Terracotta Roof Tiles & Flower Pots for Serving Dishes

I never seem to have enough serving dishes and platters when I have a big group to contend with. Bringing out the silver isn't always the right way to go. Besides, given our location, country chic is much more appropriate, especially in the summer months. So I always look around for something I already have at home to cleverly adapt into a serving platter, but generally nothing jumps out at me. I usually resort to ceramic serving dishes and platters. They're all hand-painted from different places in Italy. Some I've had made, some purchased, some are antique and quite valuable. Still, a little variety is nice.

The other week we attended an event at the American Academy, home to the Rome Sustainable Food Project. The food is simple, but delicious fare: all grown in the Academy's edible garden or sourced locally from organic producers and then transformed into masterpieces by the chef. Our cocktail was served on the Academy grounds, next to the edible garden. A simple but tasty appetizer: almonds and cherry tomatoes. What charmed me was the serving platter: antique Italian roof tiles, covered with fig leaves. It was in keeping with the theme and style of the event, and the sustainable philosophy of the Rome Sustainable Food program.

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The roof tiles I own are not antique, but they lend themselves admirably to next terrace dinners and cocktail events. I plan to use them to serve fruit & breakfast. And why not use some other terra cotta pieces, like flower pots, for fruit bowls?