Serving trays with handles solve the problem every other tray creates: you can actually carry it. Handles on both ends mean drinks travel from kitchen to porch without a wobble, and a large melamine surface gives you room for a full round rather than a careful three. The navy and green plaid reads tailored on a coffee table and quietly seasonal in December, without committing you to one month of the year.
Melamine is the reason this beats a wood or ceramic tray for real use. It is light enough to lift one handed, it does not shatter, and it wipes down after an evening of glasses and cheese. Style it flat on an ottoman under a stack of books, load it as a melamine serving tray for the patio, or park this decorative tray on the kitchen island as a landing spot for everything that would otherwise be loose. It is the plaid Christmas decor piece that still works in June.
Is melamine safe? Melamine is a hard, food-safe resin used widely for serveware, and dishes made from it are considered safe for serving cold and room-temperature food. It is not made for the microwave or for very hot food, because heat can cause the material to break down.
