Party plates for every taste — and budget

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

For the Fourth of July party hosts who think their menu is a work of art, we present the Wasara collection, currently on view at the National Design Triennial of the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York.

The bowls, plates and cups, praised in the exhibit for their “ephemeral beauty,” are made of bamboo, reeds and leftover pulp from sugarcane processing — all sustainable and biodegradable materials. They’re sold in packages of six to 12 pieces; each pack costs $9 to $14 at A+R in Venice. The circular plate in the photo above, for instance, sells in a pack of 12 for $12.

In the past, we’ve featured picnic paraphernalia made of post-consumer recycled paper, recycled plastic and bamboo. Melamine haters will surely scream in protest, but this year, early summer sales are making that material an affordable option too. Keep reading for photos of party plates on sale for up to 60% off ...

But first, a close-up look at the Wasara compote bowl. Each piece in the collection has a textured finish and was shaped to feel good in hands.

-- Times staff