Fantastic plastic
Durable melamine tableware gets a pretty design update just in time for summer entertaining
Plastic has never looked so good. Outdoor tableware made of melamine resins are perfect this time of year because they’re tough as nails and can handle drops on a deck or patio without breaking. Aerin’s Fairfield pattern is as pretty as any dishes you might buy for everyday use, and Juliska has come out with a melamine version of its popular Berry & Thread ceramic stoneware. Just one note before you shop: They’re fine to eat on, but the FDA advises not to heat food on them in a microwave oven.
CASE OF THE BLUES
Aerin goes with deeply saturated shades of blue for its Fairfield melamine tableware. Mix and match its plates and bowls for a crisp summer look on your patio. In sets of four, small mixed dip bowls, $31.95; bowls, $51.95; and dinner plates, $59.95; Williams-Sonoma
BERRY GOOD
Juliska’s popular Berry & Thread whitewash ceramic stoneware dishes now come in durable melamine. They’re rimmed in the same thin thread and a sprinkling of berries, and you can purchase five-piece place settings as well as serving trays and bowls. $24 for a dinner plate or coupe bowl; Kuhl-Linscomb
PALM REACH
Paradise is in reach with this Outdoor Oasis palm leaf melamine serving tray. $32; JC Penney
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Feel like you’re on vacation every time you use this bamboo-framed Les Jardins de la Comtesse Tropical Birds tray. $39; amara.com
CHECK MATES
One Hundred 80 Degrees’ dishwasher-safe gingham picnic plates give you all the fun of casual outdoor dining without the waste. Set of four plates, $20; Kuhl-Linscomb
HOOK ’EM
University of Texas fans will want to scoop up a stack of One Hundred 80 Degrees’ Longhorn plates for next season’s tailgate party. Set of four, $21; Kuhl-Linscomb
FRUITY FUN
Summer fruits are at their peak right now, and they’ll look even prettier in this Outdoor Oasis pink pineapple serving bowl. $32; JC Penney
COOL CORAL
Mario Luca Giusti’s Corallo plate, with its bold coral design, pairs well with poolside or seaside snacks. $27; amara.com
CLEAR YOUR PLATE
Dine al fresco with La Cadeaux’s Rustica dinnerware and your guests might not suspect the table was set with melamine. $17 for a dinner plate; Kuhl Linscomb
JUNGLE FEVER
Epicurean’s Amazon Floral dishwasher-safe melamine ice cream bowls bring a bit of the tropics to your backyard. Platters, plates and serving bowls available in the same pattern. Set of three bowls, $24; amara.com
LETTUCE PRAY
There’s no such thing as a boring salad in this Beatriz Ball Vida lettuce serving bowl. $59; Kuhl-Linscomb