Tea Time Treats - Tier Servers Show Them Beautifully

Multi-tier china servers for tea cakes, sandwiches and other teatime treats bring charm and class to your party.

I chose this colorful two-tier server to use for casual events. It has blue elements, to blend with other china patterns I use.

The motif goes with themes of "dishes" and "food." And the harmonious color palette on purposely mismatched plates. Charming, and extra inspiration to the concept of mixing and matching china and dinnerware in other ways.

These servers are also handy in that you can arrange the food in the kitchen, then take it to the table with little effort. Beautiful to look at, and savor how tasty and pretty the food looks, even before it's time to eat.

Make your next party or buffet dinner special with a tier server to show off your special treats!

Photo by kimbesa. Example of one of many china servers.

Match Your China, or Mix as a Complementary Piece

There are several factors to help you select the best multi-tier server your party.

Coordinating colors and materials will go a long way to selecting a server that fits into your theme, yet stands out as something special.

• Fine china or porcelain for a formal event
• Stoneware or metal for a casual party or game-day buffet
• Glass adds elegance and sparkle, and can go formal or casual
• Colors can bring out the details in your china and dinnerware
• Gold or silver also can highlight the details, down to the flatware and candle sticks
• White goes with everything

With so many wonderful servers to choose from, it can be a tough choice. Of course, you could get one for casual, one for formal, and one for pure whimsy...

From formal to funky, there are lots of serving pieces on secondary online markets like eBay!

If your pattern is hard to find, you might connect here.

Then there are servers in glass or stainless that can add some vintage style to your dinnerware set and buffet serving pieces.

If you're looking to give your table setting some extra pizzazz, look for a complementary piece that suits your style!

Check for these features when purchasing your tier server:

• Can it be taken apart for cleaning and storage?
• How is it cleaned? Many vintage and fine china models should not go into the dishwasher.
• Size and shape - do you have a spot to store it, especially if the piece does not come apart.

Once you answer these questions, you will be able to take care of your server and keep it looking beautiful for many years.

I recommend keeping servers in the box, especially those that come apart, with foam or tissue separating the pieces. The metal parts should be in a smaller box inside the larger one, wrapped in tissue or silver cloth if they are silver or silver plate.

I also recommend that these servers be washed by hand, no matter what material they are made from, and air dried for hours or a day, to make sure it is completely dry before storing for your next event.

Does it depend on your menu, the occasion, or how plain or fancy you want your party to be?

One tier works well for candies, mints, nuts and other small treats.

Two tiers can handle an offering of all sweet pastries, or a mix of petite sandwiches and desserts.

Three tiers can do just about everything you want from a tier server. Spectacular when filled with pastries, cupcakes or other sweets. Just about everything you need for a tea party with sandwiches and sweets.

A Special Visit to Ireland

A friend took me to afternoon tea at Adare Manor, in County Limerick, in the west of Ireland. It was a beautiful and tasty treat!

The food came on a three-tier server. First the scones, then some dainty tea sandwiches, and finally some pretty and luscious sweet desserts. We had the library all to ourselves, overlooking the sculptured garden.

This kind of server allows you to use your special plates. (The white china used for our tea was Villeroy & Boch.)

Our delightful experience at the manor that day still inspires my thinking and planning for tea, even though it happened a few years ago.

If you're ever in Ireland, in the area of Shannon, Limerick or Cork, Adare Manor is a lovely place to visit.

Photo by kimbesa