Chinese Take In

Yippee! It's Tablescape Thursday, and I've set out my infamous Blue and White.  Well, at least infamous to me; you know how I adore Bombay Co Blue and White.

How do traditions start?  One September, we had occasion to celebrate, so my in-laws joined us for dinner.  I did not cook, but I set a beautiful table for Chinese food.  Each of us (Mr Wonderful, father-in-love, mother-in-love, sister-in-love and her husband, and me) chose a dish from the menu to share.  That's fun because you get to try a dish that you would not normally eat.  Plus, there's beaucoup de food for a great price, less than $60 bucks for six adults and four kids, then left overs.

My mother-in-love and I went up the street to our favorite neighborhood Chinese restaurant to pick up the food and bring it into our home for Chinese Take In.

Since I have only five blue and white spheres, I used a couple of grapefruit in the bottom to help fill up the decorative bowl.

It's an informal gathering.

Our first course will be soup.

Patterns and texture.

If you collect blue and white, you probably have varying shades of blue.  When I started collecting Bombay Co Blue and White, they sold the dinner plates, dessert plates, canape plates etc, a la carte in boxes of six.  No bowls though, so I found bowls at another place.  Later, Bombay Co started carrying sixteen piece sets, but I like my a la carte patterns the best ~ a collected look.

It took me the longest time to find stemware to compliment my Bombay Co Blue and White china.  I knew I wanted blue stemware, but I used clear stemware and glasses until I laid eyes on these iced beverage stems several years ago.  This year on one of my Tablescaping Escapades, I found mouth blown goblets in a deeper shade of blue.  Now, I have an eclectic stemware duo.  I'd like a trio of eclectic blue stems ~ guess that means more Tablescaping Escapades, LOL ;)

Hostess view.

Here's a close up of the detail at the end of the silk table runner.

The napkins are *bee*jeweled.

Layers.

I took this pic just for kicks.  (Don't you just love playing in the dishes?) I like how the pattern in the base of the candlestick imitates the dessert plate's pattern.

Three condiment jars for sweet and sour sauce, soy sauce, and hot tangy mustard.

Counter top dressed up as the sidebar/mini buffet.

The soup tureen does not have a slot for the ladle, so I placed it on top of a canape plate.

When I was eight, my grandparents flew me to New York to for a Summer visit.  They took me everywhere, from Central Park to the top of Lady Liberty.  We also dined at a Chinese restaurant.  I just had to conquer eating with chopsticks.  It took me forever to eat all of my food; I was determined.  We shut the place down.  I remember vividly a man, probably the waiter or manager stopping by our table.  My grandpa said a few words to him.  Then, the man locked the doors to the restaurant.  We were the last customers.  My grandpa patiently gave me more instruction.  I was delighted to eat every bit with my chopsticks.  I was so proud of myself.  Every since, I've been eating my Chinese food with chopsticks.

In case, you have not mastered eating with chopsticks, help yourself to flatware from the basket. 

It's easy to pass around the boxes of Chinese food.  It's easier to pour the soup in the tureen for everyone to help themselves.

Our neighborhood Chinese restaurant offers Chicken Egg Drop Soup, Chicken Rice Soup, Hot and Sour Soup, Vegetable Soup, Won Ton Soup, Won Ton with Noodle Soup, and Yetca Mein Soup.  We're having Chicken Egg Drop Soup.  Which one is your favorite?

Would you like a spot of China Oolong Tea?  It's being kept warm for you.  I scooped up the metal teapot warmer on a Tablescaping Escapade to a prime outlet mall.

That first September when we had Chinese Take In with Bombay Co Blue and White, we really enjoyed ourselves.  So now when September rolls around, I set the table in my Bombay Co Blue and White and we order Chinese food.  Fond memories start traditions.  That's how traditions begin.

I sure hope that you had plenty of Chinese food.  If you're a dish-a-holic, I can't imagine that you got your fill of dishes, so waltz on over to visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch to see all the beautiful tablescapes.

Silk Table Runner and Silk Napkins, Bee Napkin Rings:  Bombay Company

Dinner Plates, Dessert Plates, Canape Plate, Teapot and Cups, Soup Tureen and Ladle, Salt and Pepper Shakers, Spheres, Tall Candlesticks, and Three Condiment Jars on Tray:  Bombay Company

Teapot Warmer:  Villeroy and Boch

Bowls and Chopsticks on Rests:  Cost Plus World Market

Flatware:  HomeGoods

White Decorative Bowl:  HomeGoods

Small Candlesticks:  Hobby Lobby

Iced Beverage Stemware:  Tuesday Morning

Mouth Blown Goblets:  Pier 1

All the Best,

Requi

My First Blue and White

After my Blue White and Silver post, I was washing everything to put away as I was thinking I really like this blue and white.  Then later, I was washing my everyday dishes after dinner and I had an epiphany.  I have liked blue and white all along; it started way before I fell in love with the blue and white china from Bombay Company.
 

 

Let me tell you about my very first set of blue and white.  When I was preparing to move into my very first apartment, which of course meant frugal living, I saw the cutest dishes ~ 'Floral Expressions' hand decorated and made in Japan ~ at one of our local grocery stores.  You know, the kind you buy with the grocery store's stamps.  You get a certain amount of stamps depending upon the dollar amount spent on groceries.  (Wow that sounds like ages ago, LOL.)  Each dish was sold a la cart, plus they also had other pieces, like the canisters, spoon rest, trivet, etc.  My Mommy and I did so much grocery shopping over the next few months until I had every piece I wanted.
 

I wanted service for four, so I bought five each of bowls, cups and saucers, and plates. I figured, if a piece broke, I'd still have four.  This set of stoneware is pretty durable, but I've broken a couple of pieces. Shortly after moving into my apartment, I baked a potato too long on the saucer in the microwave. Shall I say more?  Nonetheless, I still think these dishes are cute. Mmm, not sure what happened to the rest.  Mr. Wonderful and two little busy bodies, I suppose.


Well, over fifteen years later, I have four plates, three bowls, one cup and one saucer.  I like to drink my morning cup of tea with the cup and saucer.

These aren't the finest accoutrements, but I sure have the fondest memories.  Just as we're packing everything to move, I realized I didn't have any utensils, so my Mommy gave me a fork, a spoon, a wooden handled steak knife, a butcher's knife and a pitch fork. Okay, not a pitch fork, a long meat fork with two tines.  I've been calling it a pitch fork every since I was a little girl because that's what I thought it looked like.  My Mommy always giggled at the inside joke whenever I called it a pitch fork.

Recently (and probably for the umpteenth time), I told Mr. Wonderful that this is the fork and spoon my Mommy gave to me when I moved into my apartment, and I treasure them.  He asked, why not put them some place safe.  I said oh no, I cherish this memory by using them all the time.  That's how I enjoy them.  Otherwise, they'd just be somewhere collecting dust out of sight, out of mind.

After Mr. Wonderful and I wed and moved into our home, I set the table with these dishes and set the teapot with the dried roses in the middle with the angel salt and pepper shakers.  You can see that centerpiece here.  The teapot pin is the napkin's brooch and a silver teapot as a napkin ring.  See, this tray setting is reminiscent of old times, the first table setting in our new home.

I have a set of four of these teapot napkin rings, each a different shaped teapot.  I sort of like this tarnished look for my stroll down memory lane.  Also, I have four of the teapot pins, two with the pink roses (shown) and two with a blue ribbon tied under the lid with teacup and a lemon wedge on the side.

By the way, this tray is to serve you.  Sit back, reminisce and relax for a while.

Then, stop by Between Naps on the Porch and visit with Susan and all the other fabulous dish-a-holics.  Good thing you're relaxed already because you might get giddy with excitement seeing all those beautiful dishes at Tablescape Thursday.

Thanks for visiting.  Please take time and leave me a comment about your first set of dishes. 

All the Best,

Requi

Blue, White, and Silver

I am really excited to share with you some of my blue and white, plus some silver for interest; and I am tickled pink to link to Tablescape Thursday hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. 

I had to light the candles right away because it is raining cats and dogs, so the sun has faded.

I searched a long time to find just the right blue Iced Beverage stems.  I'll be serving 'the house wine of the South', iced tea of course.  I made Jasmine blossom iced tea.

Coaster

I was going to use blue and silver San Remo flatware (click HERE to see), then I thought about the curly q's in this flatware and decided to use it.

Do you think this flatware imitates the curvy design in the dinner plates?

Here are the layers.

I sat a silver urn on a square Scarborough dessert plate.

Tea for one on this counter top vignette

After dinner, I plan to relax with a cup of Double Bergamot Earl Grey tea.

Here's a place to rest my used teabag.

Thanks for stopping by to visit.  Do you like blue and white china and accessories as much as I do?  Leave me a comment and let me know.  Take time to enjoy some other beautiful tablescapes at the 96th Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Blue and White Dinner Plates; Round Dessert/Salad Plates; Square Scarborough Dessert Plates; Napkin Rings; Salt and Pepper Shakers; Two-Handled Vase; Tea for One; Teabag Rest; and Coasters: Bombay Company (Oh, how I miss them.)

Blue and Silver Jug:  The Great Indoors

White Lace Chargers:  Horchow

Flatware:  Hampton Silversmiths Stainless China 270

Blue Hurricanes/Vases (with H2O on the rocks/accent beads and floating candles) and Alfresco Blue Iced Tea by Miller Rogaska:  Tuesday Morning

Hemstitch Runner and Napkins:  Living Quarters from Carson, Pirie and Scott

Silver urns with lids; stand; and blue and white urn with lid:  HomeGoods