It’s been awhile since dinnertime was an exciting event. And by a long time, I mean it’s basically never been all that thrilling. Especially when you’re a kid and you’re forced to sit through excruciatingly boring dinner conversations that are way over your head, dinner seems to last forever. There’s nothing to do but sit there and stare at your plate, full of disgusting foods you don’t want to eat. Brussel spouts again? Really, Mom? And to top it all off, they won’t even let you leave the table! You’re just supposed to suffer through talk of Uncle Dave’s colonoscopy and Aunt Gert’s festering boils (your family has a lot of medical ailments, apparently). This is an outrage!
For those of us who demand to be entertained at the dinner table but cannot afford quality dinner theater, the Food Face Dinner Plate (Perpetual Kid, $10.99) will surely suffice.Remember Woolly Willy? Such a simple concept, but that bald man provided us with hours of hilarious enjoyment. This plate employ that same idea, namely dressing up a bald, beardless man, but with food instead of magnetic shavings. Not only does this plate provide hours (yes, I said hours) of endless entertainment, but the possibilities really are infinite! I mean, depending on what your dinner consists of, you could have a mashed potatoes beard, roast beef hair, and carrots for eyebrows. Or maybe you want to go the traditional route and do spaghetti hair and marinara sauce lipstick – that’s what I think when I hear the word “traditional.” And don’t worry about overuse because this plate is made of high-fire ceramics, designed to withstand many, many, many character transitions.
These plates are actually my fine china, only I use them all the time instead of just on special occasions. On holidays, I like to take them out and challenge my guests to a Face Decorating Contest. Best use of food as art wins a Maserati. That’s just how I roll.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 8.5″ diameter
-One plate
-Ceramic
‘Tis the season for festive parties, raucous celebrations, and other sorts of joyous occasions! And what happens at gatherings such as these? Sure, everyone is just a little bit different, but there is a basic formula: eat, drink, and be merry. When you’re at a party, or better yet hosting one, you don’t want to get bogged down in the annoying, but necessary party maintenance. For me, the one thing I hate to have to clean up is dishes. It’s nice to have some people over, relax, and have a good time, but it sucks to have a sink full of dirty plates at the end of the night. Now, you could go all plasticware instead, but I always feel so guilty about it. I mean, how wasteful is that to use plastic utensils and plates? And you know everyone will use way more than they need to because if it’s disposable, it gets disposed. If it’s a real plate, they use one for the entire night. If it’s plastic, well then you’d better believe they’ll use at least five apiece. Just because they can.
By using the Sugarcane Disposables (Drinkstuff), you can take the pressure off of having to choose between some leisure time for yourself and saving the environment. Not only are these disposable plates and bowls made of 100% sugar cane fibre, but they’re also completely biodegradable and compostable. That’s right, you can use them up and throw them away because they won’t be sitting in a landfill for all eternity. And they’re actually superior to traditional disposables because you can microwave and freeze them without having to worry about destroying them, or poisoning yourself. Another fun little fact about these things? They won’t absorb oil or leak. So even if they’re made to break down. they’re not going to start in the middle of your party. They’re real classy that way.
Now, I’m not advocating using this faux china exclusively because that’s not exactly the most environmentally friendly choice. But you have to admit, it would be nice to pull these out every once in awhile. Just think, not only will your party be rocking, but everyone will be talking about how you managed to go green even around the holidays. Now, that’s a real gift.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Prices:
Small plate (7″): £7.59
Large plate (10″): £18.69
Divided plate (10″): £6.99
Bowl (16oz): £11.29
-Quantity:
Small plate: pack of 125
Large plate: pack of 125
Divided plate: pack of 50
Bowl: pack of 125
-Biodegradable and compostable
-Will not absorb oil or leak
-Microwavable and freezable
-Made from 100% sugar cane fibre
-Materials obtained from sustainable sources
-Not available for delivery in the United States or Canada
You know what sucks? A party foul. We’ve all been there. You’re having a great time at someone’s house, drinking a few adult beverages and shooting the shit, when all of a sudden someone spills a drink. Sure, it’s not the end of the world, but it is a party pauser if I ever saw one. Most of the time when someone spills a drink it’s because they’re trying to bring over drinks for about fifteen people all at once. You’ve seen them, a crowd of beers clutched to their chest and two hands full of six wineglasses. It’s really just a matter of time before one of those drinks bites the dust.
All the mess could be easily avoided if you just invested in the Large Non-Slip Tray (Drinkstuff, £9.98). Not only does it make carrying multiple drinks easier, but you don’t even have to be a savvy waiter to pull it off. The secret of this tray lies in its Progrip rubber, a surface so slip resistant that you can cart around a tray full of beverages and not have to worry about them toppling over. Sure, you could get a regular plain old tray and try using that, but just me know how long that lasts. You may think you’ve got steady hands, but you might want to factor in the number of tequila shooters you plan on doing throughout the night. Reconsidered, eh?
I can just see it now: you’re floating around the party scene like a butterfly, handing out drinks like they’re flower nectar. You accidentally stumble over an empty beer can and you’re balance begins to waver. All eyes are on you as you and the drink tray sway back and forth. But no, there will be no spills today, thank you very much. Crisis averted.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 20mm diameter
-Weight: 430g
-Progrip rubber surface
-Helps stop glasses from sliding
-Reduces accidental breakages
-Perfect for serving drinks at a busy party
-Not available for delivery in US or Canada
‘Tis the season for outdoor recreation, so how better to celebrate this wonderful weather than with a party? Backyard celebrations are great because they can range from super classy to your average kegger. Whatever your parameters, you’re got to make sure that you have an awesome spread. I mean, if there’s not good food, then why bother even having people over, you know? Ok, so say you go out and get some tasty snacks for your guests to munch on, are you all set then? Nope. You still need to think about the behind-the-scenes details, like cutlery and plates. Cutlery is a snap; just go out and get a giant box of plastic forks, spoons, and knives. But plates? Plates are a whole different story. Parties have rose or fallen based on proper plate selection. Don’t worry, I’ll help you through this difficult time.
Your party just needs the Go Plate (KegWorks, $48.50) to make it the social event of the season. Another crafty innovation for people like me who are always trying to juggle their food and drink (not literally, thank goodness), this reusable plate allows you to carry both with just one hand. See, it’s your average sectional party plate, with one clever design difference: a slot for your drink. The plate fits over most consumer bottles, cans, and even plastic cups, so you can basically balance your plate on any beverage surface. There’s actually a hole running right through the middle of the plate, which doesn’t interfere with can and cup stacking but allows the longneck of a bottle to pass through. Totally boss, right? And before you start getting all bent out of shape about the price, relax. That price is for a set of 42 plates. That’s right, 42 reusable and recyclable plastic plates that can go straight into the dishwasher at the end of the night.
I wish I had these plates at the last party I went to. It was the whole buffet deal and of course, I got a drink to nurse me through the long line for food. Because I only have two hands, I had to constantly shift my plate and drink from my hands to the table as I moved through the line so I could grab some grub. By the time I got to sit down, I had lost my drink. I know, let’s all take a moment to grieve.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 10″ diameter
-Includes 42 plates
-Designed for freehanded eating and drinking
-Fits over most consumer bottles, cans, and cups
-16 and 18oz drinks fit snugly and plate stays balanced
-Ideal for cold or warm foods
-Made from RPET
-Hand washable or top rack dishwasher safe
-Recyclable
So since the economy is kinda in the crapper, and will probably be that way for some time, we’re gonna have to figure out what to do on our Friday nights that’s fun, yet inexpensive. I know, that sounds like an oxymoron, but bear with me here because I’m about to impart some wisdom on you: you don’t have to spend your weekends bar hopping to have a good time. Crazy, isn’t it? The things you learn. Anyways, you might be wondering what alternatives there are out there (and rightly so). Well, listen up because I’m about to tell you.
Get yourself some of the Wine ‘n Dine (Wrapables, $21.99) because you’re about to have a dinner party. That’s right, I said dinner party. Now before you get all uppity and start telling me that dinner parties are for old people, let me explain. It doesn’t have to be some fussy uptight affair, but rather a chill get together amongst friends. And what you need to make this party festive is a set of matching plates and glasses, as shown above. I mean, how cool is that? There are six plates and glasses in a set, and each plate and glass pair is a different translucent color. That way, your guests can put their plates and glasses down and not have to wonder whose is whose, as long as they remember what color they started with. Another interesting facet about this set is that the glass fits into a notch on the plate, so you can carry the pair around in one hand. Pretty nifty, eh? Also, for you lazy bums out there (myself included), the whole set is reusable and dishwasher safe.
See, that doesn’t sound so fuddy duddy, now does it? Just get a little potluck going on, break out this fancy china (aka plasticware), and start a game of Guesstures. I mean, how can you go wrong there? Guesstures is the shit.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Includes 6 glasses and 6 plates
-Matching color accents on glasses and plates
-6 different translucent colors
-Made of high clarity polycarbonate
-Break resistant
-Reusable
-Dishwasher safe
