Fiesta Time at Pryde’s

A true foodie knows that a delicious meal is about more than taste – there’s the ambience of the place, there’s the staff, the smell, and the visual, too. Recently, the visual has come to mean the arrangement and the sheer esthetic of the food. But wait, say I, what about the basis, the foundation?

Yes, I’m talking PLATES and their accompanying family, dishes and glassware. And silverware, too, if you must be exact.

But what comes first to my mind when I think of the well – dressed table? The plate. How does it fit the food item? Does the color make the food look more appetizing? Does the texture add or subtract from the flavor? And the first plate that has continually struck my fancy? The circa 1930s fabulous Fiestaware with its trademark bright – or light – colors and high gloss surface that almost beams its own light onto the food.

And if we’re going to talk Fiesta, we need to talk Pryde’s Kitchenware and Necessities. They’ve only been in that brick building in Westport since the late 60s, mere babes compared to Fiesta who proudly claims a 30s’ birthday. Pryde’s has the largest collection in the Midwest and when you’re looking at the shelves and shelves-ful, the only thing you can think is, “Why don’t I own some of this?”

The original five colors were yellow, cobalt blue, green, red. and ivory. Today, one color is retired each year and one is born. Scarlet was the most popular color for years, to be replaced by turquoise which has kept its lead for years after first appearing in 1937. Paprika was retired in 2016 and, trumpets please, the new go-to color this year is daffodil yellow. Boy, does it cheer you up!

Pryde’s is one of my favorite stores in Kansas City – it has everything you can think of for the kitchen, including a bakery in the basement. The jaw dropping selection of Fiesta dishes is only one reason to stop by.

Pryde's Old Westport

115 Westport Road, 
Kansas City, MO 64111 
Ph: 816-531.5588 

www.prydeskitchen.com