10 Chic food shaped table wares for summer

Turnip shaped bowls £9.99 each Zara Home

I think my obsession with food shaped table wares started when I was young. My mother had some avocado shaped bowls (it was the seventies!) so, when I found my own many years later in a charity shop needless to say I snapped them up. In fact, thinking about it I think my mum had some sweetcorn shaped dishes too.

Anyway, those little bowls got a special outing at my 1970’s themed 40th birthday and sit pride of place next to my Le Creuset pepper, pumpkin and tomato shaped mini casserole dishes (which of course never get used). So, when I spotted these fab vegetable shaped bowls in Zara Home I just knew there must be more. And, here you have it – my round-up of the 10 best food, fruit and vegetable shaped china to really bring your table settings to life this summer…

Carrot shaped serving dish £9.99 each Zara Home

Tomato shape bowls £9.99 each Zara Home

Bordallo Pinheiro Tomato Shape Butter Dish with cover from Sous Chef

Giardino Botticelli Eggplant Divided Serving Dish from Wayfair

Casa de Cuba Lemon Platter from Sainsburys Home

Home Gourmet Small Ceramic Avocado Serving Bowl from Amazon

Bordallo Pinheiro Cabbage Earthenware Salad Bowl from Liberty London

Pumpkin Cocotte from a selection at Le Creuset

Bordallo Pinheiro Fish Plate from Arket

** Many of these pieces are Bordallo Pinheiro – a famous 19th century Portuguese artist, illustrator and sculptor who is mostly known for his ceramic and pottery designs. These quirky and distinctive designs can be found all over his birth place in Lisbon and often feature animal shapes alongside the fruits and vegetables pieces.

In fact when we visited Portugal earlier this year we also visited Os Bordallos (Rua Marques Leal Pancada 28C, Cascais) A burger restaurant tucked away from the main square in Cascais (it’s owned by a descendent of Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, his grand grand daughter in fact) and, it’s so worth seeking out for its humble burgers, fries and delicious lime pie – and, the unusual artwork and ceramics on display from the Bordallo family archive.