By Lea McIntosh

In my opinion, this is one of the best stainless steel flatware sets I have ever found for everyday entertaining use. I picked up the basic 45-piece Ginko International Lafayette flatware set at Bloomingdale’s about 6 years ago. I have been using it everyday every since, and it still has its original luster…and I put my kitchen tools, including my flatware, to Xtreme use!

I love the modern hammered look! This flatware won’t get lost on the table, it feels good in the hand, and it goes with every style–traditional, modern, bistro…

One of the best things about the Ginkgo International Lafayette line is that you can keep adding to your collection. I now have a complete setting for 12, a few dozen demitasse spoons for party menus involving lots of sauces, a dozen or so butter spreader knives for cheese tasting platters, a few cocktail forks for the olive tray, and now I just placed my order for ice tea spoons and sauce ladles!

If you’ve taken a look at Issue 3, perhaps Lea’s innovative Jarfaits, portable parfaits for a take home treat, caught your attention. Well, Lisa Moore’s picnic in a jar caught our attention! Lisa is a fan of Nesting Newbies and she’s a twenty-something mother of three who enjoys entertaining, parties and decorating…sounds like our favorite kind of newbie : ) Lisa writes Moore Minutes, sharing the beauty she finds in everyday life {sweet!}

Lisa recently did a post we’d like to share…The Charms of a Summertime Picnic. In it she says, “Jars are an excellent way to hold picnic food! They transport easily and look much prettier than tupperware. It’s a simple way to add beauty to the table and still keep it functional {what a cool idea}.” Take a look at a few examples:

Tapioca pudding with fresh blackberries and whip cream

Layered green salad with homemade dressing

Check out the rest of the story on her blog.

Images courtesy of Lisa Moore.