Heirlooms, Vintage China and Silver

Every time I sit down to dinner using Vintage China and Silver I feel wonderful. Why? because there is beauty in front of me as I am dining. Real craftsmanship in the details and materials used. I can almost feel the centuries as I eat, and feel the generations before me enjoying food and conversation as they gathered in their own dining rooms.

Our lives have changed dramatically through the centuries, it’s true. We use dishwashers, and formal dining has made way for quick dinners and ready made meals. It feels as though we gather only for special occasions such as Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I had a transformative moment when my British grandmother on my father’s side passed away. My father and mother went to England for a few weeks to see to everything. When they returned my mother expressed her sadness that when she was sorting through my grandmother’s keepsakes and special things, with years of history at my mother’s fingertips, she realized that most of her lovely things had never been used. My grandmother used to say “that’s for good”, I am keeping that “for good”. The silk blouses that my mother had given her as gifts, her lovely China and Silver, it was all beautifully wrapped and protected waiting for those special moments that didn’t come often enough, or at all.

That had such an impact on me. I feel that “good” can be every day. I do use my China and Silver every day. There is such a difference when I use them, it elevates the every day meal to something special, and shouldn’t we celebrate every day? I confess that I don’t mind hand washing my China and Silver. I am connecting with those beautiful pieces and studying their loveliness while I do. Even after a large gathering such as Christmas, when I have 8-10 place settings and silverware to wash, I wait until the happy day has concluded, make myself a cup of tea, have some music on in the background and reflect on the wonderful time we had as I wash those pieces. I definitely use my dishwasher for many things, and there are times when I will put my fine China and Silver in it on the gentle cycle, but it’s not often. Washing by hand is how I connect with the pieces.

Vintage China and Silver is having a moment. There are many collections being sold at auction houses and consignment shops, and their prices are rising. The Artistry that was prevalent for our ancestors just doesn’t exist anymore. Manufacturers are not hand-painting or producing exquisite designs with gold and silver edges anymore as they respond to demand and changing desires. Many people in our generation are inheriting China and Silver and our first instinct is to sell it. With horror we imagine spending an entire afternoon a few times a year polishing silver (as my girlfriend remembers her mother doing). I will only say, resist the urge to sell if you love the China and Silver. If you use your Silver flatware every day, or nearly every day as I do, you will not have to polish it. Rotate the Silver if you inherit more servings than you would use on a daily basis. And fine China will stand up to the very occasional dishwasher on the gentlest cycle. The key is to use the gentlest cycle and the gentlest of dishwasher soap. It must be phosphate free and not include lemon or bleach as these products contain acid that is harmful to the surfaces and finishes.

We can all relate to being busy with work, or family, or both…so while we may feel we just have too much on the go right now to deal with fine China and Silver, years from now when things are less frantic, you will not regret having kept those pieces. And I have found that hand-washing my China and Silver adds an extra 15 minutes to my evening, and what a trade-off it is! I enjoy every bite so much more.

Several years ago I inherited a Paragon Rockingham Green tea set that was my great grandmother’s. I loved it so much that I added some fruit bowls to the set. You can find individual pieces of Paragon Rockingham Green China on Etsy and eBay. Spode Stafford Flowers China (stunning!) is also available on Etsy, eBay and Replacements.com, and full sets at consignment houses. You will notice that I mixed in a couple of tea mugs from my Royal Albert Miranda Kerr “Friendship” china collection to the Spode Stafford Flowers pieces in the “Spring Tea” image below. I think they pair really well together.

You can find Lenox Vintage Jewel china (produced from 1998 to 2022) and Wallace Grand Baroque Sterling Silver (introduced in 1941) at Replacments.com, Etsy, eBay and Amazon, and both are currently on sale at Wayfair. The bunny plates in my Easter Table images are from Pottery Barn purchased a number of years ago, but you can still find them at Replacements.com. There are 4 different bunny images, and they are all adorable. Your best chance of finding Puiforcat Elysee Sterling Silver flatware and Moser Splendid Gold-rimmed Glassware is at William Ashley Canada, or at the official online websites for Puiforcat and Moser. Occasionally Moser will offer a buy three, get one free Special on Moser Splendid. Start the Celebrations!

Vintage Puiforcat Elysee and Paragon Rockingham Green

Spring Tea with Spode Stafford Flowers

Easter Table with Wallace Grand Baroque Silver and Wallace Vintage Jewel China

Easter Table

Celebration with Moser Splendid

Celebrating January...Part 2

It’s cold out there! I am not generally a soup person but it’s warming on a cold winter day. So this morning I dug through my mother’s recipe box as there is one soup recipe that I adore: Leek and Potato soup. This recipe is dairy free and beyond delicious. What I love best is that the ingredients are fresh and simple: potatoes, leeks, chicken or vegetable stock and fresh herbs. You can use an immersion blender or food processor to puree.

You’ll notice that I am still using my Christmas placemats Toy's Delight Gobelin Placemat Tree. I couldn’t bear to put them away yet. And although they are currently out of stock on the Villeroy & Boch website, they are sure to reappear next November so keep an eye out for them. They are well-made, beautifully crafted (the detail is amazing) and just plain gorgeous. And of course the colours (green, red and gold) are just right for the Holidays….and post Holidays!

Leek and Potato Soup

3 Large Leeks (about 3-31/2 cups, chopped)

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

4 Cups Chicken or Vegetable broth

2 Pounds Potatoes (Yukon Gold or Russet), peeled & diced into 1/2 inch pieces

1 Teaspoon sea salt, less or more to taste

Pinch dried marjoram

1 Bay Leaf

1 or 2 Sprigs fresh Thyme or 1/2 Teaspoon dried Thyme

1/4 Cup chopped fresh parsley

Black Pepper to taste

Few drops of Chile Oil or a sprinkle of Tabasco Sauce

Cut off the ends of the leeks and the tough dark green tops. Rinse the leeks well. With the tip of a knife make a slit down the full length of each leek and discard one outer layer. Rinse leeks again. Slice the white and light green parts of the leeks crosswise into 1/4 inch thick slices.

Heat the olive oil on medium heat in a 3 to 4 Quart thick-bottomed pot. Add the chopped leeks, stir to coat with the Olive Oil. Cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 10 minutes until the leeks have softened. Check to make sure the leeks are not browning.

Add the broth, diced potatoes, bay leaf, thyme, marjoram and a Teaspoon of salt to the pot. Increase the heat to high to bring to a simmer, then lower the heat to maintain a low simmer, and cook for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are cooked through.

Remove and discard the bay leaf and Thyme sprigs. Use and immersion blender or standing blender to blend about half of the soup if you want a chunky soup, or all of it if you like your soup to be more smooth. Note: If you are using a standing blender, puree the soup in batches, don’t fill the blender more than a third full at a time, and remember to hold the lid down while the blender is going.

Add the parsley, and cook a minute more. Add a few drops of Chile oil, or a few dashes of Tabasco to taste. Add freshly ground pepper, and more salt to taste.

Celebrating January

Post Holiday meals tend to be less elaborate and rich, and definitely quicker to prepare. I try to think of dinners to make that are really tasty and will stretch over at least 2 days. Which brings me to the topic of today’s Post, “Celebrating January”. I am sharing one of my most loved recipes for a quick and easy dinner that you can adjust according to your taste. Not only is it delicious, but it can be eaten warm, or at room temperature. And, if you want to extend the Holiday feeling, or just enjoy an elevated dining experience, use your fine china Vintage Jewel, sparkling wine glasses and silver flatware Grand Baroque. Everything tastes even better doesn’t it?

Mediterranean Orzo Salad

This dish can be made ahead, add the goat cheese, tuna and basil just before serving.

1 lb. orzo pasta (approx. 454 grams)

1 cup pitted kalamata or nicoise olives (or 1/3 cup sun-dried olives, my favourite) coarsely chopped

8 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes (or 1 cup sliced sun-dried tomoatoes) finely chopped

1/4 to 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil (start with 1/4 cup, it’s usually enough)

2 Tblsp white wine vinegar

1/2 tsp kosher salt

Ground black pepper

140 grams (5 oz.) soft goat cheese, crumbled (I omitted the goat cheese as I have a dairy allergy, and replaced with 1 jar Rio Mare light tuna fillets in olive oil)

1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil (I used a full cup - I Love fresh Basil!)

I jar RIO light Tuna in oil (broken up or flaked before adding to Orzo)

1. Cook the Orzo in a Large Pot of boiling salted water for about 6-7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain and rinse with cold water until completely cooled. Drain again.

2. Combine olives, sundried tomatoes, olive oil, vinegar, and salt & pepper in a large Salad bowl. Add cooked Orzo and stir well. Stir in goat cheese or flaked tuna and basil just before serving.

3. Serves 8

Thanksgiving 2023

Nothing reminds me more of family Thanksgivings than Fall flowers, the smell of lovely food and pies! My mother had an extraordinary way of making every Holiday special with attention to details. I have tried to do the same and it makes such a difference. The smell of the glazed ham in the oven, the colourful root vegetables and potatoes with crispy leek and onion, Fall floral arrangements in the kitchen window and powder room, and the aroma of fresh pumpkin and apple pie all contribute to a glorious Fall celebration and memories that last.

Christmas 2016

The Christmas Holiday is truly my favourite time of the year.  I start in November, choosing my Christmas cards, Christmas table crackers and gifts, planning the Christmas Dinner Menu and every year I add one or two new decorations to decorate the house with.

This year, the first of two new decorations was a life-size Nutcracker that has movement and music from the Nutcracker ballet.  I purchased it from frontgate.com and it did not disappoint.  It added a beautiful dinner focal point and delighted our guests.  In keeping with the nutcracker theme, I found some table crackers with a nutcracker theme at Metro groceries.  Colourful and inexpensive.

While shopping at what I consider the most beautiful, indoor shopping plaza in Ontario, I found my second new decoration.  Sherway Gardens has had a recent expansion, with stunning Italian marble floors throughout, new shops including Saks Fifth Avenue and a widely expanded parking network with the latest in parking technology.  Even on Boxing Day it was easy to find a parking spot with their green/red light parking system and LED parking updates which tell you how many spots are available in each parking section.  When you enter the protected underground parking, you immediately see which spots are available by way of a green light that shines above the spot.  As soon as you pull into the spot, the light turns red.  Wonderful!  

My girlfriend and her twins and I were strolling through Sherway Gardens when we were pulled into Pottery Barn by way of their beautiful decorations.  Once in the store, I fell in love with a wrought iron deer.  It was so simple and elegant and I knew it would add charm to any space in my home.  Pottery Barn instills magic into the holidays and provides beautiful themes to inspire you with.  I rarely leave without something stunning and unique.

Life-size Nutcracker with movement and music

Crackers for the Table

Reindeer