Tapasfade

A tapas platter is the easiest tool for turning an ordinary dinner into a party. At Dims Studio you'll find serving platters in ceramic and stoneware with motifs of lemons, fish, shellfish, fruit and vegetables from &Klevering, Caja Company, Kersten and Bloomingville, all designed to make the tapas table, the cheese board or the Sunday brunch a little more fun to look at. Here's a guide to the motifs, materials, sizes and how you put together the perfect tapas table.

Types of tapas platters: motifs for every spread

A tapas platter is rarely just flat and white at Dims Studio. The range is built around figurative motifs that match what's being served on them, so you can style the whole table around a running theme.

Lemon platters

The lemon motif is one of the most popular in the range. The Lemon platter from &Klevering and Caja Company comes in several sizes, including the Large lemon platter, and the Lemon and olive platter combines the lemon motif with an olive dish in one piece. Lemon platters are a safe choice for everything from tapas to fish and shellfish, because the yellow colour suits almost any spread.

Fish platters

Fish platters are a large group in the range, with motifs like the Snapper fish platter, Flounder platter, Perch fish platter and Triggerfish platter from &Klevering, as well as the White fish platter and Fish platter in several colour combinations from Caja Company. The fish platters naturally suit serving smoked or fried fish, but also work as a decorative platter for tapas or cheese.

Shellfish platters

Shellfish platters cover motifs such as lobster, shrimp, crab, mussel and jellyfish. The Shellfish platter with red lobster and Shellfish and fish platter from &Klevering, as well as the Red shrimp platter and Crab platter from Caja Company, are examples of this group. Shellfish platters are perfect for a summer lunch or a festive meal with fish and shellfish.

Fruit platters

The fruit motifs include the Grape platter, Strawberry platter, Plum platter, Pomegranate platter and Berry platter from Caja Company. The fruit platters work well for dessert, cheese, or as a colourful detail on a table otherwise dominated by savoury dishes.

Vegetable platters

The vegetable motifs include the Artichoke platter, Asparagus platter, Carrot platter, Leek platter and Garlic and sage platter, all from Caja Company. These platters are great for starters, tapas, or as part of a larger spread with several small platters gathered on the table.

Motif types compared

Motif type	Suits	Mood	Examples in the range
Lemon	Tapas, fish, versatile use	Fresh and summery	Lemon platter, Large lemon platter, Lemon and olive platter
Fish	Smoked or fried fish, tapas	Maritime and playful	Snapper fish platter, Flounder platter, Perch fish platter
Shellfish	Summer lunch, festive dinner	Festive and colourful	Shellfish platter with red lobster, Red shrimp platter, Crab platter
Fruit	Dessert, cheese, snacks	Sweet and inviting	Grape platter, Strawberry platter, Pomegranate platter
Vegetables	Starters, tapas	Earthy and natural	Artichoke platter, Asparagus platter, Carrot platter

Materials: ceramic, stoneware, dolomite and porcelain

The material affects both look and durability, and the range spans several different types.

Ceramic

Ceramic is fired and glazed clay with a dense, glossy surface, and most platters from Caja Company and &Klevering, including the lemon, fruit and vegetable platters, are made from ceramic.

Stoneware

Stoneware is a dense, durable type of ceramic fired at high temperature. The Snapper fish platter, Shellfish platter with red lobster, Shellfish and fish platter and Rainbow fish platter from &Klevering, as well as the Soline platter and Kringle platter from Bloomingville, are examples of stoneware platters that handle everyday use well.

Dolomite

Dolomite is a ceramic material that resembles porcelain but is more robust. The Perch fish platter, Triggerfish platter and Pink cake platter from &Klevering are made from dolomite.

Porcelain

Porcelain is a thin, white and dense type of ceramic. The Shrimp platter and Lobster platter in porcelain from &Klevering give a slightly more elegant look than the other materials.

How to keep your platters looking good

• Hand wash the platters in lukewarm water with mild washing-up liquid, unless the product description states they're dishwasher safe.
• Avoid placing hot platters straight from the oven onto a cold table surface, as sudden temperature changes can cause cracks.
• Don't stack the platters too tightly in the cupboard, so the glaze doesn't chip against each other.
• Dry the platters thoroughly before putting them back in the cupboard, so they don't pick up a damp smell.

How to choose colour and motif for your table

Because the platters in the range have such distinct motifs, it can help to think in themes when choosing which platters to put together. One easy approach is to stick to one overall theme, for example the sea with fish and shellfish platters, or summer and garden with lemon, fruit and vegetable platters. If you mix themes, it's a good idea to keep the colours within the same family, so the table still feels cohesive even though the motifs differ. Yellow and green tones from the lemon and vegetable platters, for example, work well alongside the reddish shades of the shellfish platters, while the more neutral stoneware platters from Bloomingville can serve as a calm breather between the colourful motifs.

If you're unsure where to start, the lemon platters are often the safest choice, because the colour and motif suit almost any occasion, from a relaxed Friday tapas night to a more formal festive table. Build from there with one or two platters that match what you're serving, so the platters aren't just decoration but part of the dish itself.

Sizes and shapes

Tapas platters come in many sizes, from small platters designed for one type of tapas to large platters that can bring several dishes together. The Large lemon platter and Fish platter in ceramic, large, are examples of the bigger models, while most other platters are in a medium size suited to having several together on the table.

Single platters

Most platters in the range are individual pieces that you put together on the table yourself, according to need and number of guests. This makes it easy to start with a single platter and gradually expand the collection as you find more motifs you like.

Large platters

The larger platters, like the Large lemon platter, work well as a centrepiece on the table, with smaller platters placed around them.

Combination platters

Some platters combine two motifs in one piece, like the Lemon and olive platter and the Shellfish and fish platter, which makes them practical if you want to serve two things without finding space for several separate platters. The combination platters are also a good shortcut if your cupboard space is limited but you still want variety on the table.

How to put together a tapas table

A good tapas table is all about variety in both content and platters. An easy approach is to choose three to five platters with different motifs, for example a lemon platter, a fish platter and a vegetable platter, and divide the tapas dishes according to which platter best matches the contents. Don't fill the platters all the way up straight away, but refill as needed so the table looks inviting throughout the meal.

Mix large and small platters so the table gets variety in height and size, and place the most colourful platters centrally, where they catch the eye first. Feel free to combine the platters with napkins, glasses and cutlery that pick up one of the colours from the motifs, for example yellow for the lemon platters or red for the shellfish platters, so the table feels like a cohesive whole rather than random individual pieces.

Tapas platters for parties, everyday life and guests

Where and when the platter will be used affects which motif and size suit it best.

For everyday life

For an ordinary weekday dinner, a single, medium-sized platter, like a lemon platter or a vegetable platter, is enough to make the table feel a little more special without requiring a big spread.

For parties and guests

If you're having guests, it's a good idea to gather several platters with different motifs so the table gets volume and variety. The shellfish platters and the large lemon platters are great for signalling that the table is set for something special.

For cheese and dessert

The fruit platters work especially well for cheese and dessert after the meal, where the sweet motifs like grapes and strawberries match the contents, and they can easily be reused from starter to dessert if you want to keep the table simple. See also our cheese board for more inspiration after the main course.

Tapas platters for different occasions

If the platters will be used for a summer lunch in the garden, the light ceramic platters with lemon and fruit motifs are an obvious starting point, because they handle being carried back and forth between kitchen and terrace well. For a winter party indoors, the heavier stoneware platters from Bloomingville or the more elegant porcelain platters can give a calmer and slightly more grown-up look, while the shellfish platters suit a dedicated shellfish night with lobster, shrimp and crab as the centrepiece.

Brands behind the tapas platters

The range brings together several brands, each with their own expression in the platters.

&Klevering

&Klevering is behind a large part of the fish and shellfish platters, including the Lemon platter, Snapper fish platter, Shellfish platter with red lobster, Perch fish platter, Triggerfish platter and the Shrimp platter and Lobster platter in porcelain. What &Klevering's platters have in common is the detailed, hand-drawn motifs.

Caja Company

Caja Company is the largest brand in the range and delivers most of the fruit and vegetable platters, including the Grape platter, Strawberry platter, Artichoke platter, Asparagus platter and Shellfish platter, all with a playful and colourful expression.

Kersten

Kersten contributes with, among others, the Lobster platter in ceramic, which adds another shellfish motif and a more classic, muted colour palette to the range.

Bloomingville

Bloomingville is behind the Soline platter and Kringle platter in stoneware, as well as the Florita tealight holders, which show the brand's more understated, stoneware-based expression.

Creative Collection, Doing Goods and Anna + Nina

Creative Collection delivers the Flower platter in ceramic, Doing Goods is behind the Pink flower platter in brass, and Anna + Nina contributes the Leopard platter in stoneware, all of which add a more graphic or metallic expression to the range.

Tapas platters as a gift

A tapas platter is an obvious gift for anyone who enjoys having guests or simply likes a nicely set table. Because the motifs are so distinct, it's easy to match the recipient's taste, whether that's someone who loves the sea and shellfish, or someone who prefers the soft fruit and flower motifs. A single platter is a nice, smaller gift on its own, while two or three platters in the same theme can be packaged together as a larger gift, for example for a housewarming or birthday. See also our cheese board if the gift should be used for something specific like the cheese table.

Which tapas platter should you choose? Our recommendations

Situation	Our recommendation
Versatile platter for most things	Lemon platter from &Klevering or Caja Company
Serving fish or shellfish	Snapper fish platter or Shellfish platter with red lobster
Cheese and dessert	Grape platter or Strawberry platter from Caja Company
Starters and tapas with vegetables	Artichoke platter or Asparagus platter
Large, unifying platter for the table	Large lemon platter
Two motifs in one platter	Lemon and olive platter or Shellfish and fish platter

Storing tapas platters

If you have several platters in different sizes and materials, it can be a good idea to store them standing up against each other in a cupboard organiser rather than stacked directly on top of each other, especially if the platters have raised motifs that can easily chip against their neighbour. If cupboard space is tight, you can place a tea towel or a piece of felt between each platter when stacking, to better protect the glaze. Use the smaller platters as part of your everyday serving, so it's not only the large, festive platters that get used on special occasions while the rest gather dust in the cupboard.

Frequently asked questions about tapas platters

What is a tapas platter?

A tapas platter is a serving platter, typically in ceramic or stoneware, used to serve smaller dishes and snacks for sharing, such as tapas, cheese or shellfish.

How many tapas platters do you need for a table?

There's no fixed rule, but three to five platters with different motifs give a table good variety without becoming overcrowded.

Can tapas platters go in the oven?

This varies from platter to platter, so always check the product description for the individual item before putting the platter in the oven.

Are tapas platters dishwasher safe?

Some platters are dishwasher safe, but hand washing in lukewarm water with mild soap extends the life of the glaze and is recommended unless otherwise stated in the product description.

What's the difference between ceramic and stoneware?

Ceramic is a broader term for fired and glazed clay, while stoneware is a dense, durable type of ceramic fired at high temperature that generally handles everyday use well.

Which platter suits shellfish?

The Shellfish platter with red lobster, Red shrimp platter or Crab platter are great choices for serving shellfish, because the motif matches the contents.

Which platter suits lemons or fish?

The Lemon platter is versatile and suits most things, while fish platters like the Snapper fish platter or Flounder platter are obvious choices if you're serving fish.

Can you use a tapas platter for something other than tapas?

Yes, the platters also work well for cheese, fruit, bread, or as a decorative bowl for keys and small items when they're not in use for serving.

What is dolomite?

Dolomite is a ceramic material that resembles porcelain but is more robust, used among others for the Perch fish platter and Triggerfish platter.

How do I avoid the platter breaking?

Avoid sudden temperature changes, such as when a hot platter is placed directly on a cold surface, and don't stack the platters too tightly in the cupboard, so they don't chip against each other.

Which platter makes a good gift?

A lemon platter or a platter with a motif that matches the recipient's taste is an obvious and personal gift. See also serving platters for more ideas.

Where can you find tapas platters online?

At Dims Studio you'll find tapas platters and serving platters in ceramic and stoneware with motifs of lemons, fish, shellfish, fruit and vegetables from brands like &Klevering, Caja Company and Kersten.