Buyers' guide to tableware

There are few things more satisfying on a chilly winter's day than a warming soup served in a chunky bowl. And what is it about drinking tea from delicate china that makes us sit up that little bit straighter? Every day we use tableware to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, but we rarely consider the huge effect it can have on our enjoyment of the food or drink we're about to consume. Modern lifestyles have had an influence on the way we eat, and we're much more casual diners than our grandparents or even our parents were. The slow but steady demise of the dining room has also played a major part in the way we serve our meals, with families and friends more likely to gather round the table in an open-plan kitchen than make time for a formal feast. 'Social norms have relaxed so much,' says Australian chef Bill Granger. 'It's ironic that in sophisticated urban environments, we're dining more like French peasants did 300 years ago.'

FASHIONABLE FOODS

PLAIN AND SIMPLE

THE NEW ESSENTIALS

SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE

COLOUR AND TEXTURE

CARE AND CLEANING

EXPERT ESSENTIALS