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Dishes that serve
Time to feast on sherbet lemons, leafy greens and glazed goods. We’re not thinking food – we’re talking this season’s most stylish decorative sharing plates, platters and bowls
Made for serving salads, cradling fruit and holding larger-than-life portions of mama’s family recipes, these dishes celebrate what Italian dinnerware brand Vietri calls ‘the simple act of sharing a meal and keeping sacred the time spent around the table’.
Forget buying a full set (matchy-matchy conformism is out). Instead, go for a pick ’n’ mix look by combining wood with a glass or colourful ceramic option. For maximalist tablescaping, set them against a patterned tablecloth and plate up using extra-large decorative spoons. If, like us, you only need the faintest hint of sun for garden dining, these platters are guaranteed to make you want to extend al fresco season.
‘Curve M’ plate in ‘Green/Beige’, Byon
This delectable glossy plate looks good enough to eat. With its organic shapes and striking contrasting coloured curves, it will add a little extra optimism to your meal. Approx £68, nordicnest.com
‘Splatter’ large bowl, The Conran Shop
Whether you’re hosting for family or putting on a big spread for friends, this dish by The Conran Shop is designed for bringing people together. Made from stone, it can hold leafy salads as well as hot, hearty stews. £105, conranshop.co.uk
‘Porcelain serving platter’ in ‘Slinky Verde’, La Double J
Impress dinner guests with La Double J’s ‘mamma of a serving dish’, which is wide enough to fit your sharing meals or your deserts. The flat porcelain plate is spruced up with the brand’s signature retro vintage Slinky Verde print. £115, ladoublej.com
‘Branik’ onyx bowl, Agata Knorowska
Why have a dish that can only be used in the kitchen when you could have one that can be used throughout the house? Enter Branik, the brainchild of designer Agata Knorowska. It’s a marble stone tray with a curved edge that can hold all your trinkets as well as your biscuits. £146, theedition94.com
‘Handwritten Logo’ tray in ‘Peach’, Chateau Orlando
Luke Edward Hall’s brand Chateau Orlando has finally released its much-anticipated homeware line, which includes this rust-coloured platter. While others may need to be filled with delicacies to bring them to life, this birch veneer plate looks just as good on its own as it does with goodies set upon it. £65, chateauorlando.com
‘Amalfitana’ cobalt platter, Vietri
As its name suggests ‘Amalfitana’, the platter you need to bring the joys of the Amalfi coast home. Replete with nautical cobalt stripes, its fresh seaside style gives even the most simple of meals a vibrant update. Approx £116, vietri.com
‘Ocean’ platter in ‘Yellow/Ivory’, Maison Balzac
You’ll be just as surprised as us to find out that this platter is made from bamboo, making it a sustainable addition to your dining table. Called ‘Ocean’ thanks to the scalloped ‘wave’-like edges, it's the only thing you need for your charcuterie. £71, modesense.com
‘Petal’ large plate in ‘Periwinkle’, Sophie Lou Jacobsen
If you’re looking for a versatile dish that can be used as both a dinner plate and a serving bowl, look no further than American designer Sophie Lou Jacobsen’s offering. At a circumference of 9.5 inches, the plates can be be used on their own as serving dishes, combined into a set of dinner plates. Approx £95, sophieloujacobsen.com
‘Fairlight’ beech platter, Bird & Branch
The complex crafting techniques used to make this platter justify its price point. Each dish is handmade from a single piece of patterned beech wood by Bird & Branch founding couple Adam and Mercedes in their London workshop. The intricate pattern is formed as the wooden logs are broken down by fungus, making each dish unique. £840, abask.com
‘La Mère’ serving plate, Marie Michielssen
Belgian artist and resident Serax designer Marie Michielssen has given this serving plate her signature minimalist yet sophisticated touch. The warm, dark brown glaze makes it perfect for serving chocolate treats. £30, serax.com
’Sofia’ bowl in ‘Forest’, The Columbia Collective
Place this scalloped bowl on your kitchen counter and fill it with sweets or fruits to make a stunning centrepiece. Designed by one of the hottest brands in the business right now, the recycled glass bowl comes in two colours and sizes. Both are a perfect match for the ‘Sofia’ water jug. £40, thecolombiacollective.co.uk
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