WITH Australia’s increasing appetite for more cosmopolitan cuisine, not only what we eat but the way we eat is constantly changing as well.
According to Perry Rabin, managing director of Tomkin Australia, the dining experience has evolved to become more casually elegant, bridging the gap towards true fine dining.
With the modern fine-dining experience comes a new style of porcelain tableware designed to add glamour to the culinary event. 
Perry says there is a move towards finer, but still durable, porcelain tableware – perhaps with a subtle embossing rather than plain white. Another emerging trend is that different shaped plates will be used, determined by the meal served rather than being “part of a range”. 
True bone china is the tableware of choice when serving premium meals. Degustation and tasting menus have lead to the development of specialty miniature or rather “shrunk” sizes of dishes being used.
The dishes themselves are getting more delicate. There is an understanding that the implements need to be the right size for degustation and tasting menus.
This is delicate food, and its surrounds should be more delicate, Perry says.
Tomkin Australia is a supplier of porcelain ware, cookware, kitchenware, tableware, barware and glassware for domestic and commercial use.