TheSnackHound

Make “usefulness” a factor when you choose wedding favors. Everyone wishes Cousin Mavis would keep the swan jordan almond holder forever, but it gets lost under dust and clutter.

Wine wedding favors, such as stoppers, bottle openers and charms actually get used in a home. Even just occasional sippers may use them for that bottle the guests bring over. If not, a stopper tops a bottle of sparkling cider, or can be passed on to an admiring guest who will put it to good use. Nothing wasted.

Stay away from overtly “wedding” bottle stoppers. Nix the wedding bells and wedding cakes for plain hearts, starfish, seahorses or even birds.

(Above: Homer Laughlin Company Blue Fish, Boardwalk and Aquamate. All pieces are made in the USA.)

When I go out to dinner or I am traveling, I often admire the substantial dining plates and glasses on my table. I am seldom surprised to see the “Homer Laughlin” name stamped on the bottom. (Yes, you have to be creative and have a good sense of balance to raise your clams linguini up and level to check it out, or look like a fool peering in reverse from under the glass patio table.) It is not hard to find classic non-Fiesta ware HLC designs from the 50s and such in the form of odd and orphaned plates and estate and yard sales, but the local Bed Bath and Beyond doesn’t stock pieces produced for institutions.

When you want an honest, solid, plain ivory set with rolled edges (Exhibit A at left) or even that cute design you saw in Miami, the best place to look is a Hotel Amenities Supplier. They not only carry linens and fixtures for hotels, but for restaurants as well. I found a few patterns on the PeachSuite Hotel Supply, shown above, as well as an honest ivory set free of decals or decoration. I have not seen the ivory set in person to tell you if it is similar to Fiesta Ivory, bit am guessing its more of a true off-white.

HLC develops various patterns for the industry and they are not sold at any traditional retailer. The public is definitely not barred from purchasing items from Hotel Supplies websites, for the most part.

There are two caveats:

1) Not all of the items on the website, china excepted, are available for private purcase. Items, such as kitchen work ranges, and other items not graded for home use are not sold to customers procuring them for home use.

2) You must buy in quantity, but its not bad. The minimum purchase on some places is 12 pieces. If you are buying with the intent of replacing a set, 12 would be a fair sized dining set for a home.

As far as Fiesta Ware, colors are limited. You might prefer purchasing by the piece at a department store or online. If “your” color is among the limited color choices available, compare the prices. If you want 12, it just might be a good deal.

I was skeptical that I would become enamored of the Williams Sonoma Spoonula (the amazing silicone spatula/spoon combination). Perhaps it is because I thought I was the first generation to be subjected to the Spork. I probably wasn’t, but Sporks were quite intriguing to a fourth grader who brought a packed lunch up until that point so had never had a first person experience one in more formative years.

When I saw the Kitchen magic Twisty Whisk, available at Anthropologie,  I thought this must be another tool in the long line of genetically spliced combinations. It seems to be the perfect mesh of a plastic kitchen whisk and an Edison bulb. Actually, it is made of silicone covered wire and wood. Unfortunately, the device does not plug in, nor will it  have your kitchen doing the Mary Poppins thing when you wave it in the air or in a bowl of batter.

It will, however perhaps brighten the mood just an ounce from selecting and wielding something in a trendier color than black silicone. It may even entice a child or teenager to clamor to use it and bake the family a cake since it doesn’t look as utilitarian or as stuffy. The possibilities are endless.

The Kitchen magic Twisty Whisk retails for 8 dollars.

It’s a little bit country…it’s a little bit rock n roll. Okay, not really. It’s a little bit 1970s beachside motel redecorated to look like the 1950s inside, its a little art deco diner.  The Homer Laughlin China Company has announced the latest Fiesta Ware color, which will make its debut at retailers and on the web this summer.

In the last few years, Fiesta is famous for making colors that harken back to some of the originals but are just a teeny tiny shade off (Note: Yellow), or even such a small variation on a recently discontinued color that one ponders why they went in the same direction.  When I first saw the announcement, I wondered how close it would be to Rose. It remains to be seen once I can hold and touch it in a store, but the color appears to have a different undertone – just enough to probably “fight” if you have a cupboard full of Rose but maybe to contrast better with the the earthy tones? On my monitor, the color looks less like a lawn flamingo and a slight shade different and more coral from the 50s pink that starred in the pink and aqua color combo.

As soon as I get my hands on it, I’ll return with a full report.

Spice organization has been rolling around in my head lately, since they mostly have been rolling around in my cabinet. In my kitchen, there is an original built-in with several cabinet drawers covered in decades of white paint. No one took the time to remove the hardware, so it too is mummified with just a small white bump where the screws used to go.  It is just not enough for all of the dishes and food, so someone installed a lovely circa 1980 “photo of wood siding” auxiliary counter/drawer/door bank. Lovely.

Inside the adorable 1920s part of the kitchen, the only way to go is to have little caddys and wire shelves and spice racks with the little rubber feet on them. That is so shabby chic/art deco/midcentury-like with just the right hint of Rubbermaid, but what is not accounted for is the gap in the side of the cupboard. Bombs away.

Oh, and forget a wall spice rack, which would be Concussion 101. My kitchen is devoid of wall space with the dormer ceiling. Then there are the drawers – not deep enough to label all the spices on top, but I can lean them. There is a chrome spice rack I saw recently, which I loved. But yikes a 5 lb shipping weight. That sounds more like a car part to me.

I’ll let you know what I decide. For now, its the survival of the fittest – the spices that are in heavy rotation such that they are stationed next to the stove win. Anything that is in the back of the dark cupboard and are starting to clump are voted off the island. Maybe after all of this, I won’t need a spice rack, but just a small little drink coaster to display “THE ONE.”