Serving pieces

music83lover2001

I recently got a beautiful china set (Mikasa Parchment) and It came with a 12" platter and a vegetable bowl and I also have the gravy boat.  There are a few pieces I am eyeing (a oval 14" platter, a covered casserole dish, a covered butter dish, and maybe a couple extra vegetable bowls for serving other side dishes), but am not sure if I would 1) really use them or 2) need them.  What do you think?  What serving pieces do you use?  I am thinking about when I would use the pieces.  The meal that would require the most serving dishes in my family would be a turkey dinner (turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, carrots, dinner rolls/bread, cranberry sauce, am I missing anything?).  That being the case, could I fit enough turkey on my platter or should I get the larger oval? I would need at least 2 or 3 more vegetable bowls in the pattern to match the one I already have and I would need a platter or bowl for the rolls/bread.  Most meals would not require as many sides dishes, meaning using less dishes.  The only serveware I have other than what I mentioned about is a few platters and bowls that are cheap that I got from walmart and a butter dish I got from kohls.  They are white and "clunkier" so I don't think they would look right with the china.  I want to set a nice table, but don't want to buy a lot of unnecessary things.  What do you suggest?

Jim&Jaime

Personally, I find you can never have enough platters and bowls.  That being said, if I were going to skip anything on your list, it would probably be the butter dish.  I usually serve butter on a small plate or saucer.

jj_sbride

I use my pieces weekly. But I entertain a lot.
I would definitely get the 14" oval platter.
The 12" is on the smaller side.

TarHeels&Rebels

All of my serving pieces are pewter or silver.  They go with everything - day dishes, paper products, formal china.  If you have formal china serving pieces, you can really only use them with your formal china.  I don't have room to store two sets of serving dishes to cover different occasions.

I personally wouldn't buy a turkey platter.  You'll use it only once or twice a year and there is bound to be a relative you can borrow (or permanently acquire) one from.

The items I find the most useful - a couple large trays, chip n dip trays, large bowl for salad and pyrex casserole holders.

My pewter was all from the wedding, but I've bought my silver used at antique stores.  You can get a silverplate tray for $10 - sure beats whatever you can get at WM for $10.

AnneElk

I'm with tarheels&rebels, my platters and serving pieces go with all of my dishes. I prefer white or glass platters and casseroles, but the idea is the same.

RachieTK

I'd buy the pieces.  As time passes, you will use them all.

lsgarver

Hmm, I'd buy whiteware or metal.  You'll get both formal and casual use out of them and they'll go with any accent dishes, linens or themes. 

I get most use out of medium-sized bowls, rectangular/oval platters (both small and large) and a big casserole/lasagna dish.  I get good use out of a cake plate, small bowls (like for dips or nuts), a bread plate and BIG platters.  I get little use out of tiered servers and specialty items like gravy boat, cream and sugar, butter dish, teapot.