Set The Table – Page 3

Different Types of Cheese Knives to Use for Every Cheese in the Book

The invention and production of cheese predate recorded history, with some saying it began over 7,000 years ago. Since then, over 1,800 types of cheese from various countries have emerged.

Like a chef using several knives to prepare their ingredients, cheese knives are used to improve cheese cutting and eating experience. In today’s article, we’ll go through all the different types of cheese knives available, including how they are used and cheeses you can pair them with!

A Summary of the Different Types of Cheese Knives

If you’re planning to host an afternoon party with delicious cheese plate appetizers, it’s vital to prepare the utensils that come with it. If you’re in a hurry, here are the different types of essential cheese knives listed in this article:

Soft cheese knife
Hard cheese knife
Cheese spreader
Gorgonzola knife
Pronged cheese knife
Cheese cleaver
Parmesan knife
Plane knife
Brie knife

Cheese Knife 101: Your One-Stop Guide to Cheese Knives!

As follows are nine of the most commonly used cheese knives in the world!

Soft Cheese Knife

Soft cheese knives are meant to deal with the extra soft cheese types that may leave streaks behind.

This type of knife allows you to present pieces of cheese more attractively than cheese cut with standard knives. Their blades come with holes to prevent the cheesy form from latching onto the material. Some knives used to cut soft cheese come with a ridge. You’ll find it running lengthwise close to the blade’s top.

This knife is used for softer types of cheese, such as Camembert, for example.

Hard Cheese Knife

Rigid cheese knives feature a tough, large blade that’s made for cutting through a whole wheel or wedge of aged, hard cheese to achieve smaller portions. You’ll sometimes find them with handles on either end so you can cut your cheese evenly.

This knife is best used for hard cheeses, including Provolone, which is known for its difficulty to cut through using a household knife.

Cheese Spreader

Cheese spreaders, or spatula knives, are perhaps one of the most commonly used tools for soft, spreadable cheese. They have a dull, semi-round body with a straight edge that allows you to distribute extremely soft cheese with ease efficiently.

This knife best works for soft cheeses like Robiola, Stracchino, goat cheese, and cream cheese. I love eating cheese with bread, so this is a utensil I use at almost every cheese platter party.

Gorgonzola Knife

The gorgonzola knife looks quite similar to a cheese spreader. However, unlike cheese spreaders, this type of knife comes equipped with a sharp blade to cut through rinds found in crumbly cheese like Gorgonzola and Bleu cheese. It’s also slightly tilted to allow you to spread soft to semi-soft cheese quickly.

Pronged Cheese Knife

This multipurpose tool allows you to not only cut a piece of the cheese but can also utilize the prongs to put your chosen piece directly on your plate. It’s often referred to as a forked-tipped spear. The knife has a narrow blade, thereby preventing the softer cheese types from sticking or leaving streaks behind.

If you love eating semi-soft to semi-hard cheeses like Parmesan, Cheddar, and Brie, this knife is a must-have.

Cheese Cleaver

Cheese cleavers, also referred to as mini cleavers, cheddar cleavers, or semi-hard cheese knives, have wide blades meant for cutting hard types of cheese. They’re like the meat cleaver’s baby brother.

This knife is best used for, you guessed it, semi-hard cheese like Cheddar and Pepper Jack.

Parmesan Knife

Parm knives, also known as bell knives, almond knives, pear knives, and heart knives, have sharp tips to help chip away at hard cheese. They also have a sharp edge to cut rinds open.

When shopping around for parmesan knives, you’ll find them in two distinct styles: the bell cheese knife with an arrow-head shaped blade and another knife that has a compact size. Its edge looks precisely like a shark tooth. Both of them have the same functions as cutting cheese.

Use this knife for cutting through hard cheeses such as Parmesan, Castelmagno, and Grana Padano.

Plane Knife

Plane knives, sometimes called flat knives and cheese slicers, allow you to slice pieces of cheese thinly. They’re essentially a small trowel with a blade embedded in the flathead.

To get a uniform slice of cheese, you’ll need to pull the blade across a cheese wedge or block. As a result, the piece will rest on the knife’s edge, thereby making your serving mission easier.

Similar to cheese cleavers, this knife is used for soft semi-firm cheese like Jack, Cheddar, or Jarlsberg.

Brie Cheese Knife

This type of cheese knife is used to cut through more difficult cheese. It has a sharp point that allows you to pierce the cheese, so it’ll effortlessly break into bite-sized crumbles.

Brie knives come with an offset thin blade that makes it easier to cut through soft cheese without pushing the paste out of the crust. They also allow you to cut varieties of soft cheese cleanly without them sticking all over the blade, so you can serve soft cheeses while keeping their lovely original shape and creating a neat display on your cheese platter.

Other Important Cheese Tools

When you buy knife kits, don’t be surprised to find some additional tools. These are meant to help you cut and serve. Here are some of the more common cheese tools you may encounter while shopping for cheese knives:

Cheese Wire

Cheese wires, or bow knives, are meant to cut delicate cheese types without affecting their firmness. They’re usually found in a bow shape or attached to a cheese board with an indent for the wire. The wire would be lowered down gently through the cheese, leaving a clean slice behind.

The knife’s wire can be used to carve through the thickest pieces of cheese, aided by the robust handle. It’ll cut through hard cheeses like a sharp knife cuts into butter.

Cheese Grater

Cheese graters are tools used to shred cheese. They typically have razors on more than one side to produce different size shreds when a block of cheese is pressed down against the grooves. You can also use a cheese grater to shred a variety of other foods.

Girolle Cheese Scraper

Girolles or cheese curlers are a traditional tool that’s used to scrape some types of Swiss cheese into distinctive shapes, such as mushrooms and roses. They typically come with a wooden base plate, a stainless steel shaping knife, and a central shaft fixing screw.

Cheese Forks

Cheese forks, also known as serving knives, come with two big prongs for serving cheese to guests or holding large blocks of cheese while you cut harder, firmer cheese.

How to Properly Cut Cheese

Knowing how to cut cheese properly ensures that everyone at the table gets an equitable, bite-sized nibble. Here are some tips to keep in mind when slicing cheese:

Cutting Semi-Soft Cheese Wedges

If you’re cutting a type of cheese that’s semi-soft, you can follow these steps:

Cut the wax that surrounds the cheese.
Cut the large wedge into two halves.
Slice each half into two halves again, lengthwise.
If the wedge is too large, you can cut each piece in half again vertically.

If you’d rather cut semi-soft cheese Alpine-Style, follow the same instructions, but keep the rind on the top edge for serving.

Cutting Firm or Semi-Firm Wedges

Here’s how you should cut a long, narrow wedge of the firm or semi-firm cheese:

Slice the whole cheese into two halves.
Cut the smaller part into thin wedges.
Rotate the other half perpendicularly and cut into thin wedges.

Cutting Blocks

The right cutting pattern will turn chunks of cheese into an elegant pile of cubes that everyone would want a taste of. Here are the steps:

Cut your cheese in half to create two rectangular portions.
Cut along the width of the parts about 1/8-inch thick to make slices.
If you prefer, you can cut each rectangular piece diagonally to form two triangles.

Cheese Cutting Etiquette

When you’re planning for a party or setting up a cheese plate or cheese board, keep these tips in mind:

Cut Your Cheese at the Right Temperature

Before cutting your cheese, allow it to cool down to room temperature before cutting. This will enable you to cut the cheese easier.

Cut Your Cheese Properly

Nothing ruins a cheese platter more than improperly sliced cheese. Even if your cheese is the tastiest in the world, no one will truly appreciate its beauty and taste without proper serving.

If you’re serving Brie, Camembert, or Taleggio, cut them into small wedges like pies so they’ll be easier to handle. Hard and semi-hard cheeses are best to cut into cubes if you’re serving them as table snacks for formal settings. If you’re serving them in cheese plates, make them into large pieces. That way, the guests can only take the amount they need and leave the rest.

Crumbly cheeses should be sliced with wide, rectangular, open-surface blades to prevent the blue veins from sticking to the knife, while soft-ripened cheese should be cut with a blade that has a hollow edge.

If you’re serving any type of fresh goat cheese, you’ll want to put a large portion on the platter. For cutting, you’ll want to place a butter knife close by. That way, the guests won’t get confused about cutting and spreading the buttery cheese.

Pair Your Cheese With the Right Drink

Choose the right drink to pair with your cheese. Mild and creamy cheeses pair well with something light like Oolong or Pu’er tea. Firm and aged cheeses go great with chicha Morada and hot chocolate, thanks to piquant and sweet contrast.

Final Thoughts

Using different types of cheese knives is all about keeping the cheese in its original form and in a presentable shape after cutting. If you’re planning to serve a cheese platter, it’s essential to provide a separate cheese knife for each cheese to prevent the flavors from mixing into each other.

Different Types of Cheese Knives to Use for Every Cheese in the Book

Set The Table

The invention and production of cheese predate recorded history, with some saying it began over 7,000 years ago. Since then, over 1,800 types of cheese from various countries have emerged.

A Summary of the Different Types of Cheese Knives

Soft cheese knife
Hard cheese knife
Cheese spreader
Gorgonzola knife
Pronged cheese knife
Cheese cleaver
Parmesan knife
Plane knife
Brie knife

Cheese Knife 101: Your One-Stop Guide to Cheese Knives!

As follows are nine of the most commonly used cheese knives in the world!

Soft Cheese Knife

Soft cheese knives are meant to deal with the extra soft cheese types that may leave streaks behind.

This knife is used for softer types of cheese, such as Camembert, for example.

Hard Cheese Knife

This knife is best used for hard cheeses, including Provolone, which is known for its difficulty to cut through using a household knife.

Cheese Spreader

This knife best works for soft cheeses like Robiola, Stracchino, goat cheese, and cream cheese. I love eating cheese with bread, so this is a utensil I use at almost every cheese platter party.

Gorgonzola Knife

Pronged Cheese Knife

If you love eating semi-soft to semi-hard cheeses like Parmesan, Cheddar, and Brie, this knife is a must-have.

Cheese Cleaver

This knife is best used for, you guessed it, semi-hard cheese like Cheddar and Pepper Jack.

Parmesan Knife

Parm knives, also known as bell knives, almond knives, pear knives, and heart knives, have sharp tips to help chip away at hard cheese. They also have a sharp edge to cut rinds open.

Use this knife for cutting through hard cheeses such as Parmesan, Castelmagno, and Grana Padano.

Plane Knife

Plane knives, sometimes called flat knives and cheese slicers, allow you to slice pieces of cheese thinly. They’re essentially a small trowel with a blade embedded in the flathead.

To get a uniform slice of cheese, you’ll need to pull the blade across a cheese wedge or block. As a result, the piece will rest on the knife’s edge, thereby making your serving mission easier.

Similar to cheese cleavers, this knife is used for soft semi-firm cheese like Jack, Cheddar, or Jarlsberg.

Brie Cheese Knife

This type of cheese knife is used to cut through more difficult cheese. It has a sharp point that allows you to pierce the cheese, so it’ll effortlessly break into bite-sized crumbles.

Other Important Cheese Tools

Cheese Wire

The knife’s wire can be used to carve through the thickest pieces of cheese, aided by the robust handle. It’ll cut through hard cheeses like a sharp knife cuts into butter.

Cheese Grater

Girolle Cheese Scraper

Cheese Forks

Cheese forks, also known as serving knives, come with two big prongs for serving cheese to guests or holding large blocks of cheese while you cut harder, firmer cheese.

How to Properly Cut Cheese

Knowing how to cut cheese properly ensures that everyone at the table gets an equitable, bite-sized nibble. Here are some tips to keep in mind when slicing cheese:

Cutting Semi-Soft Cheese Wedges

If you’re cutting a type of cheese that’s semi-soft, you can follow these steps:

Cut the wax that surrounds the cheese.
Cut the large wedge into two halves.
Slice each half into two halves again, lengthwise.
If the wedge is too large, you can cut each piece in half again vertically.

If you’d rather cut semi-soft cheese Alpine-Style, follow the same instructions, but keep the rind on the top edge for serving.

Cutting Firm or Semi-Firm Wedges

Here’s how you should cut a long, narrow wedge of the firm or semi-firm cheese:

Slice the whole cheese into two halves.
Cut the smaller part into thin wedges.
Rotate the other half perpendicularly and cut into thin wedges.

Cutting Blocks

The right cutting pattern will turn chunks of cheese into an elegant pile of cubes that everyone would want a taste of. Here are the steps:

Cut your cheese in half to create two rectangular portions.
Cut along the width of the parts about 1/8-inch thick to make slices.
If you prefer, you can cut each rectangular piece diagonally to form two triangles.

Cheese Cutting Etiquette

When you’re planning for a party or setting up a cheese plate or cheese board, keep these tips in mind:

Cut Your Cheese at the Right Temperature

Before cutting your cheese, allow it to cool down to room temperature before cutting. This will enable you to cut the cheese easier.

Cut Your Cheese Properly

Nothing ruins a cheese platter more than improperly sliced cheese. Even if your cheese is the tastiest in the world, no one will truly appreciate its beauty and taste without proper serving.

Pair Your Cheese with the Right Drink

Final Thoughts

European Dinner Table Setting – Your Guide to a Continental Dinner

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The quick, upbeat rhythm of modern life has shed its light on all our life aspects as Americans, especially on how we eat and how we prepare food. Junk food is dominating the food market, and “eating fast” is the new approach.

On the other side, the Europeans did not let go of their eating traditions. They love a good meal, and they’d take their time to savor it. The dining etiquette and the European table setting style are a big part of that.

Who won’t admit to fancying a luxurious dinner in a European restaurant where you can eat and feel good? Well, why not do it at home?

Whether you’re hosting a formal event or just want to impress your guests, a European dinner table setting is the way to go. It’s elegant, sophisticated, and functional. Above all, it’s super easy to assemble!

Today, we’re going to tell you all about the European dinner table setting, alongside some tips and tricks on the key differences between the American and European dining styles.

How to Set Your European Dinner Table – A Step by Step Guide

Gather your plates, napkins, glasses, and silverware. Yes, you’re ready.

Tablecloth

Let’s start with the basics. An appropriate tablecloth is the first thing to lay on your dinner table. You’re free to choose whatever you want as long as it complements the room’s decorations, tableware, and centerpiece if any.

Europeans usually go for simple linen tablecloths. Something plain and neutral to go with everything and to which you can match a napkin easily. Yet, there are some elegant designs that you go for without breaking the allure of the European dining table.

Here are a few impressive picks available online.

Maxmill Flaxy Faux Linen Tablecloth

A minimalistic textured tablecloth that features two subtle shades of color to break the monotony of a plain tablecloth. It’s available in four shades -which are all variations of grey and beige- and six different sizes.

The texture gives a luxurious impression, and it feels soft as well. Lucky for you, this tablecloth is machine washable!

DII Everyday French Stripe Tablecloth

You can dive knee-deep into the world of European dining etiquette by embracing the french traditions, and this tablecloth is your starting point!

This tablecloth is made of 100% cotton, and it features woven blue nautical stripes at the edges, paying tribute to the classic French style.

We love the fact that this French style is timeless, so this is not an item that’ll be considered old fashioned after a couple of uses. Plus, it’s available in a bunch of colors and pattern variations. There’s the French stripe collection, the checker collection, the chambray, and other patterned versions. You ought to find something you love here!

Pro-Tip

A clever tip we’d like to give you is to double cover your table. Start with placing a thick cotton tablecloth on the table, then cover it with your primary tablecloth. This will absorb the sound of silverware, and it’ll be more comfortable for your guests to lay their elbows on.

Plates

In front of each seat, center a serving plate. The base is a serving plate. Its only function is to be a base for other food plates. You should not place food on the serving plate, but rather place other plates above it and exchange them along the meal course.

Then, you place the first dish above the serving plate. If the first plate will be already served when the guests are seated, place the napkin on the dish’s right side. If not, fold the napkin and put it on the top plate.

In front of the place, you should place a small spoon as opposed to a small fork. The spoon is for coffee/tea, and the fork is for dessert. Place them in a manner where the spoon’s bowel is facing left, and the fork’s head faces right. Needless to say, you should place these horizontally.

The Plate’s Right Side

Knives go to the right side of the plate, their toothed edge facing the plate itself. The meat course knife is the most important. Ideally, you should place a smaller salad course knife on its left side and a fish course one on its right side.

Spoons come next. Actually, you only need one main big soup spoon on the right side of the knives. If you’ll be serving another round spoon for eating, place it next to it, on the outside. Then, add the seafood knife, if any.

If you’ll be serving tea or coffee, you should put the teacup on its small platter in the right corner, somewhere between the knives/ spoons and the glasses.

The Plate’s Left Side

This is where the forks go. Just like the knives, you start with a salad’s fork, followed by a meat course’s fork, then a fish course’s fork.

If you intend to be a little bit extra, you can place a small flatbread dish at the upper left corner, alongside a butter’s knife. Leave someplace for the breadbasket itself.

Glasses

When it comes to the glasses, you shall put them starting at the top right corner of every dish.

The glass of water should be the nearest to the dishes, followed by wine glass(es). If you’ll be serving white and red wine. Then place the red wine after water, followed by the white.

If you have more glasses, try to place them at a distance from these. In case you have the space for that.

Napkins

Don’t overdo it. Just fold the napkin as your skill level allows you. A simple square or triangle will do just fine, and if done right, they can create nice volume.

As we said before, the best practice is to place the napkin on your guests’ plates’ if the plate is served full, the French love to fold a napkin and put it in the biggest glass.

Table Manners and Dining Styles – The European Way

While table manners and dining etiquette vary widely across different nations, the American and European ways aren’t that different. In fact, they have a lot in common. Yet, Europeans are significantly more strict with their table manners than Americans.

No resting elbows on the table, no rocking your chair on its two back legs, and you should definitely not switch the fork and the knife’s positions. The left hand is for the fork; the right hand is for the knife. This last one is known to be the continental style, a European style that exudes grace and sophistication.

Among other principles of this style is that the spoon and the fork never go together. It’s either the fork with the knife or the spoon alone for soup. The only exception is during dessert. You might want to use a spoon with a fork for that.

We established that not switching the fork and knife in your hands is a pillar in the continental style. “What shall I do with my hands then?” you might ask. Well, you should place your knife and fork crossed in your plate in between the bites. When you’re done, rest them in a diagonal figure on the plate parallel to each other, roughly pointing to four o’clock. The knife should be on the outside, with its blunt edge facing outwards.

During the whole meal, you should never ever let your eating utensils off your plate. They’re not to touch the table. Remember how valuable the tablecloth to this setting is? Also, do you remember how pale and simple this tablecloth was? We don’t want to ruin that.

Off we go to the napkin etiquette. The napkin has one purpose only that is to dab your mouth clean during and/or after eating. You’re not supposed to use it to wipe your mouth, and definitely not your hands. After you finish eating, you should leave it unfolded to your left side of the table.

Did you know that salt and pepper should be passed together across the table? Even if the person asked only for one of them?

Wrap Up

Having a proper extravagant European dinner every once in a while is never a bad idea. You change the room’s mood, radiate elegance, and impress your guests. More importantly, you indulge in a whole different experience. What’s not to love about that?

Don’t think of it as a challenge, but rather a skill. If you know what to do, you’ll be fine, and supposedly you’ve learned everything from this guide.

Go ahead and try out the European dinner table setting with your guests or on holidays with your family. Tell us how it goes in the comment section.

Bon Appetit!

The 6 Best Deep Ramen Bowls to Spice up Your Noodle Meal

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Whether it’s slurped in soup, spread over salad, or layered with vegetables, we love noodles in all forms and shapes. They’re tasty, versatile, and super easy to cook!

If you’re among the ones who frequently enjoy devouring a tasty dish of instant noodles or ramen, then you probably know how choosing a perfect deep ramen bowl can elevate your meal to new levels.

We’ve taken it upon us to help you get the best deep ramen bowl off the internet. Below are our top picks for deep ramen bowls. Whether you want a sturdy ceramic or porcelain bowl or prefer a lighter Melamine bowl, we think these options will suit your needs.

Tips for Choosing a Deep Ramen Bowl

They’ll accommodate various meals from Asian cuisine. Whether it’s ramen, noodles, dumplings, or fried rice, deep ramen bowls are here to the rescue!

Let’s get to know the factors you should consider when buying a deep ramen bowl.

Dimensions

A ramen bowl should be deep enough to hold the noodle soup and wide enough to add several ingredients to the dish and provide space to move around with your spoon or chopsticks.

Serving Size

A good ramen bowl should hold at least 20oz. (500ml – 600ml) so that it has the capacity to hold the noodles, soup, and other ingredients. However, it’s up to you to choose the serving size that best fits your preferred portions.

Bowl Material

Ramen bowls are typically made out of ceramic, porcelain, or melamine. When it comes to durability, ceramic and porcelain bowls, tend to keep the noodle soup warm for a longer time than their alternatives. If you prefer a more lightweight bowl, though, melamine would be a good pick for you.

Our Top Picks for the Best Deep Ramen Bowls

We’ve scoured many internet pages and tried out a handful of acclaimed products to deliver to you the best deep ramen bowls on the market. This resulted in the following list:

Best Overall: Kimi Cuisine Japanese Ramen Bowl Set

This set consists of two simple, black, Japanese style bowls. Each bowl comes with its own pair of chopsticks and a ladle spoon to scoop up the soup.

One distinction of this bowl is that it’s equipped with a chopstick holder on the side of the bowl to rest your chopsticks on when they’re not in use.

Its depth and width follow the required criteria to hold ramen and are fit to serve Udon noodles, soups, or many alternative Asian cuisine meals.

We love the fact that these bowls are made out of Melamine, which is difficult to break and lightweight, making them durable and easy to carry.

The only setback is that you shouldn’t microwave food in these bowls, which is a bit of a bummer.

Microwave Friendly: Toysdone Japanese Ceramic Ramen Bowl Set

For the sake of ease of use, these ceramic bowls are safe for microwaves and dishwashers and are of premium quality.

The bowls’ outside is classic black, with the word “RAMEN” printed in a popping red or green Japanese font, making the bowl interesting and complementing the Asian cuisine vibe.

Besides, these bowls have handles on either side to make them easier to hold. They come in sets of two, each set containing a black and red/green bowl, a pair of chopsticks, and a soup spoon in red or green to match the bowl.

However, one drawback is that these bowls are smaller in size than usual Ramen bowls, and so, the addition of soup or other ingredients to your noodles might not fit into the Toydone bowls. Watch out for spills!

Best Value: Vallenwood Large Melamine Bowls Set

If you love to spice up your ramen, then you’ve gotta love this set. These Melamine bowls are relatively larger than the rest to accommodate all ingredients.

They come in a 4 bowl set, each bowl with its own pair of chopsticks, chopstick stands, and soup spoons.

The bowls are also a bright orange on the inside, contrasting the outer black color and making the bowls look simple yet cheerful.

In addition to being completely dishwasher safe, these bowls are also microwave-friendly.

Budget Pick: Tasse Verre Porcelain Noodle Soup Bowl

Sick of black ramen bowls? Check out this bowl that comes in sets of two beautiful white porcelain bowls.

Each bowl is cone-shaped, which stops the spoon from falling into the soup, and is equipped with holes on either side to easily carry and hold the bowls, and to hold the accompanying bamboo chopsticks, also provided within the set, along with a soup spoon for each of the two bowls.

These bowls are safe for dishwashers and microwaves. They’re super durable as well. They’re available in two sizes, 20 oz. and 40 oz.

Minimalist Option: DOWAN Ramen Bowls

Dowan’s ramen bowls also come in sets of two simple white porcelain bowls. Each bowl comes with a pair of black chopsticks which fit neatly into the slots on either side of it.

Additionally, this set comes with a unique-shaped long soup spoon accompanying each bowl. The length and curve of the spoon help it rest on the edge of the bowl instead of falling into the soup.

These bowls are safe for dishwashers, microwaves, and refrigerators.

Beauty Pageant Winner: KooK Asian Noodle Bowls

This set of four provides deep ceramic bowls of a matte black exterior and bright red interior, providing a classy and modern look to your noodle bowls.

One of the praised qualities of these bowls is their ample capacity that allows for generous portions of food.

You don’t have to worry about their colors fading after several uses because these bowls are entirely dishwasher safe.

Best Deep Ramen Bowl Brands

You’ve got to be familiar with the big names in the industry to choose better.

Kimi Cuisine

This family business specializes in all things kitchen-related. In addition to melamine noodle bowls, they also provide melamine sushi plates and kitchen soap dispensers.

Vallenwood

This brand provides Asian cuisine kitchenware such as noodle bowls, steamers, chopsticks, baking equipment, and quilting rulers. Their business is based in Buenos Aires, but they mainly market their products through Amazon.

Tasse Verre

Although Tasse Verre’s primary specialty is picture frames, shadow boxes, and mostly decorative products, their porcelain noodle bowl is one of their most successful products.

Dowan

Dowan is a brand dedicated to providing tableware and kitchenware, particularly made from ceramic and porcelain. From plates to bowls to mugs or even home decor, Dowan has products of simple, modern, or bohemian style that will beautify your kitchen.

K o oK

KooK is an Australian brand that provides kitchenware, tabletop ware, and bar-ware such as equipment for cooking, baking, or serving and storing food and drinks. Their products are classy and simple, which are the basics of a stunning modern home.

Conclusion

Out of all the wonderful options we’ve previewed together, our favorite would probably be the Kimi Cuisine Japanese Ramen Bowl. Its simple color, durable material, and authentic Asian shape and design would probably make for the best Asian cuisine experience when you enjoy your Ramen dish. Regardless, any of these products would suit you depending on your own preferences and needs.

Cool Ramen Bowls For a Perfect Meal

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Making Ramen or Pho is an art. Like much of Asian cuisine, it takes a careful selection of many ingredients, and a bit more precision while cooking them. And of course, presentation isn’t by any means less important than the food.

That’s why it’s important to pick the right bowls to serve this wholesome meal. Here’s a roundup of some seriously cool ramen bowls that’ll add glam and style to your table.

Top 5 Eye-Catching Ramen Bowls Reviewed

Doing everything in style is an amazing form of self-expression, not to mention being such fun. Why would you go for anything generic when you can use meaningful things? Even a ramen bowl can be a fashion statement, an artistic accent, a memory from a place you visited, or just a really cool bowl.

Here are some ideas for inspiration!

1. Vallenwood Ramen Bowls Set

This melamine set is fashioned in the traditional style of ancient times, but with an ultra-modern twist. And it’s this artistic combination that makes it a unique set.

It’s made from restaurant-grade melamine, and according to the manufacturer, it’s dishwasher and microwave friendly. This definitely makes life easier, but still, we’d rather keep melamine away from the microwave.

The set includes matching spoons, chopsticks, and even a chopstick stand. It comes in a neat box, that you can easily wrap as a gift. Friends and family would love you for it!

Pros

It wouldn’t break if it falls
It’s easy to wash and maintain
Melamine is a lightweight material
The set looks posh and bold

Cons

Melamine isn’t recommended for use in the microwave
Its price is a tad above the mid-range

2. Hinomaru Ramen Bowl Set

If you’re into Feng Shui or find traditional Japanese designs appealing, you’d definitely love this one. The interesting painting on these ramen bowls symbolizes prosperity, good fortune, and wellbeing.

The ceramic set consists of a pair of bowls plus bamboo chopsticks of a matching color. These bowls are perfect for ramen, Udon, and pho. They have well-positioned holed and grooves to place the chopsticks.

Pros

Perfect as a wedding or housewarming gift
Microwave and dishwasher friendly
Retain the heat well
Can be used as decorative items
Moderately priced

Cons

The capacity is rather low
Ceramic is a fragile material

3. Kanwone Japanese Ramen Bowl Set

This set is the closest you can get to the classy Japanese restaurants. The porcelain is of the highest quality, free from lead and toxins. It also resists chipping, so it’s more durable than its peers.

The minimalist design is brilliant. Even the etchings on the outer surface are there for a reason, which is to keep it from slipping. To complement the look, its monochrome base color and hand-glazed finish add so much glam. Touches like these, transform an ordinary ramen dinner into a fancy meal.

Pros

Simple yet elegant minimalist design
Stackable, so they don’t take too much storage
Microwave, oven, and freezer safe
Can be washed in a dishwasher
Unglazed non-slip bottom

Cons

The opening of the bowl is too wide, the food would cool off quickly
Ceramics break easily
It’s rather expensive

4. Happy Sales Multi-Purpose Japanese Ramen Bowl

Ramen is a hearty food that can be enjoyed with a few delicious sides. And instead of using too many bowls or plates for that, the lid of this ramen bowl is ready to carry three different condiments or sides. There are also strategic holes to carry the chopsticks, to keep everything neatly placed.

This solitary bowl can be paired with a sibling that comes with darker coloring. The newly created set would look stunning on your table or as a decorative piece. It would be a costly purchase though.

Pros

Beautiful paintings on the bowl and condiment lid
Clever multi-usage design
Easy to clean and maintain
Microwave-friendly
Perfect as a gift

Cons

The capacity of the bowl is rather small
The holes tend to spill the soup

5. Museoda Ramen Bowl Set

This matte black melamine set provides the best possible presentation. It follows the traditions of Japanese design, in all its minimalistic elegance, attention to detail, and absolute utility.

You wouldn’t just serve the ramen into two large bowls, but you’ll also get matching ladles, 2 sauce bowls, and a pair of chopsticks.

Pros

Multiple practical items in the set
100% BPA-free
Unique notches to hold the chopsticks
Large bowls to fit a hearty meal
Durable and easy to maintain
Full refund if not satisfied

Cons

Wouldn’t keep the heat too much

Things to Consider Before Buying a Ramen Bowl

The following are a few points to keep in mind as you browse through the different ramen bowls.

Type of Ramen Bowl

There are about 6 different types of ramen bowls. Each one has a different shape and general usage. It’s best to know when, how, and why to use each ramen bowl type.

You can choose one of these interesting varieties.

Tayoudon
Ohgigatadon
Koudaidon
Hira Tayoudon
Tamadon
Menbachi

Style Preference

Ramen bowl styles vary from reserved monochrome colors to hip vibrant prints. The textures also go from the very rough and raw to the highly polished.

You might already know which style you like best. But if not, you can check out the latest trends, match the set with your decor, or simply let your current mood decide!

Size

There’s a Goldilocks kind of thing here: a bowl that’s too big would take up a large serving of the delicious meal. Plus, it would show off the nice designs on the inside. But, it’ll let the ramen cool off pretty quickly.

On the other hand, one that’s too small would barely contain a filling portion, and the small amounts you put inside it would cover up any beautiful designs. However, it would keep the ramen nice and hot!

The moral of the three little bear’s story is that there’s a perfect point to be found. Just like Goldilocks did! So try to find the bowl size that fits your requirements to the nines. It’s worth a bit more searching.

Material

Traditionally, ramen bowls were made from ceramics. Which is the material used for most historic artifacts.

In recent times, melamine, and plastic found their way to many homes. They’re far cheaper, they don’t break easily, and they’re easier to maintain. So that’s several plus points. But they aren’t as visually appealing or as valuable as their ceramic peers. And they don’t retain the heat too well. Ceramic has a bit of an edge here.

Accessories and Add-Ons

Ramen bowls can be sold as stand-alone items, or they could come in sets. Some include chopsticks and soup spoons, while others go the extra mile and add a few sauce bowls.

The matched sets are often a great idea. Especially, if you like to invite friends and family over. Spreading a visually appealing table, with matched items, certainly adds to the enjoyment of the meal.

Washing Instructions

The easiest thing in the world is to pop all your dinnerware into the dishwasher. But some items need special attention, and going through the rough washing cycles of the machine could damage them completely.

Wood, thin glass, and hand-painted porcelain often require hand washing and careful drying. But that’s not a reason to shy away from such products. A beautiful object that needs a bit more care is still worth owning.

Friendliness with the Microwave

`While it’s best to always eat our food fresh from the stove, we often need the services of a microwave. Heating up a bowl of ramen is something we all do, but we have to make sure that we don’t put ourselves at any risks.

Some materials shouldn’t be used in the microwave at all. Like melamine, for example, or some types of porcelain that aren’t designed for that purpose.

Conclusion

If you want to eat ramen in style, you can pick any one of the ramen bowls in this list. They’re all guaranteed to boost the cool vibes around your table.

My absolute favorite is the Kanwone Japanese Ramen Bowl Set. it’s well designed, elegant, and it’s a premium quality set.

How to Season a Wooden Salad Bowl

Set The Table

You probably have it in one of your kitchen cupboards somewhere. You can definitely spot it on your mom’s holiday dinner table, and your grandmother swears by it as a staple in traditional kitchenware.

The traditional wooden salad bowl has gathered a lot of attention from Americans, especially in the 40s to 60s period. While it doesn’t have the same rapport now, it’s a nice holiday tradition to serve salads in wooden bowls.

Wood is an attractive material to make utensils from; it’s durable, good-looking, and has a long lifetime. Besides, wood is bacteria resistant, adding some health benefits to using a wooden salad bowl above all others.

In this article, we’ll be dismantling the unvarnished wooden salad bowl hoax. More importantly, we’re going to tell you all about how to season a wooden salad bowl, alongside some extra tips to keep your wooden bowls in tip-top condition!

The Unvarnished Wooden Bowl – A Big Fat Hoax

The wooden salad bowl has risen to our kitchens in the 40s, and we don’t seem to know why. Its big break was between the 40s and the 60s when Americans believed in the holy never-ever washed wooden salad bowl. An unvarnished wooden bowl that’s not to be cleaned, only wiped, to get the taste of garlic and oils into it with the aim of amping up the taste of the salad.

If you still believe in that, I’m sorry to break it to you. This is clearly a myth. If you don’t, well, yay you!

Wood is pretty absorbent. Imagine mildly cleaning it between usages along the years -well, you’ll clean it, just not harshly, no need for the disgusted face- and letting it season as these elements slowly soak into the wood. Wouldn’t that be nice?

That’s what people used to think in the past. It probably dates back to George Hector and his father, Charles Hector, who owned a famous restaurant in the forties in New York. Then, George wrote about his theory regarding the wooden bowls, among other cookery articles.

It was proven to be a hoax afterward, just a way that Rector used -we can’t assert if it’s intentional- to spice up his stories back then. For all we know, Americans have been following this tradition blindly, and thank god it stopped.

This doesn’t mean that your wooden salad bowl doesn’t need seasoning, though. It’s a part of its maintenance. Let’s see how and how often you should do it.

How to Season a Wooden Salad Bowl?

Back to reality. We’re in 2020. Science rules now!

When you first get your wooden bowl -or any other wooden utensils- you need to season them. You might start extensively, seasoning the bowl daily for the first week. Then, you tone it down to once a week for three weeks. Finally, you can do it once a month, or whenever you remember to be realistic. Your wooden bowl tells you it needs a little bit of seasoning when it looks or feels dry.

Seasoning a wooden salad bowl follows these three simple steps.

Step 1

Use lukewarm soapy water to wash the bowl gently. Never use a dishwasher nor harsh soap. Rinse thoroughly and dry it well using a soft towel.

Step 2

You have two options here, either to apply a wooden conditioner or mineral oil. You should apply either of them in abundant amounts. Let it soak in for a couple of hours. If you’re using mineral oil, you can leave it overnight.

We recommend these wood conditioners and mineral oils that you can find online.

Minwax Water-Based Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner

This multipurpose balm is convenient for staining all wooden specimens, all the way from wooden spoons and wooden salad bowls to dining tables.

Minwax’s conditioner works well on wood and maple, and we love the fact that a little bit goes a long way. Besides, it dries out pretty fast and comes at a reasonable price.

This product is of a strong smell. We recommend you leave the bowl outdoors in the fresh air after using it.

Overall, this is your go-to product if you’re looking for a multipurpose wood conditioner. If you’re looking for one for your kitchenware, look at the next option.

Cutting Board Wax and Conditioner

Cutting board stores have produced this premium formula dedicated to wooden kitchen utensils. It scores highly on safety, as it’s food-friendly and is mainly composed of beeswax and SP grade mineral oil. Its price is really a good bang for your buck as well.