Artisan tableware made in Sacramento transforms dinnertime into an unforgettable experience.

Whether it’s the porcelain dishes in Norman Rockwell’s Freedom from Want or the clay bowl and water pitcher in Picasso’s The Blind Man’s Meal, elaborate table settings are common themes in some of the world’s most closely guarded works of art. But for a pair of Sacramento ceramics artists and a woodworker, the art they create in their studios is for more than show.

“This is the canvas for the food,” says Echeri Ceramics co-owner Alejandra Magaña. “I don’t want it collecting dust in a cabinet.” With her husband and co-owner, Luis, Magaña produces each month for commercial and personal use about 80 plates, bowls, and mugs in their Southeast Sacramento studio. The handcrafted tableware comes in a variety of earth tones that create a natural feel and neutral, yet ornamental, space for serving food. 

“It’s like being able to hold an experience, a way to add a personalized touch,” muses Magaña. “When I go into a restaurant that uses artisan plates, it shows the owner thought through the entire experience, every detail, and put more heart into making it special.”

That’s a sentiment agreed upon by Block & Bowl owners Thomas and Rosemarie Cannell, who produce what they call “chef and carpenter inspired home and kitchen goods and furniture.” Thomas Cannell, a trained chef, believes his boards and bowls can elevate an already exquisite meal. “You eat with your eyes,” he says. “Sure, you can make food look good on a white plate but to put it on a board adds a wow factor and highlights the craftsmanship of the whole meal.”

Like the Magañas, business for the Cannells really took off during the pandemic. “I never thought I’d be able to leave my hotel job because we were doing banquets for 800 to 1,000 people a night,” shares Cannell. “During the pandemic, we had a lot of time on our hands, so we started cutting boards for fun and gave them to friends. Then word got around, and we started getting requests.”

Those requests turned into large orders of charcuterie boards, serving blocks, cutting boards, and pinch bowls made of wood from walnut and maple trees. The Cannells’ custom tableware can be found at Sacramento area restaurants like Camden Spit & Larder, Hawks Provisions and Public House, High Stakes and Out of Bounds Brewery. “I just received an order for sushi boards, and I recently completed some wooden taco holders,” Cannell adds. When it comes time for dinner at the Cannell family home, be it a special spread for guests or a simple meal shared between husband and wife, Cannell says he sets his own table with Block & Bowl creations. “Tableware is the piece that brings people together,” he explains. “When we have guests over at our house, we use the boards, and it’s a talking point. It adds a natural element to the table and just brings a contrast that can totally change the setting while highlighting the food.”

Both Cannell and Magaña insist that a cut of local meat, a cluster of bright field greens, and a dash of wild rice have never looked more delicious than on a methodically plated board or ceramic plate. And the appeal extends beyond the imagery, adding a local tie to the natural environment. “Handmade dinnerware is a good investment to have because it involves community and creates a deeper connection,” shares Magaña. 

These special touches from the Echeri studio also grace the tables of Franquette, Camellia Coffee Roasters, and other restaurants. The enthusiasm among customers is a thrill for the Magañas, who never really intended to pursue throwing pottery professionally. “We got into dinnerware on accident,” says Magaña. “I was hired at a school to do a ceramics class, even though I’d asked to teach photography, and I’d only tried pottery in college. [Luis and I] decided to practice it and during the pandemic, we got really serious about it.”

The couple evolved their art, considering in their process not only the appearance of the tableware but also the user experience, stackability, durability, and ease of cleaning. In just a few years, increased demand for their products pushed the Magañas to purchase a machine that could help improve consistency across each dish. Even as their production volume increases, Magaña says she’s proud to share that their products use clay sourced from local distributors and glaze made in house. This feeling of community connection is why Magaña says so many people seek out their bowls and plates at the Midtown Farmers Market. “It’s important to us to put money back into the local economy,” she adds.

Whether a consumer is considering table enhancements from either Echeri or Block & Bowl, both owners suggest starting slow and building. Like fine art, artisanal dinnerware is an investment. But when it comes time to share a special meal with loved ones, these distinctive details can make the breaking of bread a truly unforgettable experience. 

The food pictured in this article was exquisitely prepared and plated by Chef Elena Winks at Franquette in West Sacramento.