When Setting A Table – Go Glass

Oct 29, 2022 by Chef David

By Chef David

Setting the table, we put time and effort into the presentation of the food. We take out our fancy dishes and the fine silver, but what about the glassware? Drinking glasses should be simple, practical, and functional. Glassware can be a way to enhance the overall dining experience. Consider upgrading the aesthetics of your table by substituting either the Duralex Jazz tumbler or the Ozeri double wall beverage glasses for your everyday drinking glasses.

Visual Presentation

The way you set the table is important. It sets the tone for the meal. Personally, I enjoy the shine and twinkle of glassware.  For Shabbos and Yom Tov, we set the table formally. Sometimes using both water and wine glasses. Interestingly, there is a specific placement for each. The water glass belongs to the right of the plate just above the knife. The wine glass is placed to its right.

Formal table settings use stemmed water goblets and wine glasses, a practice dating to the 1700s. Stemmed glasses were believed to enhance the drinking experience. The bowl shape directs the aromas to your nose and aerates the wine while the stem prevents the heat from your hand raising the temperature of the contents.

Elevate Your Beverage

Glass is taste-neutral. It does not react with your beverage. The experience of drinking from a glass enhances the drinker’s perception. Consider how you feel drinking from a red solo cup. It reminds me of casual collegiate gatherings. Sipping from a real glass elevates the experience, showcasing the taste profile of the beverage. In fact, beer and wine drinkers express a strong preference for glass.

The size and shape of the opening can change the aroma which is essential because 80% of taste comes from the smell.

When selecting a glass, be aware that the diameter and height of glassware influence how much we pour and consume. Short glasses appear to contain less than taller slender glasses. This can encourage people to drink more water or juice but it also increases the consumption of wine or alcoholic beverages.

Your goal in selecting glassware should be to find the most beautiful, user-friendly, and long-lasting glassware, thus maximizing aroma and visual appeal. You will notice that neither of the glasses we tested has a stem. This makes the glassware less likely to tip, break, or spill. Both are designed to hold either hot or cold beverages.

The Tumbler – Duralex

The tumbler was designed to work with a cocktail shaker. Tumblers are strong from the bottom up with extra weight at the base. The design keeps this glass grounded. Optically the bottom makes for a gorgeous pedestal refracting light.

The Duralex Tumbler is a distinctive, elegant glass, with unique properties. Duralex tempered glass is 2.5 times stronger than ordinary glass, manufactured to withstand sudden temperature extremes from -4°F to 212°F making it well suitable for hot or cold liquids. They come in 7 and 8 ¾ ounces. Designed for your protection, Duralex glass shatters into small pieces, which reduces the risk of injury.

Convenience and care are easy. These glasses are dishwasher-safe and stackable.  They can be cleaned with soap, but the use of metallic sponges or abrasives which can scratch the glass is not recommended. A handy trick, if you have stains from hard water, try vinegar.

The Duralex Brand

Duralex is a French brand with a proud history, specializing in the design and production of tempered glass tableware since 1945. Their roots began in the 1930s when Saint-Gobain took over La-Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin’s factory, which had been used to produce bottles for a perfumer that produced bottles. Saint-Gobain became a pioneer in tempered glass technology, which was transformed again in 2008 by a group of managing shareholders. The brand was reborn, with a new logo, redesigned packaging, and new styles. Recently International Cookware (who owns the Pyrex trademark) acquired Duralex.

Duralex is 100% recyclable. It uses soda-lime glass which is created from sand, soda ash, and limestone. Completely lead and cadmium-free. Duralex products can be ordered online or use their website to locate a store near you.

Stemless glasses

Stemless glasses have gained in popularity. By using double-walled glass they are designed to be visually appealing while addressing the weakness in the older stemless versions which positioned your hand on the bowl of the glass.

The stemless glass offers stability with a base that is wider than the top. This design directs the aroma toward your nose. As a result, form meets function, giving you the full benefit of the aroma, without a long stem. The double-walled design maintains beverages at the correct temperature which is important to provide the ideal culinary beverage experience.

Ozeri double-walled thermos glasses provide good looks, with the convenience and versatility of handling both hot and cold beverages.  They are made of borosilicate glass, rather than soda-lime glass. Designed to be shock-resistant they allow you to pour in boiling water without cracking. The wraparound contour includes dimples, providing designated finger holds for an effortless and firm grip. In addition to giving the glass a natural aesthetic grip, this dip adds style and definition while the patented double wall design suspends drinks within an inner wall. The glass is simple and elegant with an engaging optical effect, of a drink suspended in space.

The double-wall design provides a barrier keeping your drinks at the desired temperature while protecting your hands. The double glass also prevents condensation from chilled beverages. These glasses are microwave and freezer safe, although it is recommended to wash them by hand. They are available in 8-, 10-, 12- and 16-ounce sizes.

Ozeri products are available at major retailers (listed on the Ozeri website) or on Amazon.  The Ozeri brand which is synonymous with lifestyle products began as a boutique supplier in the hospitality market.

Break the rules

Find the glasses that suit your needs, I recommend trying a tumbler for water and a double wall beverage glass for wine and warm beverages. Find a glass that feels comfortable in your hand and trust your personal preference. Drinking out of fragile expensive glasses can cause stress, fearing potential breakage, consider adopting a more versatile and durable glass while adding sparkle to your table.

Accessorize your table with glassware that is stable and designed for comfort. We like glasses which are designed to accommodate both hot and cold. For some using expensive glasses can be stressful, worrying about breakage. Consider using Duralex Tumblers and Ozeri stemless double-walled glasses, to add a splash of elegance to your table. Cheers!