Robert Welch’s stylish Malvern cutlery will turn even casual dining into an occasion
“Good food needs to be eaten with the right tools” – Alice Welch
With my job and freelance work I think about food all the time, to be honest even if when I had a non food related job I still thought about food all the time. I live to eat, and I find it very sad and not to mention strange that I have friends who do not share my passion. Even the humblest of meals can be raised to new heights with some care over the presentation, crockery and cutlery.  We eat with all our senses and the look and feel of your table setting contributes to your overall enjoyment of your food.
Research backs this up, the cutlery we use affects both the experience and the taste of the food we are eating. I am sure we have all suffered with poorly designed cutlery that is uncomfortable to hold, unbalanced or a bit old, bent and bashed.  With everyday objects it seems that we notice bad design more than good. Badly designed items stand out as they annoy and irritate, good design integrates seamlessly into our lives and enhances it.
This autumn Robert Welch want you to enjoy good food with the right tools, make every meal special at home, and wow your guests with good cutlery, like the Malvern set featured in this post.
Robert Welch left art college in 1955 and the company has been designing ever since, in the same building where it all began.  The company is now run by Robert’s children, and the company produces homewares, jewellery, tableware as well as cutlery.  All have the same modern, but fluid organic lines, are immensely tactile and are a joy to look at and use. Since the company started they have sold an astonishing 46 million items around the world.
Good design lasts a lifetime, and is affordable too, the 24 piece Malvern set here costs just £84 (a saving of £39 on the individual items) and comes with 6 table knives, table forks, soup spoons, tea spoons as well as well as a free 6 steak knives. It is made of 18/10 stainless steel, is dishwasher proof and guaranteed for 25 years.
Good cutlery can be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion, casual dining for two with cheery red and white checked bistro style napkins, below, or a more festive meal with table mats, pretty napkins for a special dinner.  Using a table runner sets off the table and makes even casual dining a bit more special.  We always use cloth napkins, they feel so nice, and my philosophy is that you invariable spill something from time to time, and I’d rather wash and iron a napkin than a pair of trousers, skirt or sweater.
If I have a party with a buffet I like to lay my cutlery out on a pretty napkin or tea towel and accessorize with some decorations, in this case a simple rustic Christmas garland.
With beautiful cutlery it is time to show it off to your friends, so here are a few tips for an elegant, and stress free dinner party that you can enjoy, from some of my blogging friends.
- Invest in linen napkins & tablecloths, they need not be expensive, but they dress the table & make it feel stylish – Laura – How to Cook Good Food
- Invest in some very small, very short vases. I fill them with whatever is in the garden (often just rosemary sprigs) and line them up along the middle of the table. Easy, affordable and a super finishing touch to a table. Also, candles, always candles – Sarah – Taming Twins
- Spend more time planning than cooking. Prep everything you possibly can in advance. Don’t serve anything that needs last minute prep (unless it’s part of the entertainment). Think about how much cutlery you have in terms of what to serve. Don’t serve 12 people, 3 courses that all need spoons if you only have 12 spoons. Sink full of ice and water doubles as an excellent chiller for lots of white wine – Sarah again (you can tell she loves a dinner party)
- I’ve made the mistake of doing too much in the past and end up spending all my time getting stressed in the kitchen. I now stick to dishes where a lot of the prep / cooking is done in advance so I can focus on hosting –Â Tina – The Spicy Pear
- Make things you can prepare in advance so you can spend time with guests rather than in the kitchen. Dips with drinks, whilst dinner is cooking in the oven and a sumptuous dessert that can be made the day before and served cold or at room temperature. – Choclette – Tin and Thyme
- LISTS! Make a list of everything you need to do, ideally in the order it needs doing. Include every little thing, including ‘sprinkle parsley over fish before serving’ or whatever. I’ve found if I don’t do this, I find unused bits and bobs still in the fridge when everyone has gone home. – Helen – Family, Friends, Food
What would your top tips for a dinner party be? Have you invested in a set of beautiful cutlery?
Post sponsored by Robert Welch, who also sent me the Malvern 30 piece set. All opinions our own.
Learn more about Robert Welch, the company and history in this short video.
Helen @ family-friends-food.com
What lovely cutlery! A beautiful, classic design.
Some great dinner party tips there too – definitely agree with doing as much as possible in advance.
Helen
Isn’t it just gorgeous? It really is a lifetime investment too.
Just Jo
These really are lovely cutlery – so sleek and modern and even though I obviously can’t pick them up, they look weighty and quality products. I know Robert Welch as a name in cookware shops everywhere but I didn’t know the history – how lovely that they are still in the same premises after all this time. I must say, I’m really taken with your absolutely gorgeous linens in the first photo – oh those bobbles on the placemat! Very hygge :D
Helen
The are so lovely, modern, but also timeless. Robert Welch are a lovely company, I want all their homewares.
Sia | Monsoon Spice
That’s a beautiful set of cutlery. Very insightful article. I am a great believer in making lists and I can’t stress enough how much it helps me.
Helen
Always lots of lists for a dinner party – it is so easy to forget things!
Kavey
I must say, that Robert Welch cutlery looks gorgeous. Our cutlery drawer is one of those places that looks no better than student days – a mish-mash of the cutlery both of us took to university and the odd-bod bits and pieces we’ve bought since then, often from Ikea or other cheap places. One day we shall be grown up and have a proper set like this, though since we’re mid forties already, I despair of that ever happening! ;-)
Helen
A nice set really does make the difference to how you eat and feel. I love how fluid everything designed by Robert Welch is. So beautiful.
Sarah
Good cutlery is so hard to find but this one looks like great quality and is absolutely gorgeous!
Helen
It is so beautiful. I am smitten with the whole Robert Welch range.
Kate @ Veggie Desserts
I remember moving from the cheap IKEA cutlery of my houseshare days to a lovely new grown-up set when my now-husband and I set up house. It’s a small thing that means so much since you use it daily. These Robert Welch ones are stunning.
Helen
A good, elegant set really makes a massive difference, it is just so nice to hold too.
Anna
Good set of cutlery is soo essential I just ordered mine Christmas, such a shame I haven’t seen your post earlier!
Helen
Quality cutlery is one of those things that instantly makes your home feel more grown up I think! Enjoy your new set!
Katherine
This is such an elegant set of cutlery. I love the timelessness of the lines. Really beautiful, as is your photography of the set.
Helen
Thank you Katherine, I do like things that you will still want to own in 50 years time.
Chris @thinlyspread
The cutlery set we were given as a wedding present was a mistake as it fell apart (yes, really) within a year, my cutlery drawer is a mish mash of mismatched bits from various boats/houses we’ve owned over the years and I long for a lovely set like this – you’re right, presentation makes a big difference to the feel of a meal. Fab tips, I try to do as much as possible in advance these days and the freezer is my friend!
Helen
I used to sail on a boat that only had plastic cutlery as someone accidentally dumped all the metal stuff at the bottom of the North Sea when doing the washing up in a bucket during the Fastnet.
Lisa @Garlicandzest.com
I have a “thing” for beautiful flatware – I have two sets of every day and the good silver (gifted from my grandmother). It makes such a difference on the table!
Helen
A well laid table makes such a difference to the meal.
Tina @ The Spicy Pear
Oh wow! The cutlery set looks beautiful! . Thank you for sharing all those fab tips for the upcoming party season.
Helen
I do like to make my entertaining as fuss free as possible. Thank you for sharing your tips.
Choclette
This is very true Helen. I do like a well set table, although I don’t do it nearly enough myself and good cutlery is essential.
Julie
Such a lovely place setting. I work in the housewares world and am familiar with this brand. Creative design and quality are a good fit.
Helen
I love Robert Welch, so organic and fluid.
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine
Haha, I am the same way. I do care about presentation and the little extras that make food special. We have to eat, so why not enjoy it?! Plus, I love how much others care about the extra effort I put into my cooking– because most people just don’t make the time to do it right.
Helen
Presentation is SO important. It really makes the most ordinary special.
Stephanie@ApplesforCJ
Beautiful cutlery and love all your tips about planning!
Helen
thank you Stephanie, good cutlery really does make a difference to your table.
Kyle
Very nice, such a unique shape for the spoons, they look really modern and stand out.
Helen
I love this cutlery set!