Monday 3 February 2014

Gien-ius.



Continuing my musings about all plates white and peasantish, I definitely share the French obsession with crockery made for specific purposes. We have Oyster plates, Asparagus plates, Snail plates, and, of course, Artichoke plates.

These simple white plates are made so that one knows (without the embarrassment of having to ask) exactly where to place the Artichoke, where to place the sauce, and where to dispose of the eaten leaves. It just makes life so much easier.

I have 6 matching plates; all white, all showing slight signs of age, and all made by my favourite 'peasant plate' company; Gien. 


What would a decent chap do without them!

17 comments:

  1. I have never eaten Artichoke... I would still probably have to ask, even with your helpful plates!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I started off some artichoke plants a few years ago and had quite a good crop last year (about 12 heads) but picked them too late. I guess there is a skill in knowing the right time
    Why does it say "Made in France" in English ? were they made for the English market?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it's international lingo. Made in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, etc.

      Delete
  3. You need plates to tell you how to eat? interesting...

    ReplyDelete
  4. I had a mate who - on his first date - tried to impress the girl by ordering artichokes at a fancy restaurant. Then he tried to eat the lot, leaves and all. It took him a while, but he managed it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It does make you wonder why, or how, the first ever Artichoke was eaten. Maybe just after he'd decided that Pine Cones were no good, he had a go at a green equivalent.

      Delete
    2. Dr Johnson said that it was a brave man who ate the first oyster. Having force-fed oysters to some 20 year-olds recently, I know what he means.

      Delete
  5. I have never eaten an artichoke so even with that plate (which I love incidentally) I am afraid I just wouldn't know what to do with it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. A bit wasted on me, a philistine obviously, where the only thing I have eaten in your examples is asparagus and any old plate will do and that's if you're lucky and I have cooked the tea and I am not watching football, in bed with the builder or at an auction.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've eaten artichoke in a restaurant but never in bed with a builder...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rachel has an unusual builder.

      Delete
    2. He's never eaten artichoke in bed with me.
      He just said he's never eaten artichoke full stop.

      Delete
    3. The builder sounds good....

      Delete
  8. Never eaten an artichoke...I think the 'choke' part of it may be keeping me away lol. The plates are lovely though.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lovely! I have, a, er... dinner plates, side plates, cereal bowls and soup bowls! SHockingly understocked!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love those plates, Cro! I've never seen anything quite like them. When artichokes are in season we eat them quite often....deliciousness.

    ReplyDelete
  11. And now, I do hope you use them for their intended purpose... The only unusual plates we have are Avocado plates, which I have used for many things, but never avocado!

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...