ITI offers three types of china: Porcelain, Stoneware, and Bone China. All of which have their own special traits that make them unique:

Porcelain is made of kaolin clay – a white clay that holds onto its white color when fired. It goes through the firing process twice and is considered fully vitrified after the second firing. Porcelain is finished with a clear glaze allowing for its bright white color to shine through. The finish tends to be harder, but more brittle than Stoneware and Bone China.

Stoneware differs from porcelain in that it is considered vitrified after only one firing. It also finishes with a warm white color as opposed to the bright white finish porcelain has. The single firing allows stoneware to be slightly easier to decorate that porcelain. Stoneware is commonly decorated using Under-Glaze, but can be decorated using On-Glaze or In-Glaze techniques as well!

Bone China is made using translucent white clay. It gets is name due to the white clay containing a minimum 25% bone ash. Yes bone china contains actual bones! Bone China is also unique in that it tends to be translucent when finished. It is often used in thin wall pieces, displaying a delicate, refined look.

The vigorous process that these ceramic ware goes through is well worth it as it results in beautiful and sophisticated styles of dinnerware.

Here are a couple of dinnerware styles offered by ITI:

ITI offers narrow rim dinnerware. Narrow rim china has a traditional, yet elegant look and is well-suited for a variety of cuisines. This dish has rolled edges making it easier to handle

ITI also offers wide rim dinnerware. Although wide rim china minimizes plating, it presents a beautiful framing around the cuisine which results in an elegant look to the final dish.

This is your standard grapefruit bowl! With rolled edges making it easy to grip, this bowl is very function, reliable, and is a must-have for any household or restaurant!

This is a fruit bowl, aka the monkey dish. It’s name is derived from the accordion players in the olden days who had a monkey on their shoulders as they played. The accordion player would have the monkey hold this bowl for tips because it was the perfect size for the monkey’s hands!

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And finally, the nappie bowl, or commonly referred to as an oatmeal bowl. Slightly less shallow than the previous bowls mentioned, this bowl is perfect for rice bowls, tossed salads and many more cuisines choices.

What does Houston’s have to offer you ask? We are proud suppliers of two collections of ITI tableware:

Photo courtesy of International Tableware Inc.®

European White Porcelain: Brighton™/ Dover™.

This collection is traditional in artisanship and unique in presentation. It is an elegantly designed line that is sure to deliver without compromising the quality of the product. The simple yet versatile line is a great complement to a variety of cuisines.

Photo courtesy of International Tableware Inc.®

American White Stoneware: Roma™/ Valencia™.

This collection is designed for customers seeking a more traditional look to their tabletop. ITI defines this Collection as, “the legacy of ceramic dinnerware.”  With a rolled edge and narrow rims, it offers value and functionality that consumers can appreciate.

The dinnerware is top-notch and value driven. With numerous wares available, it’s no wonder they are the ideal resource for the food-service and consumer markets. Their fully vitrified dinnerware is oven friendly, dishwasher and microwave safe and, with proper care and handling, will fulfill your dining needs for many years to come! Their fully vitrified dinnerware is oven friendly, dishwasher and microwave safe and, with proper care ITI’s dinnerware is top-notch and value driven. With numerous wares available, it’s no wonder they are the ideal resource for the food-service and consumer markets. Their fully vitrified dinnerware is oven friendly, dishwasher and microwave safe and, with proper care and handling, will fulfill your dining needs for many years to come!

All photos courtesy of International Tableware Inc.®

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Stoneware: This dinnerware is generally only once-fired in temperatures from 1100 °C to 1300 °C. This process results in a partially vitrified material, and is typically glazed to add to the impermeability and strength of the finished product.

Porcelain: Porcelain is constructed by heating materials to extremely high temperatures, resulting in a strong, translucent body. It is exceptionally durable—non-porous so it will not stain, and chip resistant. The material is generally shock-resistant and is therefore able to move from the heat of the oven to the chill of the refrigerator and back again without incurring damage, a very convenient quality in the restaurant environment.

Bone China: Bone china, known for its translucence and milky whiteness, is similar to porcelain, with the added strength of bone ash. Lighter in weight and less brittle than porcelain, the look is elegant and delicate but the strength and durability are unmatched.

Melamine: Dinnerware in melamine gives restaurant owners the look and feel of china without high replacement cost. Superior stain and scratch resistance. The look of elegance without being bulky. Meets the tough requirements of heavy-duty foodservice applications. The material is dishwasher safe and safe in temperatures up to 212°F. NOT microwaveable.

DINNERWARE PIECES

Dinner Plate: Generously sized, dinner plates are a perfect choice for the main course of any meal. The most popular dinner plates range between 10 and 12 inches, but can be found in a variety of sizes. Trend toward the smaller size for a more casual feel and for smaller portions such as lunches or appetizers. Larger plates lend more appeal to the master chef who is crafting food works of art.

Lunch Plate: Smaller than a dinner plate, the size is ideal to serve smaller portions. The plate can also double as a salad or dessert plate, or can be used to serve appetizers before the meal.

Salad/Dessert Plate: Typically sized between 4 and 8 inches, this versatile plate also doubles as an appetizer or side dish.

Bread and Butter Plate: Slightly smaller than a salad plate, use this dish for individual bread servings at the table.

Cereal Bowls: Sized to properly serve dry or hot cereal.

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