Dankotuwa Porcelain revives 'Table Top Show'
Dankotuwa Porcelain which has always been in the forefront of
promoting elegant table arrangements and dining etiquette, has revived
its Table Top Show after a lapse of six years. Dankotuwa Porcelain first
introduced the Table Top Show concept to Sri Lanka in 1990 to promote
interest in fine dining, good table arrangements, and the use of good
quality table top accessories such as glassware and cutlery to enhance
the dining experience.
Dankotuwa was a relatively unknown company in 1990 and the first
Table Top show in 1990 created a huge wave of interest in table top
arrangements.
Subsequently, the Show was enlarged to include a competition for the
best table top arrangement along with a host of other events such as,
advice on table arrangements, instructions on table etiquette and
porcelain painting.
With the resurgence of economic activity in the country and the
emerging interest in adopting a more sophisticated lifestyle, elegant
arrangements and multicourse dining is becoming popular.
Buffet dinners on plain white porcelain provided by caterers are
reducing in popularity. The more sophisticated hosts wish to have
smaller groups with elegantly arranged tables. "With Dankotuwa being the
tableware provider in the past few months and Sri Lankans becoming more
interested in high quality porcelain, and well-arranged tables we
decided to revive our Table Top Show" Sunil G. Wijesinha, said that
until August 2010 the Company was in search of a new investor and with
the investment by Environmental Resources Investments PLC (ERI) coming
in September 2010, the Company is investing in more such activities now.
This year the Show will be open to the public on March 27 at the
Galadari Hotel.
It will feature the arrangements of the ten finalists and other
products of Dankotuwa for the domestic market. Applications are now
being called for the table top arrangement competition and will close on
February 22. Application forms are available at all Dankotuwa showrooms
and can also be downloaded from the Dankotuwa website www.dankotuwa.com.
Applicants would need to send three colour photographs of recent
table arrangements he or she has done. The initial review will be based
on attractiveness and practicability of the arrangements. The products
used for the arrangements appearing in the photographs need not be
Dankotuwa products but should be of porcelain.
On February 23 the results of the preliminary round will be announced
and the shortlisted applicants for the second round will be notified.
The second round will be held around the March 4 where shortlisted
applicants will be given an opportunity to arrange a display of their
own within two hours.
Tables will be provided but they have to bring their own porcelain
sets, floral arrangements, table linen etc., and set up an arrangement
on the spot. They could bring another two friends or two family members
to assist them. They will be judged and about ten finalists will be
announced.
The evaluation will be based on the attractiveness and innovativeness
of the arrangement with correct colour co-ordination, technically
correct placement of cutlery and glassware, practicality of the
arrangement and suitability for entertaining.
Applicants are free to design their own table cloths, napkins, napkin
rings, placement cards etc. The arrangement could be under any theme
such as a birthday dinner, wedding dinner, anniversary dinner, or a
formal breakfast etc.
The ten finalists would be provided a Dankotuwa Porcelain set by the
March, 10 which would give them time to prepare matching table linen
etc., and would be given three hours on March 26 to set up the final
arrangements at the Galadari Hotel.
The final evaluation by the panel of judges will take place
thereafter and the award ceremony will take place that evening.
The arrangements of the finalists and the display of Dankotuwa
products will be open to the public on Tuesday March 27. All table
arrangement enthusiasts are encouraged to take part. There is no
application fee. The finalists will be gifted the sets given to them for
the arrangement. |