Plates: questions and Band 8 answers

Yeah, actually, I do. I've got this wide, handmade ceramic plate with a deep blue glaze that I bought at a craft market last summer. Everything I dish up just looks so much more appetising on it, so I tend to wash it straight away after dinner just to reuse it the next day.

In our flat, we mostly stick to sturdy porcelain plates in plain white. They're pretty practical because they can withstand the dishwasher and don't chip easily. My flatmate and I aren't overly fussy about dinnerware, as long as it's durable and easy to stack in the cupboard.

Yes, I have. A couple of years ago, a close friend moved into her first flat, so I got her a set of hand-painted stoneware side plates. She’s really into hosting dinner parties, so I thought they'd make a lovely housewarming present, and she was thrilled with them.

I certainly did. I remember having this bright yellow melamine plate with cartoon animals printed around the rim. My mum always served my toast on it in the mornings, and I refused to eat off anything else until I was about seven or eight years old.

I definitely lean towards simple, neutral designs. Plain white or matte grey plates let the food take centre stage rather than distracting your eye with busy patterns. Having said that, I don't mind a subtle textured rim, which adds a bit of character without being overwhelming.

To be honest, I'd love to give pottery a go. Throwing clay on a wheel seems really therapeutic, and it'd be quite satisfying to eat off a plate you've sculpted and glazed yourself. I've actually been meaning to sign up for a weekend workshop nearby.