Home and Family

A beautiful set of quality flatware makes a superb housewarming, anniversary or wedding present, whether the kind you purchase is the highest quality stainless steel, silver-plated or sterling silver.

The difference between low and high grade flatware is quite definite. With high quality flatware, there is a definite difference in the taste of the food being eaten, as well as looking more eye-catching. Food definitely tastes better when served with superior flatware. Every family should own two sets:

Flatware for Normal Use

There are a few distinct qualities in high quality stainless steel. The finest stainless steel is heavy because it is made of thick steel. The more the quality drops, the thinner the steel is rolled. The fork tines should be rounded. This causes the tines to feel better in the mouth than a sharper, lower quality item. The blades on the knives should be made with a large amount of carbon in the blade. This makes the blade stay sharper for long periods of time. In fact, blades with sufficient carbon might never need to be sharpened. If a knife blade is serrated it’s because it’s lower quality, and, without the serrations, wouldn’t be able to cut through meats and breads.

Flatware Used for Special Occasions

Sterling silver, often referred to as “the good silver”, when made in the right fashion is astoundingly superb in function and looks. This is the formal wear. On unique occasions such as birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, or an occasion where unique guests are invited for dinner, this is supposed to be brought out. There are some who use their set everyday. If one is careful to wash and dry their set properly immediately after use, one will have to polish it once or twice a year.

A great alternative to sterling silver is silver plated flatware. It is usually less expensive than sterling and more expensive than stainless steel. As a matter of fact the silver plating on the flatware is very thin. Even with the thin coating, this can be valuable and very nice to own.

“The good silver” is brought out on special occasions. Many people remember feeling a thrill when their mothers broke out the silver. The formal silverware is normally accompanied by the good china and crystal. A table is supposed to be impressive when set in this fashion with high thread count linen napkins along with the place settings. When it all comes together, there is an sophisticated atmosphere about meal occasion that is a level above that of an ordinary day. This type of flatware is the perfect gift for a housewarming, a wedding or a silver wedding anniversary, if it is not already owned. Engaged couples should remember to put both varieties in their gift registry.

Silver or stainless steel flatware should not be given only on the occasion of weddings and anniversaries. A gift that will continue to serve for years into the future can also be given on graduations, Christmas or birthdays. The good silver should definitely also be brought out at these times!

If you are not comfortable with your knowledge of flatware, ask an experienced hostess to tell you about the various qualities and pieces that go into the perfect set. Regardless of how extravagant the rest of the dishes are – a well-dressed table is not really finished without “the good silver”.