Outdoor Tableware
For many people who entertain outdoors, the thrill of enjoying a backyard area becomes tempered with the fear of dishes and glasses falling and breaking against the patio. Fortunately, a number of tableware products can allay these fears, offering a worry-free outdoor dining experience.
Most outdoor tableware sets today are made of melamine, a strong, heat-tolerant resin polymer, or shatter-resistant acrylic. Both are very lightweight and durable materials, safe in any diner's grasp. Melamine and resin come in many different colors, and can be molded into any style of dish, bowl or cup - offering patio chefs a veritable rainbow of safe outdoor tableware.
For the more earth-conscious lot, some manufacturers have designed outdoor tableware using a form of biodegradable plastic. This material, created from bamboo, typically comes in a shade of brown and can be molded in much the same way as typical plastics. Durable yet lightweight, these reusable dishes will biodegrade when you grow tired of them - just throw them on the compost heap!
Cocktails and mocktails are a dinner-party staple, but their serving glasses are a big no-no outside - broken glass can be difficult to locate on a light-colored patio or on a lawn, and the only way to locate glass in a pool or spa is to drain it. To avoid these dangerous and sometimes costly consequences, invest in acrylic glassware. With clear and tinted options, these glasses, cups and goblets look just like the more delicate glassware, but can withstand a fall on concrete.
If reusable tableware sounds too daunting for a large party or neighborhood barbeque, hit the supermarket and buy a sturdy disposable set. Many popular brands offer heavyweight versions of their disposable plates and bowls, preventing the inevitable bent plate - and spilled food. To help ease the environmental effect of these items, select a variety that is biodegradable or can be composted after use. Or take the middle road and invest in "reusable disposable" tableware. Made of lightweight plastic, these plates and bowls can be thrown away after a meal or washed and used again.