The Only True Dinner Plates Are White

Mysterian · 2024-02-08T21:03:54+00:00

I was killing time in the homeware district of my local big Sainsbury's today when I stumbled upon the dinner plate selection. I was distressed to see such a myriad of patterns and hues flagrantly displayed. Why would anybody want anything but clean clear crisp white plates? I don't want to accidentality misplace a nugget or waffle fry amongst a geometric jungle of shapes and shades. Surely the beauty of a blueberry pancake would be dulled when presented on a blue and white oriental landscape? And you can tell when white plates still have congealed egg on them from the other day. AIBU? Obviously not, but why do shops sell stuff like that?

StarlightLime · 13/02/2024 15:57

StrawberrySquash · 13/02/2024 12:28

I disagree! I like a white plate in general because it doesn't fight with the food. I have a few patterned bowls, with the pattern on the outside away from the food. And other plainish coloured things, mostly for serving.

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I meant cheap white plates v classy white plates 😂

StrawberrySquash · 13/02/2024 12:28

StarlightLime · 10/02/2024 11:10

When it's covered in food it will look no different 🤷🏻‍♀️

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I disagree! I like a white plate in general because it doesn't fight with the food. I have a few patterned bowls, with the pattern on the outside away from the food. And other plainish coloured things, mostly for serving.

Cuppachuchu · 13/02/2024 12:18

Mysterian · 08/02/2024 21:11

Many terrible things were done in the 80s. It's our duty to remember them and not repeat those mistakes.

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My mum's plates in the 70's were 😲 sometimes you couldn't find the food for the pattern (especially in the miners strike blackouts).

JudgeJ · 13/02/2024 12:11

ConsuelaHammock · 10/02/2024 16:34

I’m so sorry for your loss Judge. Buy your Denby and enjoy it !

Thank you for your kind thought.

Ethylred · 10/02/2024 17:14

This is a nice restful thread, so unlike the rest of this forum; there's no petty resentment towards husbands, mothers-in-law, friends, colleagues,... Thank you OP.

ConsuelaHammock · 10/02/2024 16:34

I’m so sorry for your loss Judge. Buy your Denby and enjoy it !

JudgeJ · 10/02/2024 11:44

Denby on your wedding list where I live is like a right of passage.

When we were married way back in '68 we longed for Denby Arabesque but we could hardly afford to buy the cheapest stuff from the market! Eventually we did get Deby but not Arabesque but having looked on ebay I intend buying a bit of Arabesque just for the hell of it though sadly OH is no longer here to enjoy it.

StarlightLime · 10/02/2024 11:10

Beenalongwinter · 10/02/2024 08:23

We eat with our eyes and there is a difference between a thick earthenware catering plate in an off white /beige shade and a sparkling white fine bone china plate. In my opinion there is no comparison and food presented on the latter looks beautiful.

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When it's covered in food it will look no different 🤷🏻‍♀️

OneTC · 10/02/2024 09:46

FarmGirl78 · 10/02/2024 01:29

@Mysterian I think it's hilarious that you consider them true dinner plates, when we always refer to them as 'prison plates'!! 🤣Prisons/hospitals/schools etc will only pay for the cheapest nastiest plates so plain stark white it is. Someone our family knows who's been in prison said it years ago, and it just stuck. White plates are the very lowest of the crockery class tier system.

I've actually been outside thus have my own associations with white plates that don't rely on the opinions of a convict 😎

Beenalongwinter · 10/02/2024 08:23

FarmGirl78 · 10/02/2024 01:29

@Mysterian I think it's hilarious that you consider them true dinner plates, when we always refer to them as 'prison plates'!! 🤣Prisons/hospitals/schools etc will only pay for the cheapest nastiest plates so plain stark white it is. Someone our family knows who's been in prison said it years ago, and it just stuck. White plates are the very lowest of the crockery class tier system.

We eat with our eyes and there is a difference between a thick earthenware catering plate in an off white /beige shade and a sparkling white fine bone china plate. In my opinion there is no comparison and food presented on the latter looks beautiful.

FarmGirl78 · 10/02/2024 01:30

Gettingbysomehow · 10/02/2024 00:28

There is no rule for dinner plates, mine are a wonderful jumble of colour and designs and I love them. White is so dull. Mine are a bit like these and nothing matches. If something breaks it doesn't matter. I'll just replace it with anything I want.

You're my kind of MNer!! I'm exactly the same....life is too short for matching plates!

FarmGirl78 · 10/02/2024 01:29

@Mysterian I think it's hilarious that you consider them true dinner plates, when we always refer to them as 'prison plates'!! 🤣Prisons/hospitals/schools etc will only pay for the cheapest nastiest plates so plain stark white it is. Someone our family knows who's been in prison said it years ago, and it just stuck. White plates are the very lowest of the crockery class tier system.

Gettingbysomehow · 10/02/2024 00:28

There is no rule for dinner plates, mine are a wonderful jumble of colour and designs and I love them. White is so dull. Mine are a bit like these and nothing matches. If something breaks it doesn't matter. I'll just replace it with anything I want.

AllTheChaos · 10/02/2024 00:19

Arabellla · 09/02/2024 06:21

Gosh, I bought it online 10 years ago, I think it's long since been discontinued.

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Ohhhh nooooo! It’s lovely!

Original poster

Mysterian · 09/02/2024 18:23

BIossomtoes · 09/02/2024 14:28

why do shops sell stuff like that?

Because some people like them.

And some people like Crocs so are you suggesting they are legalised?

OP posts:

Spybot · 09/02/2024 17:49

I eat off an old set of Limoges plates with a floral pattern and I have others designs too. They get put in the dishwasher as I intend them for everyday use and if they break so be it! I only got them from the thrift shop anyway. They are much prettier than plain white. I also have some beautiful Minton and Royal Albert plates with gold edging that I keep for nicer occasions. I just love beautiful tableware and collect it. I collect crystal glasses too and carnival glass.I use both for everyday, but they do have to be hand washed.

zingally · 09/02/2024 16:49

My plates were my grandparents from the 70s. They are Wedgewood, and were saved for "best".
They are now my everyday plates. They are absolutely not a design/colour I'd have chosen myself, but I like the fact that there's a link to my grandparents. They both died before I hit my teens, and lived a good 2 hour drive away, so I never really knew them very well. They were my mums parents, and I know she absolutely adored them both, so that's good enough for me.

Solmum1964 · 09/02/2024 16:40

Married in 1989 my wedding set was Summer Chintz. I have an almost complete set of 8 of everything but the two different size oval serving plates are cracked. I have replaced a few bowls previously but it's lost favour as the dinner plates aren't very big.
Everyone seems to prefer the size and depth of the Denby, although the shape of the bowls in the new set (Studio blue, I think) isn't as good as the previous every day set we had. We need something that holds 2 Shredded Wheat!

Boulezvous · 09/02/2024 16:35

mathanxiety · 09/02/2024 15:36

@Bouledeneige
Take a look at Royal Copenhagen and Arabia for authentic Scandinavian patterned sets.
Also Iitala, Lyngby, and Kosta Boda for glassware. Lyngby also do table ware.

Oh yes thanks I’m very familiar with them and have lots of bits and pieces but I’m more interested in going more maximalist!

peakygold · 09/02/2024 16:26

Denby Juice works perfectly well for everything. The workhorse of the kitchen.

ConsuelaHammock · 09/02/2024 15:58

I have linen Denby and some Emma bridgewater plates. I like white plates too. Denby on your wedding list where I live is like a right of passage. I don’t think someone plates are an indicator of anything other than what they like. I’d quite like a fine dining china set but they’re so expensive for something so rarely used.

notlucreziaborgia · 09/02/2024 15:54

I like white plates. I like colourful plates too. The sets I have in use at the moment are a white company set (in white, naturally), and a patterned Denby set.

Lovingthegrungerevival · 09/02/2024 15:46

Lavenderandbrown · 09/02/2024 14:09

I had solid pink and blue plates and my cousin a wonderful cook and decorator commented all food looks better on white and so young me switched to white and I love my white dishes. A wedding gift which long outlasted my marriage. Manufactures do preference white which is why the center circle is often (but not always MN I know) white or cream with detail on the borders. I like to buy salad plates at boot sales or antique stores and layer them up and white dishes really support the variety. Here’s my mix from Christmas…

Gorgeous.

mathanxiety · 09/02/2024 15:36

@Bouledeneige
Take a look at Royal Copenhagen and Arabia for authentic Scandinavian patterned sets.
Also Iitala, Lyngby, and Kosta Boda for glassware. Lyngby also do table ware.

DuchessOfSausage · 09/02/2024 14:42

@moggerhanger , look for losolware