Pink Plate Club
The case for personality plates!
Today’s letter was written in partnership with East Fork, the makers of truly incredible artisan homeware. If you’d like to partner on a future newsletter, drop us a note at priyanka.aribindi@gmail.com
Shitters! Like most people, I didn’t think THAT hard when I was shopping for dining sets for my first solo apartment years ago. I picked something neutral and simple and that was that. I admired beautiful plates at restaurants and hotels, formed strong opinions on popular china patterns (longtime readers know exactly what I’m talking about…), but I never came across anything that inspired me to upgrade my daily dishes. That is, until I was introduced to East Fork.
East Fork is an artisan pottery brand from Asheville, North Carolina known for their beautiful, high-quality ceramics (they’re also non-toxic and dishwasher-safe, which is important for pieces you’re using every single day!). They’re distinct in their feel—rustic, earthen, substantial (a stark contrast to the sharp lines and factory slim construction of most run-of-the-mill plates), as well as their array of colors and signature speckled finish (my favorite detail!). From a craftsmanship perspective, their pieces really are special and perfectly considered—once you see and feel them, you understand the difference from most other options out there.
They have seven core colors, and several more that they introduce in seasonal runs. I fell hard for one of those in particular—a dusty mauve called Thistle.
If you had asked me a year ago if I would ever buy pink plates, I probably would’ve looked at you sideways. Most pinks out there are poppy and bright, or light baby pinks that just never meshed with my style. But these to me are the perfect Parisian mauve, and I found myself drawn to them immediately. Still pink, but cooler in tone and vibe (for the New Yorkers among us, they reminded me of the accent color at Fouquet’s—one of the most beautiful hotels in the city). Though the color was a big departure from a neutral, I felt like they could become a real personality piece in my apartment. Something that would at once look at home with the creams and darker woods in my interiors, while also standing out as a special signature.
I deliberated it for a while—it was a BIG change, and if I was going to go for it, I wanted it to be something that would last and I would love really for a lifetime. But now that they’re here, I really couldn’t be happier! For one, they’re a high utility change. Dishes are something you use and enjoy every single day, so you are 100000% getting your money’s worth. I love the weight and feel and how they make even basic meals (like the sardines on toast above) look beautiful. And the injection of color and personality just makes me happy every single time!
I decided to start with their (aptly named) Starter Set, which includes four of each of their Dinner Plates, Side Plates, and Everyday Bowls (perfectly sized if you like a hybrid plate-bowl situation like I do). While they also have traditional place settings with more pieces, this felt like the best combination for my actual lifestyle (mostly 1-2 people eating at home, sometimes hosting or cooking for a few friends, etc.), and the set discount is a nice bonus! I tend to use the Side Plates and Everyday Bowls most often, and the Dinner Plates come out for bigger meals.
And, the cherry on top—they’ve gotten SO many compliments since I’ve brought them home. I hosted a few girlfriends recently (which felt like the perfect way to debut these!), and one of them actually lifted a plate off the table to see the logo at the bottom. Could there be a more telling sign than that?! Sidenote: If you’re in the market for a spring dinner party menu, this one was pretty perfect. We started with a romaine and radicchio salad with spring peas, shaved fennel, walnuts, and All Time’s salad dressing, Caroline Chambers’s Pasta al Limone (so easy and such a hit!), and a simple lemon & dill salmon (plated on a bed of radicchio, which may be my new favorite serving trick!).
I also jumped at the chance to upgrade my serveware situation (I was arguably even more excited about this than the plates!). Before I had a hodgepodge of different serving plates and platters that didn’t match each other or my style, so I was excited to finally find pieces that felt as considered as the others in my home. I debated going for a contrast color at first (Black Mountain really is stunning—that and Morel are my favorites in their core collection), but Thistle won out in the end. I just couldn’t resist!
The Weeknight Serving Bowl is the one I use most often—it’s great for serving pasta, veggie sides, smaller protein servings, etc. But the Oval Platter is the showstopper, and the one I was most excited about. It’s just stunning and makes for a real statement piece, especially in this color.
If you’re moving, making a wedding registry, or just in the market for dishes and serveware that you actually love, this obviously is up your alley, but even if you aren’t, East Fork makes a bunch of other pieces that are worth checking out. I use their Bitty Bowl to hold my supplements and allergy medicine, and it also makes for a good bedside companion to hold jewelry while you sleep. Their mugs are adorable (the small one is my favorite!) and a well-priced gift. And a set of their Cake Plates is an easy way to get the accent color look without having to overhaul your whole dining set!
Other Recent Home Additions
It’s Taurus season, which means it’s time for my favorite candle in the whole Madame Grey collection! Bamboo and violet, nutty praline, and light citrus notes make for the perfect spring-y combination (PRIYANKA20). I treated myself to this set of three ceramic baking dishes, and now it feels like my bakeware collection is complete. And my woven umbrella basket sold out, but this one looks even better! Such a nice (and practical!) addition to an entryway, and looks so good against the deep burgundy of everyone’s favorite rug (PRIYANKA15).