melamine dishes Archives - McKenzie Interior Design

This Fall’s Entertainer’s Must-Haves

Published on October 24, 2017October 24, 2017 by steve mckenzie'sLeave a comment

Can you believe Thanksgiving is only a month away?!? As we quickly approach our favorite time of year, we’re taking stock of the butler’s pantry and linen closet and planning out all the detailing surrounding the main meal itself.

steve mckenzie’s has everything you’ll need to set, serve, savor and ensure success of your Thanksgiving meal! We’ve pulled together a quick list of this fall’s entertainer’s must-haves to prepare for a memorable get together, your friends and family won’t soon forget:

Something Melamine

For us, melamine is an entertainer’s dream… It looks high end, but is practically indestructible! And appetizer time is an ideal time to set these pieces out. Your guests will be milling around visiting, snacking, perhaps cooking and the last thin you’ll want to worry about is a chipped or broken dish. This chip and dip set and appetizer plate set by Le Cadeaux would be a beautiful start to your meal, and practical to boot!

Designer Candles

Gorgeous taper candles are an amazing way to really amplify your tablescape. Forget the boring white candles, these high fashion tapers will offer a while new dimension and additional sparkle. Made with the finest beeswax, these candles have a burn time of 11 hours, so your Thanksgiving dinner will be all aglow, as will the next day’s brunch.

Perfectly Poised Accents

You’ve got your china and your serving pieces all squared away. But, how about those tabletop accent pieces that say you’ve thought of each and every detail. It’s these pieces that help guests feel at home and encourage lingering… This small, 8″ tray by R. Wood Studio is so versatile – be it cheeses, olives or other charcuterie, these tiny nibbles are an ideal accompaniment to any celebratory meal, and this little dish is the perfect vessel! Next, a few smartly placed white marble salt cellars (yes, the gold spoon is included ;-)) will show guests no detail was overlooked and their comfort is paramount… down to ensuring perfect seasoning for each plate.

And there’s so much more we have to offer all the entertainers out there both in-store and online via the new steve mckenzie’s website. We’d love to have the opportunity to help you select the ideal pieces to make this holiday special or even pick the perfect hostess gift if you’ll be celebrating outside of your home!

Picture Perfect Picnic

Published on August 2, 2017August 1, 2017 by steve mckenzie'sLeave a comment

As the last days of summer quickly approach, you may be realizing you didn’t complete all of your summer to-do’s… But – with our weather being as lovely as it has been, now is the ideal time to plan a relaxing picnic and enjoy some of these warm summer days before they’re over!

Picnics are perfect as a romantic date just as much as they’re an ideal way to spend some time with the family. Atlanta Magazine recently reached out to our team here at steve mckenzie’s and asked if we’d design a perfect, relaxing picnic for their July 2017 issue. It was a challenge Steve and Jill absolutely relished in accepting! And we hope the results inspire you to go enjoy some last-minute summertime fun in the outdoors!

First thing was a location. For Steve and Jill, this one was easy – it’s one of their favorite spots for a walk with the dog – Duck Pond Park in Peachtree Heights East. It’s absolutely picturesque and so serene!

Next they needed a place to perch drinks and wares and a vintage rattan table was an ideal selection. It is lightweight, but absolutely stylish! A patchwork Kilim from our neighbors, Verde Home, laid the groundwork for lounging. Add some kantha quilts and a bunch of pillows, and the scene is set.

When you think of a picnic, food is top of mind. Steve and Jill wanted something light and refreshing; as well as easy to transport. Enter glass jar salads! Not only pretty to look at, these salads absolutely delicious and so simple to enjoy – just shake, and pour onto your plate! Speaking of plates, although the McKenzie’s love the look of Italian pottery and cut crystal glassware, those selections aren’t exactly picnic practical. Instead, they brought along melamine plates by Le Cadeaux, which offer the look of the real thing, as well as acrylic glassware by Baci to serve cocktails made using Cathead Distillery‘s delectable pecan vodka.

Here’s the recipe for those delightful individual salads:

Mason jar salads
1 red onion sliced thin
½ cup white vinegar
½ cup water
Black peppercorns
2 cups cooked quinoa
4 cups lettuce of some mix
1 ½ 0z cannellini beans drained and rinsed
2 cups chopped tomatoes
1 cup chopped cucumber
1 cup olive oil
2 tsp red wine vinegar
1 tbs mayonnaise
½ tsp salt
Ground pepper
1 tsp cumin
1 ½ tsp chili powder

First pickle the onions. In a small saucepan, bring the vinegar and water to a boil. Add the onions and about five black peppercorns to the boiling mixture. Boil for 3 minutes. Take off the heat and let cool. When cooled, remove peppercorns and place in the refrigerator.

Prepare your dressing. Combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, cumin, and chili powder. Whisk thoroughly to fully combine ingredients.

Take four mason jars and assemble in layers in this order: Dressing in the bottom, quinoa, lettuce, cannellini beans, pickled onions, tomatoes, and chopped cucumber.

And we can’t forget the cocktails! Thank you to our friends at Cathead for making some pretty fantastic products. Our picture perfect cocktail utilizes their pecan vodka, and once you try it, we think it’ll become a liquor shelf staple!!

Spicy pecan spritz
1 oz Cathead Pecan Vodka
½ oz spicy simple syrup
6 oz Pellegrino water

Pour ingredients over ice in a highball glass and garnish with spearmint.

Spicy simple syrup
2 cinnamon sticks
½ cup light brown sugar
½ cup raw sugar
½ tsp of ground cayenne pepper
1 cup water

Combine ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil turn back heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain through coffee filter to remove the cayenne. Serve.

Happy picnicking everyone – hope to see you at Duck Pond Park soon!

All products seen in this article, except for the rug, are available at steve mckenzie’s.

A Guilt-Free Dip for the BIG GAME!

Published on February 2, 2017January 31, 2017 by steve mckenzie'sLeave a comment

If you’re hosting or attending a Super Bowl party this Sunday have we got THE dip for you! And, it not only hits the spot, but it light too… It’s Virginia Willis’ “Sinless Seven Layer Dip.” It’s out standing and will be the hit of your get-together, even if it’s only you and your significant other.

Read below for the full recipe, from Willis’ cookbook, “Lighten Up, Y’all,” which we conveniently have in stock at the steve mckenzie’s showroom… 😉

Sinless Seven-Layer Dip:

1 (14.5-oz.) can low-sodium pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 tsp. dried red chilies, ground
Juice of 1 lime, separated
1 avocado, halved and pitted
½ cup broccoli florets, shelled English peas, or shelled edamame
Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup chunky salsa 
1 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
1 jalapeno pepper, cored, seeded and chopped (optional)
½ cup light sour cream
½ cup plain 2% Greek yogurt
1 (4-oz.) can chilies, chopped
½ cup (2 oz.)reduced-fat cheddar cheese, grated
4 green onions, trimmed and chopped

Place the beans in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Add the ground chilies and half of the lime juice. Pulse until smooth.

Using a spatula, place the puree in the bottom of a 2-quart casserole dish to make the first layer. Set aside.

Make sure the processor bowl is mostly clean, then add the avocado, broccoli and the remaining lime juice. Season with salt and pepper. Process until smooth, making guacamole. Spoon on top of the beans to create the second layer.

In a small bowl, stir together the salsa, cilantro and jalapeño. Pour the salsa mixture over the guacamole for the third layer.

In a small bowl, combine the sour cream and yogurt. Spoon the mixture on top of the salsa for the fourth layer.

Pour the can of chopped chilies on top for the fifth layer. Top with grated cheese and chopped green onions for the sixth and seventh layers. Serve immediately.

This one is a winner, y’all. Just like our Atlanta Falcons will be come Sunday night!!

Now, the only thing that would make this dip even better is a stylish – and durable – way to serve… Enter our Melamine Oval Serving Bowl. Not only is it beautiful, it’s break resistant, triple weight and dishwasher safe! As are our Melamine Serving Pieces. This duo makes a memorable combination, and when matched with this sinless dip, well, let’s just say, we know what folks will be asking you to bring to the Super Bowl party each year!