Designing your dining space with slate can bring a sophisticated, modern touch which adds depth and texture to your tabletop. Last year, I experimented with slate by incorporating coasters, plates and bowls into my primary dining table setting. I quickly discovered that this material typically found gracing the roofs of some of the world's finest homes, can also be a fine compliment to a design scheme which includes multi-tonal greys and touches of metallic silver. Although I love the slate pieces, they are primarily decorative, so I was delighted to learned that Revol, the French company which already boasts over 200 years of heritage, and many fine products including a stunning line of white porcelain bakeware and dinnerware was introducing a line of slate products. However, I learned that the BASALT line is a masterful creation that is actually pigmented culinary-grade porcelain and not the metamorphic rock I have grown to love despite its limitations. The BASALT line provides the look of slate while providing the benefits of porcelain which results in greater versatility with respect to cooking, cleaning, durability and usage. Unlike natural slate, which is prone to chipping and scratching without undue care, one will find that the BASALT line is a slate lover's dream providing pieces that can serve you throughout an entire meal, from
hors d'oeuvres to main dishes to desserts. Each piece is oven safe (up to 572 degrees), microwavable, freezer and dishwasher-safe, and the non-porous surface is hygenic and safe for foods. The most impressive aspects of the line lie in the design details because each piece captures all of the nuances of slate's texture and the waves of natural beauty that comes from these rock formations, a hallmark of their unmistakable beauty. Revol took their designs one step further by producing pieces that are slightly concaved to encourage meat juices and other liquids to collect at the center of the plate rather than running off and spreading across the surface which produces a clean presentation canvas that will allow your foods to display beautifully. The full line is primarily comprised of a variety of very affordable rectangular and square plates, many with indentations that will accomodate espresso and
cappucino mugs and dessert cups
including this plate which compliments a serving of dessert along with a cup of cappucino (retail US $14.95). Of particular note is this steak plate (retail US $49.95) which provides a reservoir along the perime
ter evokative of a steakhouse cutting board, which can be adorned with fresh rosemary sprigs for added effect. The plate also includes an indentation to cradle a container for your favorite steak sauce, toppings, finishing salts or au jus. Are you ready to make a date with "slate"? Be on the lookout for the BASALT line this year. Have a question for Cook Like Jackie? E-mail
cooklikejackie@gmail.com.
Designing your dining space with slate can bring a sophisticated, modern touch which adds depth and texture to your tabletop. Last year, I experimented with slate by incorporating coasters, plates and bowls into my primary dining table setting. I quickly discovered that this material typically found gracing the roofs of some of the world's finest homes, can also be a fine compliment to a design scheme which includes multi-tonal greys and touches of metallic silver. Although I love the slate pieces, they are primarily decorative, so I was delighted to learned that Revol, the French company which already boasts over 200 years of heritage, and many fine products including a stunning line of white porcelain bakeware and dinnerware was introducing a line of slate products. However, I learned that the BASALT line is a masterful creation that is actually pigmented culinary-grade porcelain and not the metamorphic rock I have grown to love despite its limitations. The BASALT line provides the look of slate while providing the benefits of porcelain which results in greater versatility with respect to cooking, cleaning, durability and usage. Unlike natural slate, which is prone to chipping and scratching without undue care, one will find that the BASALT line is a slate lover's dream providing pieces that can serve you throughout an entire meal, from hors d'oeuvres to main dishes to desserts. Each piece is oven safe (up to 572 degrees), microwavable, freezer and dishwasher-safe, and the non-porous surface is hygenic and safe for foods. The most impressive aspects of the line lie in the design details because each piece captures all of the nuances of slate's texture and the waves of natural beauty that comes from these rock formations, a hallmark of their unmistakable beauty. Revol took their designs one step further by producing pieces that are slightly concaved to encourage meat juices and other liquids to collect at the center of the plate rather than running off and spreading across the surface which produces a clean presentation canvas that will allow your foods to display beautifully. The full line is primarily comprised of a variety of very affordable rectangular and square plates, many with indentations that will accomodate espresso and cappucino mugs and dessert cups
including this plate which compliments a serving of dessert along with a cup of cappucino (retail US $14.95). Of particular note is this steak plate (retail US $49.95) which provides a reservoir along the perime
ter evokative of a steakhouse cutting board, which can be adorned with fresh rosemary sprigs for added effect. The plate also includes an indentation to cradle a container for your favorite steak sauce, toppings, finishing salts or au jus. Are you ready to make a date with "slate"? Be on the lookout for the BASALT line this year. Have a question for Cook Like Jackie? E-mail cooklikejackie@gmail.com.
