"table" news and stories

You walk into a restaurant and, instead of the expected array of seating, there are only a handful of tables surrounding one large, central table that seats 20. The host smiles and directs you to seats between a couple reading the newspaper and a small group that is having a lively discussion. A few of the other diners seem to be keeping to themselves and a few more are drawing new people into their chatter. Generally, the food is not shared, but the space is.

The first time that you find yourself in a restaurant with a large communal table, your initial reaction might be something like mild shock because we are all so used to being seated at our own tables and not interacting with anyone other than members of our own party and the servers. Some people find it to be uncomfortable, eating a meal while seated with strangers, while others enjoy the experience.

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This is a cute table. It has a retro-futuristic look to it - like something that they might have had on the Jetsons. The unusual feature is that it holds a six-pack of beer in the center, making it the ideal table for beer drinkers (though you could certainly put other bottles in the holders). The Beertable, described by the designer simply as "beer+table=beertable" seems to still be in the design stage, and not in actual production, so this seems like the perfect time to gather some commentary on it.

Do you like it or hate it? And more importantly, would you buy it if it were released?

I could easily see it in a diner, or used as a buffet table with snacks if a group is getting together to watch a big game. It would be better, perhaps, if it had a cooling unit in it for the beer or soda, but with only six bottles, it's unlikely that they'd last long enough to get warm anyway.

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Dinner in the Sky is perhaps the world's most unique dining experience. The way it works is this: You are seated at a round table with up to 22 other people and in the center of the table, there is a workspace where a chef, a waiter and an entertainer work. Once you are strapped in, the entire table is suspended 50 meters in the air with a giant crane. You can also order a second crane that will bring up a band or -- in a rather bizarre suggestion from the company -- "a car that is being presented at the same height as the table." The whole thing can be set up just about anywhere (it is based in Europe) that there is room for it.

The basic package is €7,900, or about $10,000, but there are many additional options, including photographers, which can be secured for an additional fee.

[via The Cool Hunter]

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We love salt and pepper shakers of all kinds here - after all, what would food be without seasonings? It would be boring. And while it doesn't hurt to have an interesting set of shakers on the table, there is such a thing as having ones that are too interesting. Creepy, even. These chicken feet salt and pepper shakers let you "shake a leg" in seasoning your food, but they still look like chicken feet and they might be disconcerting to see on the table. They're also $50 per pair, and at that price, I'd rather spend the money on some expensive salt than ceramic feet.

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Though it looks like a bucket (ok - the bottom is a bucket), this setup from Eva Solo is a miniature tabletop grill that is styled after the much larger barrel-type hibachi grills. The handle on the base makes it easy to carry around, so it is entirely portable, and the teak base protects your outdoor furniture from the heat. Inside, there is an easy to clean removable compartment to hold charcoal. This little grill would make a romantic and intimate dinner for two barbecue lovers on a hot summer night. Granted, the power of a full-sized grill is hard to resist, but so is the appeal of grilling while sitting side-by-side.

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