Are you wondering what type of plate shape has the best style and function for your operation? Look no further than this blog! We are going to detail many of the various plate rim varieties that exist in commercial dinnerware. We will help you find the perfect dinnerware shape for your operation and the right canvas paint your culinary masterpiece on!
Narrow Rim:
A narrow-rimmed plate allows chefs to have a large amount of plating space. Due to the size of the plating area, there is less need for additional accessory pieces in the table setting. This shape has a multitude of uses, often found in more institutional settings.
Uses: Cafeterias, Schools, Universities, Diners, and Healthcare.
Wide Rim:
This is the largest rim in dinnerware, creating a smaller plating canvas for chefs. This is optimal for operations that feature smaller portions to appear larger while still highlighting their featured item as the center of the artistic display. By choosing a wide rim plate, operators often add accessory pieces to the tablescape to accommodate side items. Wide rims are also great for decorating the plate/platter/bowl with sauces and garnishes or for taking the artistry up a notch by decorating the piece with a custom design or an operator’s logo fired into the glaze.
Uses: Fine Dining, Cruise Ships, Gastro Pubs, Country Clubs, Dessert Features, Entree Salads and many more.
Mid Rim:
This rim was developed primarily for banquets to give the operator a limitation in plating areas on buffets where patrons often “overeat with their eyes” while offering a more aesthetically appealing option than a narrow rim and not wasting the precious space that a wide rim would on the banquet table. It is an incredibly versatile and utilitarian plate shape in foodservice. It is usually found in banqueting operations and is good for custom decorating.
Uses: Banquet/Buffet, Catering, Fine Dining, Full Service, and everything in between. It is appropriate for both formal and casual dining.
Coupe:
There is no rim on these plates! They have a streamlined shape and sleek, modern style. Not having a rim allows for maximum plating area for chefs and gives them a complete canvas to work on. It truly creates the most simplistic canvas for the chef to design a masterpiece menu item.
Uses: It can be used in any food service setting but is not encouraged for banquets so that patrons do not over fill their plates resulting in unnecessary food waste.
Walled:
Alternatively called a chef’s plate, a walled plate is flat with a high, thin rim. It can be round or come in other shapes as well. It is excellent for artistically plating proteins and liquids while still holding sauces and drizzles within its confines. Walled plates add texture and depth to the table and look great paired with other rim styles, like Coupes or Organic.
Uses: Fine Dining, Full Service, and everything in between. It is appropriate for both formal and casual dining including at gastro pubs, country clubs, restaurants, breweries, bars and in many other operations.
Organic:
Organic plates have hand-thrown qualities while still offering a commercial-grade product. The edges are not uniformly a geometric shape, but have a flowing hand-spun feel. Organic shapes can exist on any of the rim shapes we’ve listed above, giving yet another look for chefs to create their artistic vision.
Uses: Fine Dining, Full Service, and everything in between. It is appropriate for both formal and casual dining including at gastro pubs, country clubs, restaurants, breweries, bars and in many other operations.
Conclusion:
Dinnerware shapes are part of culinary artistry, but they also have attributes that help the operator save on food costs and help maintain the life of the dinnerware when applied correctly. Understanding the differences in shape functionality helps the tablescape picture come to life! For more information on how Greenwald Sales & Marketing can help you select a tablescape to unleash your culinary artistry, contact info@greenwaldsales.com. Our team will be happy to help you navigate this journey with the perfect selections for your operation.
