Our Christmas themed slate serving platter makes the perfect festive gift.
In today’s modern world there are some things that simply haven’t changed and one of them is the way we serve food – especially on special occasions such as Christmas. Many of us still use some form of tray or salver to present our food, making the whole process a little more ostentatious.
The earliest example is an Etruscan black earthenware tray, which dates back to the 6th century. This was something used long before these items became commonplace in aristocratic and wealthy homes. Trays and salvers are easily confused though; the word tray is a Middle English word: ‘treg’ or ‘trig’ meaning ‘flat board with low rim’. We can all relate that image to today’s trays but centuries ago it would have been a flat, shallow container made of wood, metal or a combination of the two, used for carrying or displaying food or drink related items.
The salver is far more upmarket; a small dish, usually crafted from silver and fashioned in a round shape; however some can be rectangular or octagonal. Its name is derived from the Latin ‘salvare,’ meaning ‘to save’. Originally, the use of the salver was to indicate that the food presented and served from it had already been tested for poison by servants and was now fit for consumption for royalty and their guests. The so-called ‘silver platter’ is what made the phrase ‘food fit for a king’. Samuel Pepys (1633 - 1703) is recorded to have his own salver, signifying his high social standing.
Talking of Kings, did you know that in Tudor times Christmas food had symbolic meaning? Mince pies were made with 13 ingredients to represent Jesus and his 12 disciples, which included fruits, spices and mutton to represent the shepherds. Twelfth Night cake was a type of fruit cake, tasting a bit like a giant brioche, baked with a coin or dried bean hidden in the mixture, and whoever found it became the King or Queen to host the evening's entertainment! Today, it is still a 21st century tradition to hide a coin in our Christmas pudding and pray you don’t need a trip to the dentist!
The primary difference between trays and salvers is the use of handles. Trays needed handles to transport tea sets with many individual components. Here at Keep Things Personal, we are proud to present our personalised slate Christmas Serving Platter, complete with handles for easy transportation, of your favourite festive nibbles.
Made from natural slate with stainless steel handles which are engraved with Santa and his reindeer, this hardwearing serving platter makes the perfect Christmas gift or an added extra for your own serving collection. Fully personalised with your family name, it is unique, thoughtfully practical and can be used year after year to serve your canapes on.
Take a look at the full product details here: https://keepthingspersonal.com/collections/personalised-christmas-gifts/products/personalised-slate-christmas-serving-platter-with-handles