TABLEWARE FASHION: FROM METAL TO WOOD
Hotels and fine restaurants are the ultimate catwalk for the latest tableware trends. This season, two extremes are turning the dining table into a space for creativity, boasting utility designs and styles
“Everything is trendy now,” says renowned designer and architect, Gregory Gatserelia of Gatserelia Design. “Modern, classical, and a mix of the two, even including a touch of the baroque, is very appealing. It is the overall dining experience and desired atmosphere that define which tableware suit a location best.”
Copper is on trend, whether in plates or larger cooking utensils. Wood has also caught the attention of several designers who have dedicated a large portion of their collections to this material. “The trend that is prevailing in restaurants today is the adoption of wood blocks and trays,” says Mirna Sarkis, managing director of Convivio. They are used to serve bread, for example, as well as cheese and meat. More unusual usage includes serving pizza, burgers and drinks on wooden pallets.
“People are getting creative with their food serving methods and this is very challenging to us as tableware suppliers,” says Sarkis, adding that glass is a tableware staple. “I hate a lousy glass of wine because it’s a beverage that I respect and I think it has to be treated in a certain way and it has to be drunk in a certain way. It doesn’t have to be expensive, it has to be treated with respect,” says Gatserelia. Solea offers carafe designs that complement and enhance wine service and Eastern Import has reinvented the usage of the ‘verrerie’ with eye-catching drinking jars. “The drinking jar has a unique design that captivates the eye and makes a stunning addition to any table,” says Marlene Khouja from Eastern Import. “The jars can be used for both hot and cold beverages.” Villeroy & Boch has highlighted another trend: Florals from MG Hotel Supplies. Hotels are adopting this print to transform their premises into cozier areas that allow guests to feel at home. Italian La Tavola from the same supplier has focused on organic patterns in its newly launched lines, especially in its signature models: the see-though risers made with natural materials are eco-friendly and bring an element of the outdoors, inside. “It’s the overall setting that is important,” says Gatserelia. “After the second visit, you don’t care how a place looks anymore; it’s the service, the price, the quality of food, and the experience.”