Recently I noticed that my old Vortex bowls started showing their age. Small cracks were forming in the bottoms and running through to the outside of the bowl. These have been good bowls though, they stood up to my abuse for years. I acquired them from my local restaurant supply store but I have no idea what they were made of.
Time for an upgrade.
A few requirements were on my brain:
- Porcelain.
- A little larger – bistro style.
- At least four, maybe six.
I am hard on tableware. I don’t mean to be, but when I am moving quickly in the kitchen and groovin’ I tend not to be as precise or as careful as I should be when cleaning, restacking, or setting plates, bowls, and cups. I end up breaking stuff – chipping, cracking, and on occasion just plain shattering cheap dinnerware – especially plates.
Porcelain has been my savior with its superior chip and stain resistance and they are less likely to scratch with forks and knives. A few years ago I upgraded much of my tableware with Crate & Barrel’s Aspen line. They have held up well with no chips or cracks. Plus they are pretty enough to photograph and easy to dress up or down. “Workhorses,” are what the nice sales lady called them, as she uses them as well.
In the end I ordered four 8” Bistro Style Bowls – $25 + free shipping as of this writing. They are not Aspen line but they are quite nice.
Each bowl is crisp, clean, and with a nice polished finish and feel. Since they are bistro style – the sort of bowl you’ll see in a restaurant – they are larger than my Vortex bowls but still practical for individual servings and great for everyday use. Since they are also white they match with all of my other Aspen line tableware.
Here is an unboxing:
If you have tried or plan to try these bowls, let us know.
