BENTA plates

BENTA plates are my latest project: a dinner plate with a curved edge, designed to hold in one hand while pushing food against the curl and onto your fork with the other hand. The plates are a mini-collaboration with my sly designer boyfriend, ZK, and are part of Umbra's U+ collection for 2008. They premiered at the NY Gift Fair last month and were recently added to Umbra's website here. I'm not quite sure what the black lace and star fruit have to do with the design, but behold: the BENTA.

My mother received her order today and promptly posted pictures to her flickr account. I haven't yet received my samples from Umbra, so I was super excited that my mom surprised me with a mini photo tour tonight! The highlights:


stack of 6 plates nested together


signature decal


special foam packaging

Also, here's an unrelated photo of me enjoying an English breakfast in London a few weeks ago:


I imagine that a BENTA plate would have come in super handy as I scooped up my eggs and beans...


Plans for a dinner party are underway - menu to include peas and similar rolly-type foods. Evidence to follow.

Thanks, Mom!

p.s. This post also serves to add closure to my first post on these plates, initially dubbed "ZK pro-model plates." Except for that part about a flipbook... perhaps there will be some filming at the Green Pea Dinner Party.