Interview with Jackson Brooks, a home chef who appreciates aesthetics and advocates everyday plating
A plate can shift the whole mood
Interview with Jackson Brooks, design-minded home cook and advocate for everyday table settings
– Jackson, what sparked your interest in plates?
– Jackson, how did your interest in plates first begin?
Jackson:
I think it started by accident. I had just moved into a new apartment, and I wanted to buy my first “grown-up” plates. I found simple but elegant plates at Cervera and realized how much they contributed to the whole dining experience. The plate wasn’t just an object – it made an everyday meal somehow special.
It probably started by accident. I had just moved into a new place and wanted to buy my first set of “grown-up” tableware. I found some simple but elegant plates at Cervera and realized how much they affected the whole dining experience. The plate wasn’t just an object – it made an ordinary meal feel a little more special.
– What do plates mean to you now?
– What do plates mean to you today?
Jackson:
Today I think of the plate as part of storytelling. It tells me what mood I was in, what I wanted to share or the mood I was going for. The plate is never just in the background. Cervera has designs that support this very idea – they have personality, but they don’t steal the show from the food.
Now I think of plates as part of storytelling. They reflect the mood I’m in, what I want to share, or what kind of feeling I’m trying to create. A plate is never just in the background. At Cervera, I’ve found designs that support this – full of personality, but never stealing the spotlight from the food.
– So it’s not just about looks?
– So it’s not just about how they look?
Jackson:
It’s definitely not. It’s also about how the plate feels in the hand, how it works with different types of food and how easy it is to maintain. For example, Cervera’s deep plates are perfect for ramen or stews, while the flat ceramic plates make the dish stand out like a work of art.
Definitely not. For me, it’s also about how the plate feels in your hands, how it works with different types of food, and how easy it is to care for. For example, Cervera’s deep plates are perfect for ramen or stews, while their wide ceramic ones make any dish look like a piece of art.
– How do plates feature in your everyday life?
– How do plates play a role in your everyday life?
Jackson:
I tend to make a small platter for a very ordinary breakfast. A plate can be the element that separates a busy moment from a quiet one. And when friends come over, I always choose plates to suit the mood – sometimes neutral and elegant, sometimes something unexpected. Often someone will immediately ask, “Where are these from?”
I have a habit of setting the table even for a regular breakfast. A plate can be the thing that turns a rushed moment into a calm one. And when friends come over, I always pick the plates based on the vibe – sometimes neutral and elegant, sometimes something surprising. Someone almost always asks, “Where are these from?”
– Do you have a favourite plate of your own?
– Do you have a favorite plate of your own?
Jackson:
I do – the kind of handmade-looking plate with a little imperfection on the rim. I found it in Cervera. It reminds me that not everything has to be perfect to be beautiful. I often use it when I want to focus on my own moment in peace.
I do – it’s a plate that looks handmade, with a little imperfection along the edge. I found it at Cervera. It reminds me that not everything has to be perfect to be beautiful. I often use it when I want to slow down and enjoy a moment on my own.
– What would you like to say to people looking for perfect plates?
– What would you say to someone looking for the perfect plates?
Jackson:
Don’t look for perfection – look for emotion. A good plate is not just practical, it evokes thought. And with Cervera’s range of plates, you’re sure to find one that fits the story you want to set the table for.
Don’t look for perfection – look for a feeling. A good plate isn’t just functional, it makes you think or feel something. And in Cervera’s Plates collection, you’ll definitely find the one that fits the story you want to serve.
