‘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
You know what my favorite part of a meal is? Dessert. I love a good pie or cheesecake to finish off my meal, especially when it’s homemade. I mean, sure those store bought pastries are precut for us lazy folk out there, so all you really have to do is take a pie out of a box for dessert to be served, but they’re just not as tasty as a home baked dessert. Homemade desserts are baked with love and tasty sugary goodness. And because they shun precut slicing, you can cut a slice any way you like it. Then again, it would be nice to have a guide every once in awhile because cake slicing can be a bit tricky. But maybe there’s a gizmo out there that can help with that…
With the Triangolo (Generate Design, $89.00), your dessert presentation gets a delicious makeover. A set of ten plates molds together to form a cohesive circular plate, so to the unsuspecting eye it looks just like any other dessert tray. But upon closer inspection, it will become apparent that these are actually small plates in the shape of pie slivers. This allows each guest to have their own slice of pie/cheesecake/torte on a cute single serving plate. These plates are made of durable ceramic and are stackable to save space in your cupboard.
So you could just put your freshly baked apple pie on the arranged pie plate circle and then cut it, with each slice falling perfectly onto its respective plate. Or you could be redundant by cutting the pie into pieces on one plate and then transferring them over to the smaller plates. You know, if you wanted to waste time and create a giant mess. Your call.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 5.3″ x .15″ (each slice)
-Set of 10 plates: $89.00; set of 4 plates: $49.00
-Plates are stackable
-Ceramic
It’s getting to be that time of year, where the weather gets a little warmer and people start having outdoor get togethers. This usually means some grilled specialties, homemade pasta salads, and some chilled adult beverages. There’s pretty much just massive amounts of food surrounding you at all times. This can be somewhat daunting, especially if you don’t have the correct partyware to support such a feast. I mean, how are you supposed to mingle and meet new people when you’ve got to juggle your plate, silverware, and drink? That just doesn’t leave you a free hand to say hello, gesticulate during a funny story, or even just to scratch that inevitable mosquito bite on your arm. So how are you supposed to keep your guests from staging a coup in your backyard?
No worries, the Cater Plate (Drinkstuff, £5.98) is here to rescue you from social oblivion. Made from high quality plastic to resist breakage, this generic looking party plate packs a hefty punch. The key to the Cater Plate’s genius? Each plate includes reattachable cutlery, as well as a stemware holder and sauce compartments. Ok, so picture yourself at your neighbor’s bbq: you’re trying to master the difficult task of eating and schmoozing, which you have to do while standing because everyone knows that seats are scarce at these gatherings. Tell me, exactly how do you plan to execute a meet and greet when you have a plate in one hand and a drink in the other? Well, if you had a Cater Plate, you wouldn’t even be asking that question. Your wine glass would be safely secured in its stemware holder, with your cutlery firmly snapped into place. This plate is also great for the person who doesn’t want their sauces fraternizing with their main course. I mean, maybe you like to dip your cheeseburger in a little bit of ketchup instead of drowning it in the stuff, which can only lead to a soggy bun and an unhappy you. The reattachable cutlery means that you won’t be dropping your plastic fork every two seconds as you try to navigate to a sensible eating location. And once you get there, you can go crazy and snap off your fork, spoon, and knife because unlike other party plates, you can snap them right back on when the mood strikes your fancy. Amazing, isn’t it?
Available in black or clear, the Cater Plate is suitable for just about any occasion. The clear is a perfectly acceptable alternative for your standard summer block party, in fact it could go with just about any celebratory event. If you’re having a black tie event though, I would totally go with the black. Obviously.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 255mm x 265mm
-Package includes 6 Cater Plates
-Each plate includes: plate, reattachable cutlery, stemware holder, and sauce compartments
-Available in black or clear
-Delivery not available in US or Canada
Now that the weather is starting to change from gross and unfriendly to slightly more inviting, you should really start thinking about some fun outdoor activities. One thing you could do is have a picnic. Whether it’s at the park or in your own backyard, it’s a nice way to get out of the house and enjoy nature. And a picnic is fairly low maintenance when it comes to being outdoorsy – a lot less than say, camping or gardening. I mean, let’s face it, a picnic sounds tons more fun than camping because you get to just sit around and eat. And those are two of my favorite pastimes. So what materials do you need to prepare yourself for such a feast?
Just pick yourself up some of the Biodegradable Picnic Ware (Firebox, $29.95) before you plan your outing. Not only does this set come with a tablecloth, plates, cups, bowls, and cutlery for four people, but it’s ecofriendly. What does that mean? Basically everything in this set is biodegradable, with the exception of the tablecloth (which is reusable). The plates, cups, and bowls are made from cassava fibre, which comes from the perennial plant that makes tapioca. So once you’re done with your picnic, you can do one of three things:
1) You can promptly wash and dry the picnic ware to
be reused at a later date.
2) You can give it back to the earth because it will
decompose in one week if left in standing water or in
three weeks if left in a compost heap.
3) You can eat it – since it comes from the same plant
that makes tapioca, it’s totally edible.
Now, the cutlery is wooden, so please don’t eat that. But it is totally biodegradable as well, so you can reuse it or toss it in the woods. And as if all these green ideas weren’t already enough to blow your mind, it all comes packaged in a biodegradable bag. That’s right, you can basically single-handedly save the planet just by buying this picnic ware set. Ok, well not really, but it’s a relatively painless step towards saving the planet, and that’s got to make you feel a little better about yourself.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions:
-Plate: 7″ x 1″
-Cup: 4″ x 4″
-Bowl: 6″ x 3″
-Cutlery: .6″ x 7″
-Tablecloth: 43″ x 43″
-Includes: 4 plates, 4 cups, 4 bowls, wooden cutlery set, and tablecloth
-Picnic ware made of cassava fibre
-Cassava fibre is edible
-Cutlery made of wood
-Picnic ware can be reused if washed and dried promptly
-Picnic ware can be composted
-Tablecloth available in camo or gingham
-Packaged in biodegradable bag
