08/23/2026
THE GREAT PLATE COUNT...A PRIVATE CHEF'S PLEA FOR PROPER SMALLWARE....
From this Private Chef's perspective, few dinner-party mysteries rival arriving to cook for twelve and discovering a cabinet with 6 plates, 4 spoons 3 red wine glasses and an impressive collection of Flintstone Jelly Jars. Nothing says "Elevated Dining Experience" quite like plating a composed Entree' in shifts while half the table waits while sipping Cabernet from their Fred & Barney Jelly Jars. A Chef can improvise many things, however changing 4 soup spoons into 12 without any sorcery remains outside the standard culinary tool kit and rivals the 31AD miracle of Loaves & Fishes!
I always travel with my own equipment for experience has taught me caution, resilience and the emotional support of a good pair of back-up tongs. Still, life becomes far more convenient when a short-term rental is stocked to match it's advertised occupancy! In the old days, Resort area rentals had a certain rugged charm: one pan, a mystery knife and a Sardine Can Key left from the Eisenhower Administration, and owners who believed a Fully Stocked Kitchen had a spatula drawer and Popiel's Kitchen Magician! Those properties had character, but so did dial-up internet.
Today the difference between Old School and New School owners could be decided before the drop of the appetizer~ Count the Plates, check the flatware and locate the wine glasses, Modern Rentals now feature Plunge Pools, Infrared Saunas, Game Rooms, Theatre Rooms, Accent walls tailor made for social Media selfies, yet The corkscrew is remains a Planned Pocono Experience Trip to The Wawa! A well stocked supply of china service and smallware may not photograph as well as a Cedar Lined Sauna, but it prevents 12 Adults from eating Osso Bucco with dessert forks and sharing their Pinot Noir with Betty Rubble!
