China Syndrome - Central Jersey Archives

   "DO you own your china or does your china own you?" It’s a question Isabelle von Boch, spokeswoman for the venerable House of Villeroy & Boch, frequently asks consumers.
   "I see the common mistake of china being worshipped rather than used," Ms. von Boch laments. She’s referring to the "China Syndrome" where a family’s "good dishes" sit unused on a dusty shelf to be hauled out only at Christmas and Thanksgiving and other special occasions. It’s an attitude that many makers of fine tableware are trying to overcome, agrees Denise Dinyan, an entertaining expert with Lenox China. A local legend here in the Princeton area, Lenox was founded in Trenton in 1889. Its prestigious china has graced the White House, governors’ mansions and the tables of discerning Americans for generations.
   "We want our customers to use their china every day, in ways that suit their lifestyle and let’s them reflect their own individuality," Ms. Dinyan says. "Good china is an investment and there’s no return on it if it isn’t used," she asserts. "You wouldn’t buy a luxury car and not drive it every day it’s the same with tableware."
   To encourage consumers to use china more frequently and imaginatively, manufacturers have created patterns that can be mixed and matched to create different and individual looks. Fresh new designs, rich colors, more durable dishes and freedom from rigid formulas of table setting and service have liberated the modern hostess. Individuality and creativity are in stuffy formality is out.
   Often, these designs can be coordinated with china you may already own. And, as your lifestyle and entertaining needs change, the look can be updated with the purchase of new dishes in the same pattern range. These stylish combinations offer endless options and a chance to express your personal flair.
   Elegant serving dishes go from oven to table, giving new glamour to simple lasagna or showcasing a superb soufflé.
   Today, the choice of tableware is a mutual decision, involving both bride and groom. "With so many more men interested in cooking and entertaining, they want to have a say in choosing china that is practical and versatile," says Ms. Dinyan.
Porcelain vs. Bone
   Leading manufactures such as Villeroy & Boch produce both porcelain and bone china. Their designs have found favor with European royalty as well as an international audience. What’s the difference between the two types of china? They are similar ceramic types, distinguished by the specific combination of raw materials and firing temperatures. Porcelain is distinctively white and nontransparent, the result of an extremely high firing temperature. Bone china contains bone ash and is made at an even higher temperature. Bone and ash content range from 30 percent in some lines to 50 percent in others, including Villeroy & Boch. Bone and ash content add to the china’s strength, whiteness, transparency, luster and reflectiveness.
The Proper Place Setting
   Just what constitutes a proper place setting? Again, there are no rigid rules. Most china is sold as open stock, although some patterns are packaged in five-piece place settings. "But," Ms. von Boch notes, "there is no cost saving in buying the place setting versus individual pieces." Ms. Dinyan agrees. "Many brides hesitate to ask their guests to spend the money for a full set of china," Ms. Dinyan says. "That’s one of many reasons to register for individual pieces." In addition, a couple may need more of one size of plate, depending on the kind of entertaining they do.
   Before you decide how many pieces you’ll need, Ms. Dinyan recommends looking at the type of entertaining you plan to do.
   Choose your pieces on the basis of the most elaborate meal you will serve. Usually this is Thanksgiving dinner. How many guests are you likely to have? If it’s a large number, consider asking for two gravy boats and two sets of salt and pepper shakers. "By the time a gravy boat is passed around a large table, the gravy is cold," she notes. And remember that gravy boats have multiple uses. Ms. von Boch recommends gravy boats for serving sauces, mayonnaise and maple syrup.
   Accent plates, which are 9 inches in diameter, are a versatile addition to your china collection. They can be used for first courses, buffets and snacks. (Most dinner plates measure 11 inches, while salad and dessert plates are usually 8 inches.) By buying different accent plates to coordinate with your basic china, you can change the look of your table according to the season or the occasion.
   Elegant china mugs may be more practical than cups and saucers and more suitable for everyday use. Soup bowls can be used for salads, cereal, and snacks.
   Who says that you can’t use china plates for that Superbowl buffet? A buffalo wing or a slice of pizza looks better on porcelain than paper. How about using your soup bowls for individual servings of popcorn for that Oscar night party? Use a pretty tray for your own breakfast of cereal. And just because it’s a barbecue on your deck doesn’t mean it can’t be both casual and chic. Pop that steak on a pretty platter and serve it up in style.
   How many serving dishes will you need and what size should they be? Choose smaller dishes for vegetables and side dishes, but think big if you plan on buffets or dinners with chili, beef bourguignon, a hearty bouillabaisse, or pasta. That elegant serving bowl can hold side dishes or serve as a centerpiece with an imaginative arrangement of fruit or flowers.
Tech Tips
   Like everything else in our technologically wired world, china selection has gone high-tech. It’s a good idea to browse various Web sites to consider your choices and costs and to find the stores in your area that carry the merchandise you want. This saves time, money and that sense of confusion that comes from walking into a china department cold.
   Technology has also revolutionized the traditional bridal registry, making life easier for both bridal couples and gift givers. Pottery Barn has a neat system just take their scanner, stroll around the shop and log your items of choice on the scanner. It goes on Pottery Barn’s Web site where shoppers can log on, view the gifts and decide what to send you without ever leaving their laptops. Many department stores also offer online bridal registry services.
TLC for Fine China
   Don’t be fooled by that fragile look today’s china is specially designed to be dishwasher safe and many dishes can be popped in the microwave or oven as well. This should be a key consideration in choosing dinnerware. Note that china patterns with gold trim may be sensitive to high water temperatures, dishwasher detergents and elements in the local water. Gold trimmed china should never go in the microwave.
   When putting china in the dishwasher follow these steps for optimum care:
    Wash china and crystal separately don’t mix in pots and pans.
    Be sure items are well separated.
    Use a name brand detergent rather than an off brand one and use only the required amount.
    Select a low temperature or mild wash cycle.
    When the wash cycle is finished, open the door and let out steam. It helps to prevent condensation from forming and spotting your dishes. Let dishes cool before removing.
    If washing by hand, use a mild detergent. Do not use scouring pads or abrasive powders and put a towel or rubber mat in the sink.
    Store plates stacked with a divider between each plate. Or, use paper napkins or coffee filters. They work just as well.
Repair and Replacement
   What if, despite your best efforts, your china breaks? Don’t despair. Technology comes to the rescue. Log on to Lenox.com for the names of companies in our area that specialize in repairing fine china. What if your china pattern is discontinued? That doesn’t happen often, but there are stores that stock discontinued patterns and manufacturers can advise you about finding a coordinating pattern as an alternative.
Settings and the Single Life
   No wedding bells in your immediate future? Well, where is it written that a single girl or guy can’t have nice dishes? Make your choices and some basic purchases then ask friends and family to add to the collection at birthdays and holidays.