This Delicious Trend Will Be Seen at So Many Parties This Summer
Farmers market chic is so fresh.
Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma
Your tablewares have a lot more to offer than somewhere to hold a glass of wine or heaping pile of pasta. The right combination of plates, utensils, and linens can not only set the tone for a multi-sensory dinner party, but it can also keep your space relevant and oh-so-trendy. Earthy stoneware and sardine-themed accessories might’ve had their moment, but produce-core is poised to be this summer’s hottest trend.
Yes, you read that correctly: Produce-core. Lately, tabletop brands have reimagined the essentials to look like something you’d pluck out of your vegetable garden. Artichoke-inspired bowl and tomato-motif plates were front and center at the Maison & Objet exhibition in Paris earlier this year—and they’re poised to make their way to the West Coast.
Why? According to Courtney B. Smith, an interior designer in California’s Marin County, produce-core celebrates the joy in the everyday. “This embrace of whimsical, not-so-serious tableware is the ultimate design levity required by the moment,” she explains. “Swap out those simple white platters and dishes for something that screams, ‘We’re here to have some fun and no one can stop us!’”
Kira Young of Hide Tide Design near San Diego agrees and says these plates offer “authenticity:” A thoughtful touch that, like dopamine décor and color-drenching, deliver a light-hearted edge. “Fun lettuce and tomato motif plates add personality without feeling overly styled,” she says. “The ‘core’ of it is not trying to take yourself so seriously.”
Produce-core wares might create a smile-inducing statement, but it doesn’t have to overwhelm the space. Believe it or not, Young says these pieces look good with just about everything–even your antique silverware. Plus, thanks to the trend’s herbaceous appearance, it’s also great for meals al fresco.
If you want to savor this delicious design trend, here are a few options worth adding to your cart. Whether you prefer plates or cocktail picks—cabbage or citrus—there’s bound to be something to whet everyone’s appetite.
Shop the Trend
Williams-Sonoma Bordallo Pinheiro Cabbage Serve Bowl
Though it’ll look good with everything, Bordallo Pinheiro’s cabbageware will pair particularly well with a loaded kale salad.
Crate & Barrel Olive Icon Glass Martini Picks
What better way to top a dirty gin martini than with these adorable cocktail picks. Extra olives? Yes, please.
World Market Red Tomato Hand Painted Figural Salad Plate
We can’t back this up with science quite yet, but caprese salads and bruschetta will taste infinitely better on this tomato-shaped plate.
Porta Artichoke Bowl
Made with clay from Italy’s Brenta River–and fired in a century-old wooden kiln–this bowl serves up style and a story.
Casa Omarosa Salad Server with Lemon Handle
While there are plenty of plates and bowls that embrace produce-core, this set is an adorable way to take the trend to the next level.
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