Marie Antoinette by Raynaud Tableware Will be Discontinued

It's the end of an reign... At the end of this year, 2011, Raynaud dinnerware will discontinue their Marie Antoinette pattern, and their Chambord shape molds will be destroyed at this time, too. Marie Antoinette is a majestic white porcelain, complete with a gold trimming, well suited for the royal namesake. Sallie home still has a stock of the Marie Antoinette pattern, but when it's gone it will be gone forever. So, make sure you have all the pieces you need filled in!

Great Recipe for Home Entertaining - Pheasant with Cranberry Peppercorn Sauce

I recently made this dish for a dinner party, and it was a huge success; succulent, flavorful, and simple! I know some don't really care for Pheasant, but with the seasonings, it wasn't at all "gamey." But if you can't bring yourself to eat pheasant, you can easily substitute a roasting chicken or turkey breast. Here is the recipe for 4 guests, as it appears in "An American Bounty":

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 whole pheasants, trussed
2 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
1/4 cup dry red wine
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cracked black peppercorns
2 tablespoons ruby port
2 tablespoons butter

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Dilute the cornstarch with an equal amount of cold water and set aside.
2. Pat the pheasants dry with paper towels and rub the skin with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavities with the thyme and bay leaves.
3. Place the pheasants on a rack in a roasting pan and roast for 55 to 60 minutes, to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, or until the juices show no trace of pink when the thigh is pierced with a kitchen fork.
4. Remove the pheasants from the roasting pan; set aside and keep warm. Immediately add the wine to the roasting pan. Place the pan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring; scrape the pan well to release all the browned bits on the bottom. Pour the juices into a saucepan.
5. Add the broth, cranberries, sugar, and cracked peppercorns to the saucepan and simmer over medium heat until the cranberries are very tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
6. Stir the diluted cornstarch if necessary to recombine and add it to the sauce; simmer for 2 more minutes.
7. Stir the ruby port and butter into the sauce. Add salt to taste. Cut the pheasants in half and serve with the sauce.

I served this with wild rice and it went nicely with a Santa Ema Reserve Merlot. For presentation, this dish has beautiful color, so I simply chose to plate it on a clean white dinner plate, like Raynaud's Hommage Dinner Plate.

The Leaves Have Fallen: Anna Weatherley Autumn Impression Amber Leaf Cocktail Plate

The leaves have fallen and you'll want to rake up the Anna Weatherley's Amber Leaf Cocktail Dish. This beautiful Amber leaf captures the beauty of the fall season. This 4 inch dish will be a perfect accent for fall home decor; just place it on a side table. Or use it as dinnerware. Though not many people use cocktail dishes, this leaf is the perfect size for a side plate for bread, butter, what have you... It mixes well with other dinnerware from the Autumn Impressions collection or with the rich hues of the Antique Forest Leaves. Click here to view more Anna Weatherley Fine China available at Sallie home.

Price: $156

Flight of Fantasy for a Perfect Anna Weatherley Tableset

Is there anything more emblematic in Anna Weatherley's fine china collection than the butterfly? In my opinion, no. That is why it is very fitting for Anna Weatherley to have designed this collection of decorative figural butterflies called Flight of Fantasy. They can be used anywhere for a touch of color and whimsy - they look exquisite on a dinner table, on a bookshelf, or even on a bathroom counter. With a wingspan of 2.5 inches, these are also precious gifts for an Anna Weatherley collector or butterfly admirer. To view more Anna Weatherley butterflies available at Sallie home, click here.

Price: $78

Bring Back Summer with Anna Weatherley's Spring in Budapest Covered Butter Dish

It seems like summer has come out of nowhere, especially the hot summer weather. So I'd like to cool it down a bit by going back to Spring with Anna Weatherley's Spring in Budapest collection. It is a beautiful collection that definitely cools things down with its spring color palette, budding flowers and floating butterflies. In this collection, the Anna Weatherley Spring in Budapest Covered Butter Dish is absolutely fabulous! This butter dish will keep the butter fresh and a little less melted on these hot summer days! Complete with gold rimming and textured accents, this is a wonderful serving piece to add to any table set - breakfast, lunch or dinner. Click here to view more Anna Weatherley china available at Sallie home.

Price: $340

Anna Weatherley is Worthy of the White House

Today is Inauguration day and Obama and his family will move into the White House while the Bush's go back to their Texas ranch. But before the Bush's left, as a time honored tradition, Laura Bush picked out the new Presidential China to be used for years to come, one informal and another formal. Both China patterns are equally beautiful and regal, but the pattern that caught my eye was the "casual" pattern called the Magnolia Residence China, which will be used in the President's private quarters. This dinnerware caught my eye not only because of its beauty, but also because the pattern was very familiar - it was designed by Anna Weatherley. Each plate, bowl and serving piece is intricately decorated with magnolia blossoms, a tree which can be found on the White House lawn, and Weatherley's signature butterflies and insects. This pattern was specifically created for the White House, but there are similar collections that are reminiscent of their Magnolia Residence China. The closest pattern is probably found in the Magnolia collection, but other floral patterns include, Anna's Garden, Flowers of Yesterday, Morning Glory, New Direction, Old Master Tulips and Orchid Dinner. Anna Weatherley is an elegant,yet lively pattern that will surely brighten up the White House and its meals. To see all of Anna Weatherley's patterns available to the public found at Sallie home, click here.

Sleek Flatware: Hussard by J.L. Coquet

J.L. Coquet's modern style transcends fine china to create an innovative line of flatware. In this line of flatware there is the Hussard flatware collection by J.L. Coquet. This 5-piece setting is unlike any other. It is chic, sleek, and oh so modern. The knife is eye-catching and comfortable; the handle is shaped to fit in your hand perfectly, giving it a cutting-edge look. It is simple in appearance, making it perfect for an everyday look and can be dressed up for a formal occasion. Try a new look with J.L Coquet's Hussard Flatware; it also comes in Hussard Striped!

Click here to view J.L. Coquet's dinnerware, stemware, and flatware available at Sallie home.

Price: $158 - $197

Mimosa's For Brunch: Anna Weatherley Mimosa China

Anna Weatherley's Mimosa Collection is adorned with mimosas, of course. No, not the cocktail but with different species of herbs and blooming shrubs. The members of the Mimosa genus are one of the few plants that are capable of rapid movement. This dinnerware collection captures this plant characteristic to a T. The leaves and flowers wrap around these plates in a circular motion. To accompany these swirling plate, there are static images of blooming mimosas. To add a pop of color to this collection, add an Anna Weatherley Color Charger underneath this china. Brighten up a brunch or luncheon with your Mimosa Plates and why not have a mimosa too!

Click here to view the Anna Weatherley fine china dinnerware and gifts available at Sallie home.

Price: $250-$310

New Dinnerware from Raynaud!

Raynaud Porcelain Limoges Tableware and Dinnerware has introduced a new amazing collection of fine china called "Silver". Silver is a fun dinnerware line which is named after a common theme of all the piece in this collection, the color silver. The fun thing about this collection is its diversity in each plate, bowl, or cup's pattern. Some have just a silver rim around the inner and outer edge, other pieces have a clover pattern covering the surface or just the rim. The clovers look as if they are made from bent metal and are attached together by a tiny ring and come in different sizes depending on the piece of china. Though very different, together this collection forms a cohesive and interesting look for the table you must try. Click here to view all of the Raynaud tableware and dinnerware available at Sallie home.

Price: $36-$345

Carved from Stone; Georgia Ivory China by J.L. Coquet

The Georgia Ivory Fine China from J.L. Coquet is an elegant yet simple piece of art, reminiscent of a marble statue you'd fine in an art museum. The Georgia's flower and vine pattern is adroitly carved out of Limoges ivory porcelain or white porcelain. It is a fine China Dinnerware that is versatile in all situations; it can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Though stunning, its lack of color will draw attention to the presentation of the food.

The serving pieces are quite lovely in this collection. My favorite being the Georgia Ivory Soup Tureen. It is elegantly detailed from the knob on the top to the ornately cut handles on the sides. This collection is an understated testament to the simplicity of beauty. Click here to view all of the fine china dinnerware and serving pieces by J.L. Coquet available at Sallie home.

Price: $49-$968

No Need for Flowers on the Table with J.L. Coquet's Pivoines China

J.L. Coquet is known for a variety of original and creative shapes in fine dinnerware. The bulk of their work appears to be more modern and avant garde, but there are a few exceptions. The Pivoines dinnerware collection by J.L. Coquet is a more classic look for the table, but equally stunning and creative. With Pivoines china, there is no need at spend the extra money for flowers on the table. This fine china is covered in huge pink and yellow Peony flowers and lush green leaves. It will liven the table and bring color into the room. This collection works wonderfully for a luncheon or as accent pieces to brighten up your dinner table.

Click here to view the entire J.L. Coquet Limoges china collection available at Sallie home.

Fall Leaves Turn Early on the Table: Anna Weatherley Autumn Impressions Plates

It's never to early to plan ahead. Fall is just around the corner and it's time to start thinking about your next table set. Anna Weatherley has a great collection of Fall inspired fine china called Autumn Impressions. The Amber cocktail serving plates are the perfect welcoming to Fall's arrival!

The Canape plate is six inches and is great for serving little appetizers. The Cocktail Leaf dish is four inches and the perfect size for an individual snack or perhaps a butter dish. Each plate is formed in the shape of a amber leaf and hand painted with such detail that they look like they were plucked straight from a tree; only the gold rimming gives it away. To complete your Fall inspired table, check out the rest of the Autumn Impressions collection by Anna Weatherley.

Click here to view Anna Weatherley's entire collection of fine china dinnerware and home gifts available at Sallie home.

Canape Plate Price: $262

Cocktail Leaf Plate Price: $148

Fine China as a Work of Art: Raynaud Limoges Tableware

I was at my cousin's house recently and in her dinning room she has her Raynuad Allee Royale china prominently hung on her wall as if it was a piece of art. It looks beautiful and it got me thinking, "china is an art and it should be displayed like any other sculpture or painting and not tucked away in a china cabinet."

The Raynuad Allee Royale, which like I said is my cousin's china pattern, is a perfect example as china as art. It is a wonderful combination of blues, golds and greens. The blue flowers are skillfully detailed and there is an intricate weave around the rim. It is a classic china pattern, that is, like any other work of art, timeless. This dinnerware can be used everyday and not just for dinner.

Click here to view the Raynaud Tableware collection available at Sallie home.

Price: $36-$1,119

Anna Weatherley Cups and Saucers Come Alive on the Table

Anna Weatherley's Breakfast Selections include the most charming cups and saucers. What make these pieces special are the interesting handles; they come with either an 3-Dimensional butterfly or flower handle. It is a unique and fun take on the traditional cup and saucer.

The Leaf and Butterfly cup and saucer is a rounded square cup with leaves and dragonflies painted on the outside. Anna Weatherley is all about the details, so inside the cup there is a surprise, a tiny leaf floating. You can pick this cup up using the dainty purple and pink flower handle complete with stem.
The Anna Weatherley Yellow Posie cup and saucer has a peach-colored Posie predominately on the outside of the cup and a purple, blue and peach-colored butterfly on the saucer. To compliment the saucer, there is a matching butterfly for the handle.
The Anna Weatherley Triple Flower cup and saucer has three beautiful purple and yellow flowers on the cup, and blue and orange butterfly on the saucer. Like the Yellow Posie, the handle is the matching butterfly. On the inside of this 4 ounce cup there is a small insect that adds an undeniable extra charm to the cup.

Click here to view all of Anna Weatherley's fine china dinnerware and gifts available at Sallie Home.

Make Spring Flowers More Beautiful; Anna Weatherley Cache Pot

April Showers bring May flowers. When May arrives, I want to be prepared to fill my house with gorgeous flowers. Flowers do wonders for a room, however, their true beauty is spoiled if they are displayed in that cheap, unattractive, plastic container they came in. There is a simple solution to this problem; cache pots. Cache pots beautifully hold flowers and masks the dirt and/or plastic container. In a cache pot, the flowers can prevail. However, Anna Weatherley's cachepots give the flowers a run for their money.

Anna Weatherley's cache pots, like all of their other fine products, are hand-painted porcelain and come in many different patterns. Their popular cache pots include the Plum Cache Pot, the Floral Butterfly Cache Pot, and the Frog cache pot - all of which are classic elegant Anna Weatherley porcelain. My favorite is the Anna Weatherley Wildberry Red large oval cachepot. This particular cache pot is stunning with it's
intricate detailing in the bright green leaves, the plump red flower buds, and the fluttering blue and yellow butterflies. Any of these cache pots will make a wonderful addition to any table which makes them a prefect gift for anyone.

To view all of Anna Weatherley hand-painted porcelain available at Sallie Home, click here

Raynaud Villandry Fine China Dinnerware: Wallpaper Your Plates

The Raynaud Villandry Chinaware collection consists of Raynaud's pristine white Limoges porcelain with a green rim and decorated with lively fruit, vegetables, and flowers. This pattern is bright and cheerful, the perfect table setting for any spring or summer lunch or dinner.

The bread and butter plates, the dessert plates, and the canape plates are definitely the standout pieces in this collection, for me. These small accent plates are wallpapered in design; alternating lines of the featured fruit, flower or vegetable. It is a standard design in home decor that has been reinvented for your tabletop. On the canape plates and the bread and butter plates, you have your choice of four different variety of flowers. On the dessert plates you have your choice of either fruits, like grapes, pears or apples, or an array of veggies. No matter if you like the vegetables, fruits, or flowers, or like to mix and mathc, all of these plates are an amaxing accent to any table.

Click here to view all of Raynaud's Limoges tableware collection available at Sallie Home.

Price: $24-$370

Rustic Dinnerware for the Modern Table; Jaune de Chrome Aguirre Chinaware

One really only thinks about using their fine china for formal dinners and lunches, never for breakfast everyday. Jaune de Chrome’s contemporary fine china dishware is made to use for anytime of the day. In most their collections they include breakfast-ware for everyday use, like cereal bowls and mugs.
The Aguirre collection by Jaune de Chrome includes dinnerware for anytime of the day. It’s rustic finish is versatile enough to use for a beautiful breakfast in the morning or a formal get together at night. Someone said the finish made the plate look old and rusty; if this it true then is the most exquisite rusty plate I’ve ever encountered. I would be honored to eat off of it. The mix of glazing coupled with the gold or platinum rimming makes the plates shine and standout on the table. In this collection, one has their choice of No Finition, Gold Finition, and Platinum Finition – all equally stunning, it just depends on your color preference. It’s time to catch up with the times; go modern in your china use and style. Click here to view all of Jaune de Chrome’s spectacularly glazed fine china available at Sallie home.

Radiate the Table with J.L. Coquet's Toundra China

I love finding new and interesting china patterns. Sometimes my table set is not fit for classic, flowery dinnerware patterns that so many manufacturers feature. This is why I love J.L. Coquet exclusive chinaware. Their patterns and designs are contemporary and cutting edge yet versatile and can be used in a formal or casual dinner setting.

The Toundra Collection by J.L. Coquet is simply stunning. It is an elegant china pattern of blades of grass or rays of sunbeams radiating off the white porcelain. This particular pattern has a different color for every season. The Spring Toundra china in green. Though there isn't a designated plate for summer, the Platinum Toundra china would fit this season wonderfully as it sparkles and shines. The Fall Toundra china is a orange-gold tint and the Winter Toundra china (my favorite) is made up of yellow and brown creating a sunburst on your plate.

Click here to view the Toundra chinaware and many other J.L. Coquet's fabulous china dinnerware available at Sallie Home.

The Purrrfect Gift for the Cat Lover; Cats by Lynn Chase

Lynn Chase has a new introduction to her already fabulous collection of animal decorated fine china dinner and giftware. The new collection is called Cats and this new china presents a variety of cats including cheetas, lions, and tigers presented within a beautiful gold border inspired by an 18th century Sevres pattern. Like all of Lynn Chase's pieces, the Cats collection is the perfect combination of both fun and formal.

My favorite piece from this collection is the Cats Executive Mug Set which includes the Cats Mug and the Cats Saucer. It is the perfect gift for any cat lover. The Mug's beauty is in it's exquisite details; the handle is cat-like, designed and detailed as if it is a cat-tail. When you lift the mug from the saucer plate, a little tiger cub is revealed. Click here to view all of of Lynn Chase's dinnerware, giftware, and serving pieces available at Sallie Home.

All Shapes and Glazes for the Table: Jaune de Chrome

Jaune de Chrome is one of the most contemporary and innovative designers in the tabletop industry. They push the envelope, especially in glazing and shape, creating a unique look in fine china that has been utilized in many upscale hotels and restaurants.

Jaune de Chrome does the traditional round plate but I find his other, more shapely plates most interesting. For dinnerware they have the prelude plate and the square plate. The prelude plate is a curved square plate with a rounded center and the he square plate is completely squared with slightly rounded edges to smooth out the look. Both are phenomenally attractive, come in different sizes and will standout in any tableset.

My pick for the prelude shape is the Big Bang Gold Prelude Charger. Placing a round dinner plate atop of this charger will bring another dimension to the dinnerware set. For the square plate, I love them in the Bora Bora pattern. The Bora Bora square plates bring a dark and modern feel to the table. To view all of the Jaune de Chrome shapely plates available at Sallie Home, click here