Different types of Dinnerware

1. Earthenware - Often less expensive than other types of dinnerware, earthenware is

ceramic that has been glazed and fired. It has a thick, heavy, and rustic look and feel, but
is not as durable and strong as other types of dinnerware and is prone to chipping.
Dishware with hand-painted designs are typically earthenware. Earthenware is often
porous, which means it could stain or absorb liquid, so you do need to avoid leaving it
submerged in water. Most glazed earthenware is dishwasher safe and can be used in the
microwave, but it is wise to check with the manufacturer first.
2. Porcelain and China are both terms that refer to dinnerware made of a fine-particle clay—
typically composed of feldspar, kaolin, and quartz—that is fired at a higher temperature.
This makes the resulting dinnerware extremely durable and nonporous. This process also
allows the body to be thinner and more delicately constructed which gives it an almost
translucent appearance, as well as allowing for shaped details to be incorporated into the
design of the body.
Most fine china is dishwasher, microwave, and oven-safe unless the manufacturer
indicates otherwise. China that has a gold, silver, or platinum border should not be
microwaved and lemon or citrus-scented detergent could damage metal accents. Many
people hand-wash their metal-accented porcelain dishes.
Porcelain often has an upscale look, lending itself to more formal dining occasions, but it
also can be used every day to make any meal a little more elegant. Brands to look for
include Lenox, Noritake, and Villeroy & Boch.
3. Melamine- If you're looking for unbreakable plates, Melamine is the way to go. This plastic
material is lightweight but has a sturdy, inflexible feel and a glossy finish. It is virtually
indestructible and is ideal for children and outdoor use. It is usually dishwasher safe on
 the top rack, but not suitable for the microwave or oven and should not be heated with
food in it. Melamine is BPA-free. Zak! Designs is a good brand for Melamine dinnerware.
4. Vitrified glass- is glass, usually opaque in the case of dinnerware, that has been fired at
an ultra-high temperature so that it is nonporous and extremely durable. The best-known
vitrified glass dinnerware is Corelle, which is a proprietary glass laminate that is virtually
indestructible—it will not break or chip even when dropped onto a hard floor. Vitrified glass
is safe to use in the dishwasher and microwave.

Different Types of Flatware

Style Description

The classic teaspoon is part

of most traditional place
settings. It is used for a wide
variety of items, from coffee
Teaspoon
and tea to desserts, cereal,
and soup. It is what most
people envision when they
think of a spoon.

A dessert spoon is similar in

size and shape to a soup
Dessert
spoon (often larger than a
Spoon
teaspoon, too). It has a wide,
deep, oval-shaped bowl.

A tablespoon resembles a
traditional teaspoon in shape
but is much larger.
Tablespoon Tablespoons are mainly used
as serving utensils for bowls
placed in the middle of the
table.

A soup spoon has a wider and

deeper oval-shaped bowl
Soup Spoon than a tablespoon, so it can
hold more liquid. It has a
similar overall shape.

A demitasse spoon is similar

in shape to a standard
teaspoon but generally has a
Demitasse longer handle and a slightly
Spoon smaller bowl. It is designed to
stir coffee drinks served in
small quantities, such as
espresso or cappuccino.
 A bouillon spoon is another
type of soup spoon. Bouillon
Bouillon
spoons are generally smaller
Spoon
than a regular soup spoon
and have a round bowl.

This spoon generally has a

long, thin handle and a small,
Iced Tea
oval-shaped bowl. It's great
Spoon /
for stirring tall drinks,
Soda Spoon
milkshakes, and root beer
floats.

A grapefruit spoon is similar

in design to a teaspoon but
features an elongated bowl
Grapefruit
and a rigid serrated edge to
spoon /
easily separate the fruit from
Citrus Spoon
the rind. This spoon can also
be used for other fruits such
as oranges and melons.

The all-purpose dinner fork is

part of almost all traditional
place settings. It is usually
used for the main course. In
many casual or quick-serve
Dinner Fork
restaurants, this may be the
only fork used. Most dinner
forks have four tines, but
some only have three,
depending on the pattern.

This small fork is suitable for

Cocktail /
small appetizers like cheese
Oyster Fork
cubes, olives, and oysters.

A dessert fork and a salad

fork are sometimes used
interchangeably, even though
true dessert forks are slightly
Dessert Fork
smaller and thinner than
salad forks. It is mainly used
for eating desserts like cake
or pie.

A salad fork is smaller than a

traditional dinner fork and is
most often used for eating
salads or smaller items such
Salad Fork as sliced fruit. It may also be
used as a dessert fork, even
though a true dessert fork is
even smaller and more thinly
built.
 A European dinner fork is
generally larger and heavier
than a traditional dinner fork.
European
It is usually used during
Dinner Fork
formal occasions and can be
found in many higher-end
restaurants.

A snail fork traditionally

features two long, pointed
Snail fork
tines and is used to gently pry
the meat from the snail shell.

A European dinner knife is

nearly a third larger and
heavier than a traditional
European
dinner knife. It is most often
Dinner Knife
used in formal occasions and
is found in many higher-end
restaurants.

A dinner knife traditionally

has a rounded tip and slightly
longer blade than the butter
knife. It is used for cutting
Dinner Knife slightly rougher foods such
as vegetables and soft meats
and is one of the more
common pieces of flatware
on the dinner table.

A butter knife typically has a

dull edge with a rounded
point. This design makes it
Butter Knife
suitable for spreading jam or
butter onto soft foods like
rolls, muffins, or toast.

A butter spreader is typically

the smallest knife in a set of
Butter flatware and features a
spreader rounded tip and flat blade. It
is used to spread butter, jelly,
and other toppings.
Glassware and their uses….

Beer Mug – a standard 10-12oz beer mug commonly used for half pints of
draught (draft)

Brandy Snifter – shaped liked it is so that the user can hold the glass
between their fingers while the base of the glass sits in the palm of their
hand. This allows the transfer of heat from the palm of the hand to the
brandy, thereby slightly heating up the liquor.

Champagne Flute – The elongated shape of the flute allows the bubbles to
travel upwards and not dissipate too quickly. If the bubbles disappear too
quickly, the champagne will taste flat.

Cocktail Glass – Certain cocktails, like a Tom Collins or the hurricane, have their
own specialty bar glasses. For all other cocktails who weren’t popular enough to
get their own glasses, bars use generic cocktail glasses.

Generic Beverage Glass – Multipurpose bar glassware. From the glass

accompanying a bottle of beer to more standard cocktails like the Bloody Mary
and Bloody Caesar, this is your all-round, all occasions glass when the right glass
isn’t available.
 Goblet – the goblet is commonly used in banquet halls for water and juice
and sometimes used in bars (that don’t have the proper glassware) for
various cocktails and soft drinks.

Highball Glass – Highball glasses such as this are used for a variety of cocktails
and mixed drinks like a gin & tonic or rum & coke.

Hurricane Glass – The origin of the hurricane cocktail can be traced

back to New Orleans where the first one was served in the now signature
hurricane lamp shaped glass.

Classic Margarita Glass – This is the classic style margarita glass, although there
are a couple variations floating around (like the one below).
 Margarita Glass: Saucer – Another popular style of margarita glass.

Martini Glass – The martini – Shaken, not stirred according to Mr. Bond.
Martinis have their own special glasses and although this is a classic looking martini glass, there are
many variations on the market today but you should still be able to recognize it by its triangle-shaped
bowl.

Old-Fashioned Glass – the glass made specifically for the drink, the Old
Fashioned, this glass is often used in bars and clubs as a common rocks
glass for mixed drinks such as a rum & coke or vodka soda.

Beer Glass – of the Pilsner variety. This is a generic glass commonly

accompanying a bottle of beer. Some establishments may use this glass as for their half pint beer
glasses.
 Pilsner Glass – This is the classic Pilsner glass which was originally
meant to be served with….well, Pilsners. Today, you’ll see bars use this
glass as a generic beer glass – either for small pints of beer (half pints) or
accompanying any kind of bottle of beer, from Pilsners to Ales to Lagers
and more.

Pint Glass (for beer) – This pint glass, also called a sleeve due to its shape, is a
very common glass for serving pints of beer (20oz in North America). Depending on the variety of
glassware at certain pubs and clubs, this glass may be used for serving soft drinks or cocktails such as the
Bloody Mary and Bloody Caesar.

Wine Glass – You can literally find a wine glass for every variety of
grape available in a bottle. However, most bars usually only carry one and
maybe two different wine glasses. If they carry two different wine
glasses, it’ll be one for the reds and one for the white wines. This is a
typical shape associated with red wines as they tend to have fuller bodies
with smaller openings.

Rocks Glass – This is the standard in most bars. The glass that’s used for
the majority of mixed drinks that leave the bar. Any bar rail shot, as in a gin & tonic, as well as
liquors served straight – rum on the rocks, are served in this glass.
 Specialty Coffee Glass – This glass is meant for specialty coffees and
specialty teas. The handle ensures that the guest doesn’t have to worry
about wrapping his hands around a steaming hot glass (although this is
recommended for those really cold North American winters Common
drinks served in this glass include Irish Coffee, Brazilian Coffee, B-52
Coffee and the Hot Toddy and Blueberry Tea.

Shooter Glass – This is the standard measuring glass for a lot of bars as well as
doubling as a shooter glass for any shooter. Where in use, the bartenders use this glass to measure the
amount of alcohol served in each drink. And when customers order shooters, they are served in this
glass. A must-have in bar glassware.

Shot Glass – Very similar to a shooter glass, this is another style of

measuring glass used by bartenders to measure out the amount of alcohol going into each drink.
This glass can also double as a shooter glass. Note that due to breakage, many clubs use plastic
shooter glasses.