China, Not Royal Chinet
February 25th, 2008 @ 1:11 pm by Mrs. Hummingbird
I really thought I was a grownup. Especially after we moved out of our crappily retrofitted apartment in our slumtastic former neighbourhood (which came complete with halfway houses and an X-Rated video obsessed next door neighbour who I dubbed “Porny McWackerson”) and into a beautiful suite by the park, I was convinced that, finally, my adulthood was here.
However, when I recently hosted a luncheon, I realized how wrong I was when I was forced to eat my freshly made pasta off a plastic picnic plate with a disposable fork. 5 people + 4 dinner settings = 1 Embarassed Miss Hummingbird. (I am so smart! S-M-R-T!)
Back when Mr. Hum and I merged households almost three years ago, I noticed we had some major gaps in supplies (Two copies of Family Guy DVDs? Check! Measuring cups? Umm . . .), but I always thought we would fill in the blanks ourselves. However, because it is just the two of us most of the time, not having multiple plates wasn’t really an issue and dropped lower on our list of priorities.
Unfortunately, now, as we get older and want to be able to entertain more (I am currently trying to learn how to cook in a way that involves more than defrosting), we’ve begun to realize we’re kind of ill-equipped to do so.
With the wedding and with the bridal shower my MOH is throwing me, we’re most likely going to get gifts, so we are very much looking forward to actually sitting down and registering for what we need. But when you need almost everything, where does a person start?
I know that stores and magazines give you checklists, but a lot of the time, I feel like those are padded to make extra sales, so, for those of you who have been through this part, I need your help. What did you register for? For you married ladies, of the things your registered for, what do you actually use on a regular basis? I know we could fill it up with things like waffle makers and whatnot, but I don’t want our apartment cluttered up with space stealing mini-appliances, so the more practical, the better!
Related Posts
20 Responses to “China, Not Royal Chinet”
Unfortunately, the best way to figure out what you need is to need it. Which doesn’t really work so well when you’re trying to avoid needing things.
I suggest imagining a typical dinner party. What are you likely to cook? How are you likely to serve it? Think it through step-by-step and make a list. Mentally prepare the dish–I’ll need a 1/4 cup measuring spoon, a mixing bowl, a 9×13 casserole pan, a 10″ sautee pan, a wooden spoon, and a hot pads. Okay, then to serve it I’ll need a nice serving spoon and 8 plates. Oh, and I’ll need wine glasses, and I’ll want to serve cheese & crackers…you get the idea.
Do this for a couple of different menus and then you’ll have a good start. GL!
Lucy — great suggestions!
I really wanted the Kitchen Aid stand mixer (I love to bake and make breads etc). That is something we’ve used quite a bit. We got a gift that we didn’t register for from my MIL that we have used more than we ever thought we would– the Cusinart Griddler. We have a very small kitchen and this is easily stored above our cabinets. We’ve made panini’s, grilled steak, chicken, veggies, made pancakes and bacon etc. LOVE it!
We also are really enjoying our new silverware (aka flatware) that all matches! Think about the things that you really want to have for a long time and register for the “nice” version of those thing. We didn’t do the “fine china” thing as I just couldn’t see that being important to us. Also, I’ll get my grandmother’s china eventually, so I didn’t want more.
Mr. CP and I actually already had a lot of stuff. I don’t really know how to cook, so I’m kind of a bad example, but I do like to eat. SO. We registered for 10 settings of fine china–we picked out a hardy “chip free” china, so we can use it every day. Mr. CP also really wanted some nice cooking pans, so we registered for some all-clad. We didn’t need much of the little stuff, but definitely get some nice measuring spoons and cups, and for SURE some of those awesome spatulas that come in bright colors and are heat resistant to 500 degrees. We also registered for everyday glasses, plus nice wine glasses and a set of fun bar glasses. Outside of the kitchen, we wanted as much organic stuff as we could–organic sheets and towels, etc. Then we got some decorative stuff from Crate and Barrel. Oh, and a vacuum cleaner. Really, it’s best to think about how you live and what your personalities are like. Think about what you use now and upgrade, then use the checklist as a guide. They do pad those lists, but I think it’s relatively easy to look at those things and say, “Okay, I am NEVER going to use SILVER in addition to stainless steel place settings,” and then go from there.
My everyday dishes have been vital. I found a great set from Platzgraff that has held up great and I also went with a white dish for these and am very glad I did. They were affordable enough that we got 14 full place settings (2 more than we asked for). A good set of flatware is important, but I’d skip silver. I’m still using the knife set I got. Towels and bed linens are all well used. You don’t need a waffle iron unless you just really love waffles. I didn’t use mine until we had children. I use it a lot now, but there was a good 5 years that it stayed burried in the back our pantry. I’d have rather had another set of sheets and bought the waffle iron when I needed it down the road.
I’d also add a few good cutting boards to the list. Don’t want to ruin those new knives with a crappy cutting board! We registered for a wood composite one that’s diswasher safe (at W-S), plus protective mats for cutting poultry, etc.
Are you looking for a list of little stuff (like measuring cups, can openers, etc?) or appliance type things that we like? If the second, what sort of food do you generally eat?
I love my cookie press for example, but if you don’t bake it would definately just take up space.
As someone who entertains a lot (I’m not yet married) and actually cooks from scratch almost every weeknight I suggest the below items as staples…
-A quality and stylish stainless steel table service for 12 (those spoons are always disappearing)
-Matching serving utensils- don’t for get the pie/cake server even if you don’t bake others do
-3 sizes of pyrex measuring pitchers (the big one is great because you can measure and mix in one place
-a set of metal measuring cups (metal because they clean easier and can handle hot can cold liquids)
-A good set of frying pans
-A good set of pots (be sure to include a pasta pot with the stainer/steamer insert since it saves time)
-2 Metal collanders (not tin- stainless steal is good but plastic is bad because it is harder to clean)
-A nice set of everyday china that can be washed in the dishwaser for 8-12 (you always want more because you can serve off a plate as well as eat and if it goes in the dishwasher you can use it everyday and for guests) bowl, plate, desert plate salad plate or bowl, mug or teacup
-A nice set of wooden or bamboo spoons (not the $1.99 type) because they don’t scratch and come in tons of shapes and sizes
-A ladel for soup/sauces/stew
-Some decent knives (I suggest a bread knife, small santoku, paring knife & a carving set)
-4 cutting boards (lare bamboo with drain channel for meat, a small plastic or bamboo for little jobs, a medium for cutting veggies and a small one for the bar
-8 each white and red or white/red wine glasses, water, highball and something suitable for beer.
-Plastic and metal spatulas, and other cooking utensils
-A good potato/apple pealer.
-If you like to use fresh ingriediants then a nice heavy garlic press is essential
-A set of mixing bowls
-A couple of serving platters including one nice sized one with higher edges for a roast or pasta
-Serving bowls because you don’t want to serve everything out of the pot.
-A cheese board and knives/spreaders (pick out a nice bamboo cutting board for this an be sure it is a decent size so the crackers and/or fruit can sit on it too.
-A set of backing pans/cookie trays/muffin tins so that you can make desser or heat up rolls or the muffin tins are also great for individual meat pies and things if that nature
-A deap lasagna pan - this can double for roasting a chicken or a making shepherd’s pie
-A nice heavy wisk - for gravy or a batter or even an egg wash
-Glass Pie plate - for pie (Jello or apple) or for dinner for 2
-Hand mixer for cake, cookies or mashed potatoes - Heavy duty mixers are nice and I defiantly want a kitcheaid but the hand mixer is essential and easier in a pinch.
This all you really need to have a stocked kitchen. For making just about anything and entertaining with style. If you want to add more style put in some nice linens and vases to decorate the table but these are what you’ll need to prepare a great meal and serve it without any embarrasssment.
we’re going to need everything, too. off the top of my head, here’s what i can think of:
measuring cups, measuring spoons, mixing bowls, a new set of nice knives, two cutting boards, new flatware, new nice china, matching glasses (everyday and for wine/alcohol), whisks/spatulas/tongs/etc., a mixer, cookie sheets, all new pots/pans/bakeware, tupperware, a nice toaster, a few serving platters, a nice metal colander, and oven mitts.
looking at that list makes me sad our wedding is over a year away. : P
My FI and I are in a similar situation, but we have two sets of measuring cups and only one Family Guy dvd. 
As we’ve had friends over or gone to their houses for dinner, I’ve kept a mental list of things they have that are handy (trivets for hot dishes, cool chargers to dress up place settings, cloth napkins, etc.) or things that would have made preparing the meal easier for me (more containers for chips & dip, garlic press, small food processor, nicer mixer). Most of what we have is hand-me-downs or just plain old. I started keeping a real list eventually and that really helped me see what to put on our registry.
I’m curious on how MANY place settings you are registering for. A lot of stores seem to encourage you to register for 12 place settings. However, we don’t have huge families. Also, any children at a family gathering would probably be eating off of plastic or paper plates rather than fine china. Can we get away with registering for 8?
I use my food processor may more than I ever imagined!!! Creates a super quick pie crust, mix up some hummus in about 5 seconds, I mince/shred cooked chicken in it all the time, great for minced cilantro if your having a Mexican night and EVERYTHING calls for chopped cilantro :), coleslaw, chopping up veggies - it is super flexible and handy!
I second what Jilian says re: a food processor. I registered for a mini Cuisinart on a whim and have fallen totally in love w/it.
Other appliances we love: Crock-Pot (cooking is SO easy) and coffeemaker with auto-timer.
We registered for a microplane grater at Crate & Barrel, and that’s one of the more “gadgety” items I’m digging these days. Otherwise, I’d say stick with the basics: glassware, dishes, flatware, 1-2 sets of great mixing bowls, good pots and pans and a handful of nice serving dishes. Oh, and I cook a LOT and we didn’t register for a full set of knives, just 2-3 open stock beauties (my rationale: you can only use one at a time!).
Concentrate on what you actually like to/will cook etc. I really like to bake, so for me baking pans/gadgets etc., are necessities-but maybe not for you. if you really like barbequeing, or making your own pasta etc. get that stuff. Also, register for at least 2 more sets of dishes/silverware than you think you need, so that extra guests or breakages aren’t a big deal.
Great list from tberry, although I would add the following:
A nice set of casserole dishes.
A good soup pot.
A turkey roaster (for turkey, also caramel corn and Chex party mix)
A really nice crock pot (invaluable if you both work - add everything in the morning and dinner is done when you get home!)
A good cheese grater
A good set of Rubbermaid type storage bowls with lids (or you’ll find out all your casserole dishes and serving dishes are in the fridge full of leftovers after a big dinner)
A rolling pin
Silpat or other baking mats (will keep your cookie sheets nice)
A nice set of trivets (for when you set your lovely lasagne out on the dining room table, or if your countertops aren’t heat proof)
A nice wine opener (I love my Rabbit)
And I will second Jillian that the food processer is great - even if you don’t think of yourself as a cook - for guacamole, homemade mac and cheese - we use ours all the time.
Also Nina nina’s extras - if you have room for storage, even two complete sets of glassware. Trust me, they will go, and when they do you’ll just have seven… unless you actually have fifteen!
My fiance and I have nothing… literally, nothing. I’m a college student graduating from a dorm room in May, and he lives with three roommates. So.. as we went through what we have, and realized it consisted of a computer, some plastic cups I stole from a restaurant and a plastic blow-up couch, some panic set in. Like you, not know where to start, I mentally thought of myself in a home where I had nothing. I then mentally went through a day, keeping track of what I used during the day. I “cooked meals” and did everything else I would do in a normal day. We then went a registered for what I had used when thinking about it. (I hope this makes sense… it’s kinda weird, I know). BUT.. when we were done registering we had everything we needed, and not much that we didn’t. Worked great for us!
More measuring cups and spoons that you think you will need, so that you can fully prepare a recipe without having to stop and wash the measuring cups in between steps.
Serving bowls and plates!!!
When we moved in together, we had more than enough plates and silverware, but the first time we had guests for Easter, I realized scooping food out of the pan wasn’t going to cut it.
We have 9 billion kitchen appliances, but I find the most useful one to be the immersion hand-blender. I got rid of my big blender! This thing is tiny, and makes smoothies, purees soup, crushes ice and tons of other things, and is easy to clean and use.
[...] thought I would be this excited about dishes, but I’m really looking forward to getting a new (and full) set and think it’s really sweet that all the Hums went in on the one big present for [...]
Mrs. Hummingbird, Toronto
Age and Occupation: 25, Publishing Coordinator
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Videogame Designer/Cartoonist
Engagement Date: May 4, 2007
Wedding Date: June 28, 2008
Blogging Since: September 18, 2007
Venue: A garden wedding followed by a tented reception on Mr. Hummingbird's father's property.
About Me: I’m a pop culture loving, vintage obsessed foodie living in Canada’s biggest city with my fantastic fiancé and our lovable fluffy cat Bettie. I’m stoked to marry my best friend and to throw what I hope will be
the most fun and colourful party of our lives.
My main concern was getting china…Enough “everyday” china to fill up a load of the dishwasher and have a few left over…I also got white everyday china, that way IN CASE we’d have to pull out a few extra sets at a dinner party, they wouldnt clash too bad with our white fine china…just something to think about (having everyday china that somewhat “goes” with the fine china you pick out)
All I really wanted was fine china, bed linens and nice knives. The rest I could do without.