Caterers and restaurants are masters about restyling simple plate ware and glass ware to make them seem unique and unusual.
Crudites Glass
You need to eat your veggies and this is a great way to present them. The green disk under the glass is just a piece of colored paper that was cut in a circle. It adds a bit more color to the presentation. This is an old trick that casual restaurants use to brighten up the table. Fine restaurants use to set some courses out on very high quality white paper napkins.Here the veggies are cut in strips and set into the glass that has a bit of dip on the bottom. The secondary dish is a plastic outdoor plate bought for 50 cents.
Shrimp cocktail
Shrimp cocktailSpecialty glasses can be pricey and take up a lot of
space. Serving a shrimp cocktail is a traditional and elegant way to
start a meal. The specialty glasses have a inner bowl that is set in a
glass that is filled with chipped ice. Here we used a inexpensive shot
glass and set it in our larger glass.( I often use these small shot
glasses to hold flower heads and scatter them around the table).
Flower Vase
Any container that can hold water can be used for a flower vase. This simple shape is perfect to have several down the center of a table for a modern look. You might not have several vases that are identical but chances are you have several glasses that are. You can also use your glasses to float candles in.
Snack Glass
Any container that can hold water can be used for a flower vase. This simple shape is perfect to have several down the center of a table for a modern look. You might not have several vases that are identical but chances are you have several glasses that are. You can also use your glasses to float candles in.
Snack GlassWhen you have a variety of flavorings or condiments that you want to serve with your meal then putting them all in the same glasses gives a polished look to the setting. Here I set out sour cream and red and green salsas with a tray of nacho chips. Everything is confined and easy to serve.
Ice-cream parfait
Even the simplest glass can look amazing when something yummy is in it. This ice cream parfait is just layers of ice cream and syrup with chopped nuts on top and two chocolate finger cookies set on an angle. This sort of dessert can either be high end or casual depending on the type of ice cream and cookies that you use.
Even the simplest glass can look amazing when something yummy is in it. This ice cream parfait is just layers of ice cream and syrup with chopped nuts on top and two chocolate finger cookies set on an angle. This sort of dessert can either be high end or casual depending on the type of ice cream and cookies that you use.
Hot Toddy
This glass is thick enough that you can serve hot drinks in it. A hot toddy on a cold night is a wonderful way to relax. The rim of the glass was decorated with sugar. (You do this by dipping the rim in a plate of lemon juice and then dipping it in a plate of sugar and letting it harden.) A plain white cloth napkin was folded on the diagonal and tied to the glass. There is a bar tender trick of placing a spoon in the empty glass before pouring the hot liquid in so the glass doesn't crack from the heat. Never use a cold glass to pour hot liquids in as it might crack, the glass should at least be room temperature or warmer. This luscious toddy was finished with a dollop of whipped cream.
This glass is thick enough that you can serve hot drinks in it. A hot toddy on a cold night is a wonderful way to relax. The rim of the glass was decorated with sugar. (You do this by dipping the rim in a plate of lemon juice and then dipping it in a plate of sugar and letting it harden.) A plain white cloth napkin was folded on the diagonal and tied to the glass. There is a bar tender trick of placing a spoon in the empty glass before pouring the hot liquid in so the glass doesn't crack from the heat. Never use a cold glass to pour hot liquids in as it might crack, the glass should at least be room temperature or warmer. This luscious toddy was finished with a dollop of whipped cream.
Cold soup
On hot summer days a cold soup i
s a perfect way to start a meal. This is a store bought roast sweet pepper and tomato soup that has been garnished with some chives from the garden. The wide brim of this glass makes it a great little soup bowl, the perfect size as a starter.
On hot summer days a cold soup i
s a perfect way to start a meal. This is a store bought roast sweet pepper and tomato soup that has been garnished with some chives from the garden. The wide brim of this glass makes it a great little soup bowl, the perfect size as a starter.
Fruit Cocktail
This is a perfect way to start your morning or a healthy way to have something just a little bit sweet to finish up a meal. I used a melon baller to make little balls of honey dew melon but chopping them in squares would look just as nice.
Bar service
This is a perfect way to start your morning or a healthy way to have something just a little bit sweet to finish up a meal. I used a melon baller to make little balls of honey dew melon but chopping them in squares would look just as nice.
Bar service You might need a few extra items on your bar for your guests to help themselves. If it is just you and your honey then you don't need a large ice-bucket to freshen up your drinks. This glass is the perfect size. You can also filled the glasses with bar nibbles like peanuts or pretzel sticks.
Drinks
A drink glass should look great with a drink, right? Restaurants like to add their own signature garnishes to even the simplest cocktails and mocktails. In restaurants they would use plastic cocktail picks but you can look for interesting stainless steel cocktail picks on clearance at home-ware sales. The garnish should match the drink so if the drink is sweet the garnish should be as well. Typical fruit garnishes include lemon slices, cherries, and berries but anything that you can fit on a cocktail pick that looks nice would be suitable.
Don't limit yourself with the glass I have shown here or these ideas. If you look at your glass and plate ware with new eyes you will be surprised at the ideas and uses you can come up with.
Blue Cricket Designs Lilluna 
Photography and Content
Copyright Ingrid Talpak 2010
Morestylethancash
Don't limit yourself with the glass I have shown here or these ideas. If you look at your glass and plate ware with new eyes you will be surprised at the ideas and uses you can come up with.
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Blue Cricket Designs Lilluna Photography and ContentCopyright Ingrid Talpak 2010
Morestylethancash
These are some great tips! I use mason jars for many purposes. They are my favorite go to for a quick flower arrangement and candy gift giving. Thanks for sharing these photos! They are a great visual! I hopped on over from Today's Creative Blog.
These are fantastic! I don't have any clear glasses, but I never realized how versatile they can be. I love this.
I think this is great, when you work in the industry you need to multi purpose items all the time. I think some people feel items are for one specific purpose. I love stuff like this.
Quite clever!