en:items:bowls
Table of Contents
Bowls (Soup, Cereal & Specialty)
Bowls are the essential deep vessels of the table, designed to hold liquids and semi-solid foods. In a formal setting, the type of bowl used indicates the nature of the course—whether it is a light starter soup or a hearty main stew.
From the elegant, rimmed soup plate to the everyday cereal bowl, selecting the right shape enhances both the presentation and the ease of eating.
1. The Essential Types
| Type | Shape Characteristics | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|
| Rimmed Soup Bowl (Soup Plate) | Wide, flat rim (approx. 1-2 inches) with a shallow central well. | Formal Dining. The rim acts as a frame for the soup and a place to rest the spoon (between bites). Best for thick soups or bisques. |
| Coupe Soup / Cereal Bowl | Deep, round, and rimless. Often called an “Oatmeal Bowl.” | Casual Dining. Ideal for breakfast cereals, chunky stews, or salads where volume is key. |
| Consommé Cup (Bouillon Cup) | Small, narrow bowl with two handles, always served on a saucer. | Specialty. Used exclusively for clear, thin broths (consommé). The handles allow the diner to tip the bowl to drink the last drops. |
| Pasta Bowl | A hybrid between a plate and a bowl. Wide like a dinner plate but with a deeper depression. | Serving pasta, risotto, or salads with dressing. |
2. Material & Function
- Heat Retention: Thicker materials like Stoneware are preferred for noodle bowls or stews as they keep the food hot longer.
- Formal vs. Casual:
- *Formal:* Always use a Rimmed Soup Bowl or Consommé Cup.
- *Casual:* Coupe shapes are the standard for modern, relaxed meals.
3. Etiquette Tip: The Handles
The Consommé Cup is unique because of its handles.
- Traditional Rule: If the soup is extremely thin (like a clear broth), it is permissible to use the handles to lift the cup and sip directly, but only after most of the soup has been spooned up.
- Rimmed Bowls: Never lift a rimmed soup bowl from the table to drink. You must use a spoon, tilting the bowl *away* from you to scoop the last drop.
4. Care and Storage
- Nesting: Most coupe bowls “nest” (stack inside each other) perfectly, saving cupboard space.
- Rim Protection: Rimmed soup bowls are often stacked like plates. Use felt dividers to prevent the foot of the top bowl from scratching the rim of the bottom bowl.
— See Also:
en/items/bowls.txt · Last modified: by winson