No Bull in this China Shop.

Me old China.

A recently identified trend by food stylists, restaurateurs and food photographers is to use vintage crockery for plating up food. This is away from the stark white plates which show off food as a kind of laboratory exhibit in some restaurants.

The vintage plates create a better emotional context for the food and make it all a little less precious. That’s a good thing isn’t it?

I came across The Whatnot and Chinatown shop in Kalk Bay a while ago, and just had to blog about it.

They have a stock of over 50,000 pieces of crockery, china, delph, cups saucers, plates, mugs, teapots etc.

It’s as if all the grannies in the world died last week and all their china from all their china cabinets were shipped to this shop in Kalk Bay.

Imagine the stories these cups and saucers could tell? The delicious gossip whispered between sips of hot tea. The grief held in at family get togethers. The humour of a slatternly joke, told when the prude is out of the room.

If this cup could talk.

I love this place, and often go in for a poke around. The rooms resonate with stories, the small unknown histories of families and close friends, relatives and aquaintances.

Room after room is filled with every piece of china imaginable.

As you walk the old floor boards creak and move alarmingly, resulting in a gentle tinkle as the china on the shelves rock and tremble. 

Gladys is the stalwart of the shop and has been there since it opened, over 20 years ago. She is the one to ask if you need a particular piece to match a set, or a special one off.

She tells me that in over 20 years no one has ever bashed into a shelf and smashed stuff. “People tend to be very careful when they come in here”, she says.

Ivan, the manager, has noticed the increasing trend of their china and crockery being used for shoots and movies. “Last month, some people wanted some authentic 1930’s pieces, and we had them. Top Billing were in here also last week shooting a piece”.

Miss China - Gladys.

I think food looks lovely on these old plates. It gives winter warming dishes much greater appetite appeal, especially soups, stews, risottos and lamb dishes.

Thumbnail photograph by Neville Lockhart, a local Cape Town food photographer. Thanks also to Kim Gray, food stylist and classy blogger, who allowed us to pinch it from her site.

The Whatnot and Chinatown.

Main Road Kalk Bay.

021 788 1823.