Inspiration and Information for your Tabletop

There's no doubt Americans and Europeans do things differently. From the metric system to the fingers we use when counting, we have many idiosyncrasies that comprise our overall cultural canons. But perhaps nothing divides our cultures more than our dining habits.

If you don't stock flatware from WMF or HEPP, you may be in for an upsetting surprise. When you have a moment, take some time to really examine your flatware selections. Compare spoons with spoons. Put your knives down on the table -- side by side -- to see what they look like.

Maintaining your tools and keeping them in peak condition is a practice dating back to the beginning of time. That extends to the table as well. Dining utensils are arguably the most commonly used tools in our society today. For restaurants and foodservice operations, silverware is put to work every day, if not every hour. How can these essential dining tools withstand the test of time?

Is it some pretentious remnant of the Victorian era, or is it something that helps make any fish dish easier to eat?

Eating is one of the most basic things we do as humans. When we no longer have the ability to eat the way we normally do, this can be traumatic and demoralizing. It's at this point where physical health can affect mental health.

Spoons are for soup. Knives are for cutting meat or other large food items. Forks help you eat those bites. But why are these items collectively referred to as silverware? Here's everything you need to know about the history of silver as a metal choice for flatware and dining utensils.