Upscale Disposable Tableware, A Blog

Thanksgiving is not only a time for family and friends to gather around a feast, but also to remember our blessings and life lessons learned from the year.  I think it’s in everyone’s heart to find happiness and being grateful is one of the easiest ways to get to that state of mind.  So for this special occasion, I styled a Thanksgiving tablescape with gorgeous partyware products from Fineline Settings.  They have a nice selection of disposable plates, serving platters, utensils, and food storage solutions.  All the pieces used in this tablescape are also listed at the bottom.

For this tablescape, I wanted to create a calming and clean harvest inspired vibe.  I incorporated real flowers, greenery and produce like these light colored pumpkins to make the table inviting. I also used a few tapered candles to make it more special.

For the place settings, I kept it clean and simple with square white plates and silver cutlery. These colors also look very nice on top of a linen tablecloth.  I layered on a white solid square salad plate on top of the dinner plate and placed a mini pie on top.  The silver cutlery comes in a combo pack of knives, forks and spoons which made it convenient for setting out on the table.

For the drinkware, I love the elegance of these stemless champagne flutes for serving apple cider or another beverage and the stemless goblet for water.  It’s amazing how changing the drinkware can make drinking juice or water feel like a special occasion.  I also used a couple of carafes with lids to hold extra juice for easy refills.  I really like the lids to prevent spills in case someone is reaching over the table to pass the bread.

Once the meal is ready to be served, the floral arrangement, candles and some of the pumpkins can be moved to make room for the food platters.  I used the large oval white bowl to serve the turkey and dressed it with different fruits and herbs to keep with the harvest theme.

Fineline Setting’s collection of serving platters and bowls come in different sizes and shapes for the perfect presentation of each dish as displayed in the photo below.  Starting from the top left, I used a smaller white oval bowl to serve macaroni and cheese.  Next to it is a clear gravy boat that is great for pouring over mashed potatoes or turkey.  Beside the gravy, I used a larger white square platter for a cranberry apple salad.  Below the salad, I used a rectangular white platter to serve steamed green beans with walnuts.  I also added some white corn in a small dimpled bowl.  On the bottom left, I used a smaller white square platter to serve the buttery croissants.  Above the bread, I used a larger dimpled bowl to serve the creamy mashed potatoes.  They also have a variety of large spoons, forks, tongs, and salad tongs that are ideal for guests to serve themselves.

Here are additional photos of how beautiful the food looks on the platters and in the bowls. 

Cranberry apple salad on a large square platter with salad tongs. 

Green beans and walnuts on a rectangular platter.

Creamy mashed potatoes in the large dimpled bowl.

Once the feast is over, it’s usually time to clean up and store the leftovers.  The super bowl plus collection comes with a variety of bowl sizes and lids that are perfect for storing leftovers in the fridge.  Or, packing for guests to take home with them. They are also wonderful for transporting food if you are making a fresh dish to bring over to someone else’s home to celebrate Thanksgiving.

The bowls are also available in single meal size containers if your guests only  want to take leftovers home for one meal. For example, this salad here will be an easy take home meal your guests can enjoy later on.

This Thanksgiving tablescape was a pleasure to style and the variety of partyware collections available through Fineline Settings made it easy to set an elegant table, present food beautifully, and store leftovers for later.  They are also available in other colors to match different Thanksgiving tablescape designs.  It may not always be easy to remember to be thankful during difficult times, but I’m grateful we live in a country where there is a holiday to help remind us.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Products Used:

Place Setting:

9.5" Solid Sq Dinner Plate, White

8" Solid Sq Salad Plate, White

12 oz Solid Square Bowl, White

Sliver Secrets 24 Count Combo Cutlery, Silver

10 oz Renaissance Stemless Champagne Flute, Clear

12 oz Renaissance Stemless Goblet, Clear

35 oz Carafe w/ Lid

Serveware:

9” Large Dimpled Bowl, White

6” Small Dimpled Bowl, White

14”x 21” Oval Bowl, White

16” x 11” Oval Bowl, White

Flairware 9”x13” Serving Tray, White

Serving Utensils in White or Silver 

Food Storage:

Super Bowl Plus 160 oz, Black

Super Bowl Plus 64 oz, Clear

As a response to the food service industry’s ever growing demand for compostable products, Fineline Settings introduces the Conserveware collection! Conserveware is a natural molded fiber material made from sugarcane pulp called bagasse. Operators who have built their brand on appealing to Earth conscious consumers will find the Conserveware product line to be the perfect solution for all of their packaging needs. The molded fiber material can handle the heat of hot foods, is microwavable, freezable and will compost within BPI standards.

What makes our introduction truly unique is the innovation we are adding to the Conserveware line. Fineline has introduced square, oval and rectangle bowls, as well as the traditional round plates and hinge containers that are most commonly used. Not only have we created new shapes and sizes, but most products can be equipped with clear recyclable PETE lids. The ability for Fineline to add innovation to this material is what separates us from the crowd. Fineline will continue to create new designs and shapes in the bagasse material that will help any operator create the perfect take-out vehicle for their business.

The Conserveware line if the perfect compliment to Fineline’s product offering. With the addition of bagasse products, Fineline has created a full comprehensive catering product selection in the industry. Fineline now produces products in every available food service material to allow you to create the perfect packaging solution. We hope you will allow Fineline Settings to be your one stop packaging solution provider from your initial champagne toast to your take home family meal.

Download your copy of the Conserveware brochure to learn more about the full product line.

Answer: Anywhere! However, the real question to ask is “Does my take-out packaging COST money or MAKE money?”  If you always default to the cheapest to go food containers then they are probably COSTING YOU A LOT OF MONEY.  I recently ordered a catering salad for 8-10 people and a bucket of wings from one of our local spots and my wife said, “Is that our catering order, I WILL NEVER ORDER THAT AGAIN!”  even before the first bite.  It wasn’t because the food was bad, it was because of how it was packaged.  So what’s the lesson here?  Not only did this take-out packaging cost money, it cost them repeat business… and that’s a lot of money.   The true cost of losing a customer is staggering so don't risk it with cheap togo containers. 

Sell the Sizzle, not the steak. 

Have you ever heard that term?  I hear it used in many industries but it especially applies to the food service industry.   Being in the industry I see a lot of take out and in my opinion 90% of it fails miserably.  It fails because you can’t see it if you're using regular clam shell to go containers. There might be something delicious inside but if no one can see the food then it isn’t doing what it should be doing – attracting attention. 

WHAT did you get for lunch? vs. WHERE DID YOU GET THAT LUNCH?

Put your take-out containers through this one simple test.  When food leaves your restaurant what will your customer’s colleges ask them?  If it’s “WHAT did you get for lunch?” – it fails.  Why?  Because the answer to that question might be – a salad, a sandwich or some basic noun that does your establishment no good.  Even if the answer is “a salad from Mendy’s” the most likely remembrance of that encounter is the answer - salad.  If your deliciousness can be seen and the question is “WHERE DID YOU GET THAT SALAD?” the answer and result is obvious.  Your take-out containers are working for you. 

 Foggy = Soggy

One innovation in food service packaging that truly helps is anti-fog technology.  This technology keeps the food from developing condensation on the inside of the package so food remains crisp and fresh looking.  People eat with their eyes before their taste buds.  It is particularly important in grab-n-go situations where a customer is looking to buy something premade and ready to eat.  You need it to look pristine – you need it to Attract, Entice, and Convert to a sale.   

Other packaging features to consider.

Is it table-ready?  

If take-out food needs to be transferred to another plate to be enjoyed that plate should also be provided by your restaurant.  If the customer takes it home and has to “break out the dishes” your take-out program is losing a little bit of its convenience factor and your customer return rate is likely to decline. 

Are your containers reusable? 

Reusable take-out containers have really reformed the take-out food industry.  If you’re already spending money on food packaging that people throw away after 1 use why wouldn’t you spend a little more on something that stays around your customers homes for long periods of time?  Every time that customer handles that reusable to go container for their kid’s lunch, storing left overs, or even for nuts and bolts in the garage they will be remembering where they got it.  That constant reminder is worth a lot of money.  It’s a restaurant customer retention technique and your loyal customers are responsible for driving 80% of your new business. 

Want to improve your take out program? Request a catalog and local rep from Fineline.