Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Playing with Concrete

Concrete You Eat Off Of

At first glance, I really like the look of these concrete dinnerware pieces from Ivanka Concrete Works.

The food on them, not so much

I imagine that once they have developed too many oil spots from your cooking,
you can use them as stepping stones outside

What concerns me about these is the possibility of what they might do to my teeth.  I remember going on a field trip as part of my public school education in Southern California.  During the trip, I learned about Native American people who would process the staple of their diet by grinding acorns against large rocks in the American Southwest.  These people were effectively using a mortar and pestle system in which one large rock would eventually become pock marked with dozens of holes that served as pestles.  These large rocks can still be seen sprinkled all over the landscape in California.  What stuck with me about this was the revelation that the small bits of stone ground off from the rocks during the grinding process would, over many years, wear down the teeth of the Native American people of the Southwest to nubs.  I worry that the same process of slowly grinding down my teeth might occur when I scrape a metal spoon against these concrete bowls, use a steak knife to cut through a T-bone and inevitably score the concrete plate beneath, etc.

Is that guacamole with a sliver of sour cream in it?
Ohh, I wanna put a chip in that!

While I worry slightly about what eating regularly from these dishes might do to my teeth, we all have to eat and drink from something.  I'm sure I've ingested my share of minute amounts of plastic, porcelain, wood, metal and other materials transferred to my mouth from the dishes I've eaten from and the cups I've drank from during my years on this earth.  But as long as I'm not drinking water delivered to me in pipes made of lead (I'm looking at you Ancient Rome) I probably won't wind up as mad as Carroll's Hatter.
How is a raven like a writing desk?

Also, I like the looks of these concrete bowls from Port Living Co., which come with cork bottoms and an air tight canister lid:
Finally a Place for Your Pepper Collection

To my eyes it appears that the manufacturer has really mastered the art of pouring and setting concrete because these look smooth and I don't think you can get concrete much smaller without adding a support structure like wire mesh inside.

What I don't like is the price on these containers.  The $75 they want to charge for these could buy me a lot of air tight plastic food containers.

TL:DR: You can check out some kitchen things made out of concrete. 

43 comments:

  1. concrete dishes! so cool! it will probably retain heat and cold very well! . just dont drop it . and I wonder how heavy it would be?

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  2. Concrete dishes are actually such a cool concept buddy, that guacamole looks so tempting too, these photos are making me hungry!

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  3. Don't think they would sell em if there was a risk you'd damage your teeth. They look awesome though!

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  4. Those are interesting looking... I'd definitely like to try one, at the least.

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  5. I knew some one who had a concrete cutting board! I doubt eating out of a concrete bowl would affect your teeth much though!

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  6. Interesting, I never thought about the tooth implications of using concrete cookery... Maybe you could just not chew anything and eat it in pill form! Well, wait... that's not practical haha.

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  7. yeah they might look cool, but I would rather have crappy dinning plates than nubbed down teeth anyday.

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    Replies
    1. @MRanthrope - I agree. I think what attracts me to concrete as a design material is that it's inexpensive yet it looks urban and modern. Of course, looks are subjective and your mileage may vary.

      @Atley - I wonder a little about the weight factor myself. This might be an issue especially when dealing with storage in older wooden cabinets.

      @InfinitePlans - I'd bet that the companies that sell these things haven't thought beyond making the sale, let alone the dental implications of their products. At least, I haven't seen them address it with any comments about sealants, coatings or other treatments that would prevent the rock content of the concrete from entering the food these things contain on either of the manufacture's websites. Perhaps I worry too much. Still, I don't want anyone that reads about something here to wind up sucking their meals through a straw because of something I encouraged them to buy.

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  8. That actually looks pretty cool.

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  9. This reminds me of the hardcore guys who use bits of rock for shaving. You know you're a real man when you eat off of what you use to shave.

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  10. I really like those first couple dishes, very modern. Although my apartment couldn't pull those off.

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  11. i'd never thought that would work but they look cool.
    Very macho though, can't see the GF loving them

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  12. I am sorry, but the food just does not look appetizing plated on bits of my sidewalk.

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  13. All types of concrete and mortar contain the activating ingredient, lye. I do not wish to have anything I'm ingesting touching that.

    I've also slicked up concrete so well that you could see your reflection in it, cool stuff.

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  14. I like those. When I'm rich and don't mind wasting money (ehehe) I'd use these for special occasions. Not every day use, just, visitors, small gatherings, etc. It'd be cool.

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  15. Return to stoneage? Can I microwave these?

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  16. Wasn't that already answered, the question "How is a raven like a writing desk?"

    I always thought it was because both have at least one feather. Isn't that way anymore, but considering how they used quills and what-not for pens back in the day...it makes sense to me at least.

    Unless I'm wrong? Wouldn't be the first time.

    Also, ABWABWABWA naw thanks man. While I do claim to have a gourmet's palate and highbrow tastes, this doesn't appeal to either, ESPECIALLY at that price.

    Frugality is to cheapness what libertarians are to anarchists. I'm just sayin', yo...

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  17. I'm assuming they've put a finish on these to prevent damage to the crockery and to the consumer. But these days who knows. They're unique and would look nice on a marble topped table. Wouldn't go well with wood though. And I wonder how heavy they are.

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  18. Cool concept. Concrete. Who would of thought lol

    Followed

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  19. I don't think I could ever get myself to do something like that...

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  20. I'm worried about what they would do to my dishwasher.

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  21. It's a cool concept but I hope they are treated with something. I can't imagine all the stuff that would grow in such a porous surface.

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  22. So, I was planning on re-surfacing my concrete driveway this summer, but perhaps I'll just sculpt some dishware instead.

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  23. Great post!


    http://placequotehere.blogspot.com

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  24. concrete sounds like eating from the floor :P

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  25. very nice will go well with my granite cutlery :D

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  26. Hmmmm strange I prefer standard stuff though lol

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  27. I wish I was rich enough to eat off of concrete..

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  28. My pepper collection will be thrilled!

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  29. I will go to Lowes and see if I can't make my own set of plates for a lot cheaper. haha

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  30. these things have to be so heavy! but they look modern and fabulous!!!

    http://spinning-threads.blogspot.com

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  31. What I am not sure is whether it is really healthy to eat on a concrete plate.
    www.thoughtsofpaps.com

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  32. i wish i was poor enought to eat of concreete, and not be frawned upon

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  33. Ha. I enjoy this. Have you ever seen those onion holder things for the fridge to save your onions in?

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  34. $75 is a bit high you could buy high end porcelain for that but still a neat product

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  35. What the hell is the world coming to? Eating off of concrete? Give me a break.

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