The Ivory Baroque isn’t my style, but I know at least two people who would love it. What made this set stand out is the rosewood handled charger (sold separately) that compliments the ivory. Unlike most formal wear, you can put these in the dishwasher or use them in the microwave without ruining them.

After 10 years, my dishes are finally beginning to show their wear and tear. It’s gotten to the point where I can’t heat my leftovers in the microwave because the plates get too hot to the touch and/or crack. So I spent Saturday morning surfing for a new and better alternative.

My first choice was the Pfaltzgraf Sedona place setting because I liked the Southwest design. But after checking what Amazon reviewers had to say (plates too big for the average cupboard and not microwave friendly), I decided to move on. I eventually found the Fiesta dinnerware sets, which are very popular . . . 117 positive reviews on Amazon and about a dozen on the Macy’s site.

They come in a wide assortment of colors that you can mix and match, which I find kind of nice because you can personalize your place settings. I opted for the plum color for the dishes and the cobalt for the accessories (spoon rest and utensil holder). The color in the picture is Heather. You can combine this color with Sunflower and/or black accent pieces for a striking place setting.

What’s in the Box

1 place setting. Place setting consists of: 10-1/2-inch dinner plate; 7-1/4-inch salad plate; 6-7/8-inch bowl; 10-ounce mug. 4 pieces total.

You can order a set on Amazon like I did, but I suggest waiting until Macy’s has a sale. Also check out Ebay.

Update: The dishes arrived within a week after I ordered them. I loved the deep, vibrant purple as well as the sturdy feel of the plates and bowls. However, when I put them through the dishwasher, the surface of every dish had scratches.

Since then, I’ve used them to heat left-overs as well as microwave a dinner. I wouldn’t recommend heating food any longer than two minutes because the plate will get hot. The microwave dinner required 7 minutes of heating time, which forced me to leave the plate in the oven until it cooled.

Overall, I like my new dishes. I’m just not sure if they’ll hold up for a decade of use.