The Only Dinnerware You Need
Project 365, Day 11
About five years ago, I got a Williams-Sonoma gift card as a birthday gift from my lovely work friends (here’s looking at your Luxe ladies). They knew me so well. That gift card ended up being the gateway to the BEST DINNERWARE EVER. I’m not going to belabor this post with a sappy story or anything. I’m here to tell you that the low dinner bowl is truly the MVP of the dinnerware world. I almost never use my dinner plates, unless I’m eating something that calls for space/things not touching…or the dishwasher is full and unwashed.
Merits of the low bowl: It’s the Goldilocks of plating. It’s just big enough to hold soup, salad (like a side salad…I eat salad out of giant mixing bowls because there is no other way), pasta, rice-based dishes, anything that came out of a one-pot meal, ice cream…almost anything. It’s not so big that your food feels like it’s floating in an open ocean, hence you need to pile on more food to satisfy the fact that we eat with our eyes, and our eyes like seeing a full plate. My meals tend to be quite saucey, and the low bowl is ideal if you’re anything like me. A lip tall enough to keep the glorious liquid goods where you want it (on your food, not along the edges of a plate), but not so tall that you can’t actually cut anything properly.
Other names it goes by: These are typically called pasta bowls, salad bowls or low bowls. Look for something about 8 inches (10 inches if you’re hungry ha).
The sensible thing to do is recommend you start with a set of four, but as someone with low bowl every day experience, I’m going to recommend you buy twice as many as you need if you have the cabinet space for it. I have a set of four, for a household of two, and it always feels like they’re being used or in need of cleaning. What I really need is a set of at least six, but ideally eight so I always have my beloved low bowl on hand. Not sure why I haven’t added to my stock, but I think I will today.
Open Kitchen by Williams Sonoma Pasta Bowls: These are the ones I have. They are pretty simple, stylistically. They taper just enough that, as I mentioned before, cutting isn’t thwarted, and they’ve held up beautifully after five years of wear and tear. One of them has a chip, but that was from moving, not from daily use.
Porcelain is my preference. Earthenware and matte versions look so beautiful, but there’s something about the sound of matte dinnerware (especially when there’s a raw edge anywhere) that makes me cringe. Nails on a chalkboard to me. If you don’t mind that, there are a few of those below here, as well.
Low Bowl Shopping Picks
Shaker Stoneware Low Bowl, Set of 4: These are the priciest set here, which of course means I love them. Dishwasher safe and oven rated to 450 degrees.
The Everyday Bowl: I’d say that have a love affair with East Fork Pottery, except that I own none of it because their pieces sell out faster than an Adele concert back when people went to concerts. They restock colors often, but all their ceramics are worth a look. (Psst: the featured image at the top of this post is from East Fork Pottery!)
Marin Matte Low Bowl: Here’s a matte version in a very cool black. I’ve never had black dinnerware, but these would be really nice paired with other neutrals you likely already have. The imperfect edge feels nice and casual, too.
Organic Shaped Low Bowl, Set of 4: This set is on sale at West Elm right now and if I didn’t have the ones I already own, I might scoop these up. White porcelain is classic, but the organic shape modernizes them a bit.
Dansk Kobenstyle Porcelain Dinnerware: Wait, I lied. Maybe I’d get this set. They stack a bit higher, so be mindful of how much shelf space you have, but the painted rim makes them feel like a heritage piece to keep around for a long life.
Terre Pasta Bowls: This one is available in four matte, earthy colors. The green is a bit different!
4pk Stoneware Avesta Bowls Gray: You can’t beat this price (about $15 for the set of four). The shape seems just about perfect and the subtle gray is a nice, safe departure from white.
Stoneware Tilley Bowl Brown/Gray: These have very good reviews and more of that stoneware/earthenware look that’s so popular right now.
4pk Porcelain Ollers Dining Bowls White/Brown: I love the two-tone look of these. There aren’t any reviews on them, but Target’s Project 62 line is pretty solid from my experience.
Visto Navy Stoneware Low Bowl: Almost all the rest of my dinnerware is from Crate & Barrel, as is this bowl. The satin-y navy is so pretty and the bowl has great reviews.
Have I convinced you yet? I’ll leave you with this: I bought my low bowls thinking I’d just use them for pasta, and now they are my evyeryday, for everything plate of choice. Give them a whirl if you’re looking to upgrade your dinnerware situation at any point.
See you tomorrow, friends.