Wednesday's Question of the Day: dishes?

OK this is a probably a pretty boring-sounding question, but I'm curious what everybody eats off of. Do you use fine china, melamine, plastic, stoneware, corelle... are your dishes something you like and enjoy, or are they utilitarian and there only to keep the food off the table?

I used to collect hand-made stoneware pieces that sort-of coordinated, but over the years more and more dishes got broken with no additions, so finally last summer I replaced everything! I fell in love with the Pistoulet pattern, so joyful and they match, but not too much! The colors really help my appetite since that's usually a problem, they make the food look so good. 

We have 2 sets of corelle dishes.  One plain white and one with a blue rim and purple flowers.  I liked the idea of having a little variety to it.  And the white set was a few dollars cheaper.  They replaced this funky black and white set DH had picked up in a hurry when a roommate moved out and took the dishes before we were married.  (They did belong to the roommate.)  We have a few odd corelle plates too.  One was a hand-me-down from DH's single days. The pattern is probably vintage at this point.  The other I had bought to keep at work.

I have two very utilitarian sets of stoneware that I've had since we were married over 20 years ago. I'd love to stay over and get new dishes, but I hate to spend the money on them. Maybe after we redo the dining room I'll break down.

I also have a full set of these, which I really only pull out on Thanksgiving:

http://images.replacements.com/imag...carrousel_dinner_plate_P0000008970S0001T2.jpg

AbbysMom said:

I have two very utilitarian sets of stoneware that I've had since we were married over 20 years ago. I'd love to stay over and get new dishes, but I hate to spend the money on them. Maybe after we redo the dining room I'll break down.

I also have a full set of these, which I really only pull out on Thanksgiving:

http://images.replacements.com/imag...carrousel_dinner_plate_P0000008970S0001T2.jpg

Click to expand...

Nice, Karen! Very pretty.

I don't have "good" China. Although Rick's mother has told me that she wants me to have hers. She has a beautiful pattern; Rick and his sister picked it out years and years ago and gave her pieces as gifts.

For everyday, we use Fiesta. I just love Fiesta; it's so colorful and cheerful to use and there are a million ways to use the colors with different tablecloths, napkins and such. I don't have a lot of the serving pieces yet, but dear Richard buys me pieces for Christmas, so does my MIL, and often the kids will give me a new color when it comes out as a birthday present. We have enough Fiesta for about 18 people, I'd say, so large dinners aren't a problem.

For the summer months, we use Evening Sun by Pfaltzgraff. I don't have many of the pieces, mainly the individual place settings for about five people. I'm not going to get any more of it either, as it's made in China and the pieces are chipping like crazy, even though we really take care of them. No more Evening Sun. It's a shame, too, because we really like the pattern for the summer.

For the winter months (usually from the beginning of November until the end of February or March, depending on how bad winter is), we use Winterberry by Pfaltzgraff. I just love this pattern and we have it for 16 people. I have all of the serving pieces, too, as well as many of the other pieces (a sleigh that we use for passing yeast rolls), candles and globes, appetizer trays, large soup tureen, cake plates, trifle dish, etc. Alas, this is now being made in China, too, and the Chinese-made pieces are far inferior to what was made in the US. I will no longer buy Winterberry pieces either. The quality simply isn't there anymore.

I probably should have added; we have good china.  But we've never eaten off it. 

I was very pregnant with our first when we moved into our house and hosted a holiday.  I was afraid to drop something!  And now; well small kids!!  It looks very nice sitting in my china cabinet and I do look forward to using it.  I just want to appreciate it!!

We use the old Melmac dishes DH had before we got married (32 years ago). They're indestructable.  We have stonewar and good china, but much easier to deal with the melmac.