By Holly Brown

Anyone who's ever been to or hosted a dinner party knows that an exceptional experience is a result of good food and the ambiance created with decor, lighting, and music. New research shows that dinnerware, glassware, and the utensils we use impact our experience, including the taste of the food itself. According to an Oxford University study by Vanessa Harrar and Charles Spence, published in Flavour in June of this year, there is clear evidence that our tastes and sensory pleasures from food are not simply about what's going on in our mouths. It's about what's going on in our brains.

It turns out our brains maintain a tally of experiences that sends cues to our taste buds. When we eat, we're drawing from a rich database of experiential data that influences our reaction to the food. This data also affects whether we have a positive, neutral or negative experience to the event itself, which in turns gets stored in our brain, and impacts future experiences.

Factors like weight, shape, color, and texture of dinnerware and utensils influence how our food tastes! By serving food with colorful, heavier weight dinnerware, we can cue the brain to tell our mouths the food tastes better. Even certain shapes and textures of these items can change the way food tastes.

Food companies and restaurants are already using these kinds of studies to determine how they package and serve their products. But it’s just as important for the home chef to set a table that's visually appealing.

Set an Artful Table at your home with heavy weight, smooth surface, colorful décor, dinnerware, and utensils. For Artful Table and menu inspiration for your next dinner party visit www.TheBrownLounge.com/partydecor

Links to Holly’s Artful Tables and Menus featuring décor, dinnerware and utensils from Made in Washington stores.

Casual Seattle Style Table and Seafood Menu

http://thebrownlounge.com/decor/seattle-casual-perfect-for-seafood/

Colorful Formal Dining Table with a Greek and Mediterranean Menu http://thebrownlounge.com/decor/7310/

Al Fresco Fiesta Style Table Featuring Mexican Cuisine

http://thebrownlounge.com/decor/al-fresco-fiesta/

Cheers!
Holly Brown, Publisher, WebTV/Radio Host
www.TheBrownLounge.com