caCustom Made Restaurant Dinner Ware

How it Works

The ware you see here come about through collaboration with chefs.

▪We discuss shapes, sizes and glazes and arrive at dinnerware that we both feel will work in every way. You can order just one shape or a whole line. The possibilities are endless and the process is fun. Each shape can be made in a range of sizes. Bowl heights can be greater or shallower. All of the shapes can be made with any of my glazes.

▪It’s easiest if you come by the pottery and we discuss shapes, sizes and finishes with pots in hand.

▪If you are too far away the next best thing is to have a close look at the pictures in the gallery and see which shapes appeal to you. Think about size and finish. Then give me a call: (0032) 479 20 73 80 or mail : koen @ ghesq . com. We can discuss what you like with the images in view and arrive at some designs that will work. For a small fee I can send you tile samples of the glazes.

The dishes definitely contribute quality and life that can make a significant difference in the dining experience.

About Pricing

▪I do not charge separate design fees for new shapes although I do charge for samples.

▪The feedback I’ve received from numbers of chefs currently using my dinnerware is that it outlasts commercial dinnerware (:-) ) by as much as two or three times to one. Please consider this when evaluating the prices.

▪Call me for a price quote for your specific order. (0032) 479 20 73 80 or mail : koen @ ghesq . com.

Time

▪Most orders can be filled in 6 to 8 weeks, sometimes even less, however I do get booked with orders so please plan as far ahead as you can since there may be people ahead of you in line.

▪If you require samples that can add 3 or 4 weeks to turn around time since every pot has to be thrown, dried, trimmed, bisque fired, glazed and fired again.

Quality and Glazes

▪You are buying hand thrown pottery. Each plate or bowl is hand thrown by me on my kick wheel. They are going to vary a bit. That’s part of what you’re paying for, and why they are alive. You cannot “design” life into a pot made by mechanical means. You have to make it with soft clay and a moving wheel. The potter also makes a difference, you are purchasing over 5 years of throwing experience and 55 years of life experience in every dish.

▪Many of my glazes are made with ashes and will naturally have some variation. This is not a flaw. I will not sell you any pots that I don’t feel are up to my standards.

▪All of my pottery is made from stoneware clay and fired to 1280 degrees Centigrade so the clay itself is vitrified and non-porous. They have no problem holding up in restaurant dishwashers or under heat lamps. The glazes are all food safe and completely lead free.

▪How does the collaboration with chefs work?

I first like to visit their restaurants but in most cases the chefs come to me here at the pottery, where we look at a lot of samples and discuss what they are after. Sometimes they come with specific ideas, sometimes they’ll see something here that we can adapt for their food, some have sketchbooks and drawings, all of them have photos on their phones. On occasion, I will sit down at the wheel and throw various shapes until I’m sure I understand what they want. The final decision is always mine—I have to like what I make—but we work it out together.

If chefs can’t visit the pottery, we talk on the phone / FB messenger while looking at the catalog of dishes on my website. Or they send me some pitures of ware they like. It’s harder to come up with new designs this way, or to explain all the ways shapes and sizes could be adapted, but we seem to man- age. Occasionally we’ll start the conversation with an emailed sketch or photo. I rarely have time to make and send out samples, so most chefs have to trust that I will come through with what they want. I haven’t had any complaints yet. 🙂

 

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I typically send three to four emails a year to announce latest firings, sales, and events. Your email address will be kept private: I do not share or use my Pottery Friends names or email addresses for any other purpose.