Or gather all the hand cut-outs and place them into a center piece for the table. Looks great and gives the kids a sense of pride.

Never could figure out a way to make it fun to clean the dishes tho

If you figure out a way to make cleaning the dishes fun, you could be rich!

My mother gave me a set of china last year. I use it on almost a daily basis, and definitely for get-togethers.
The first photo is a tender baked talapia, floating on a bed of yellow rice and surrounded by a colorful mix of vegetables, the second is my china pattern.