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I am definitely with you on the special cup for coffee. I have about 20 different mugs in my cupboard, do I use all of them? Hardly I drink out of the same cup every morning. Of course it get's cleaned every day. I am not as finicky on everything else, but I do have my fave's in there.

I'm not finicky or picky, but I do put a lot of emphasis on my dinnerware. My habit of collecting Japanese ceramics means that I sometimes expend as much effort picking the right plate for dinner as I do thinking about what to cook.

In most French-influenced cooking, the food decorates the plate... but in Japanese cuisine, the plate decorates the food. I prefer this latter style of presentation, generally. The plate can mute or emphasize the colors and textures of the food on it.

Many Japanese also think that food tastes different when it's served on the right plate.

I certainly feel that wayt when I take leftovers to work in plastic containers for lunch....

I understand and agree. But you knew that. I grew up in a home where we only used paper plates for kids birthday parties. If my mother ever served anything to my father in a paper plate he would have went bananas. I am a firm believer in serving dishes too. Soup tureens. Gravy boats with ladles. I go to so many people's homes where their pasta sauce or meat gravy is in a bowl with a spoon. Or they serve a great roast chicken in a pyrex dish. I always give serving dishes to newly weds, housewarming and christmas gifts. HINT HINT. I like to set a nice table. I think it is an old art that is being overlooked.

I can drink water out of plastic glasses, but for anything with flavor, glass is the way for me. Otherwise, like Sarah, I only use a couple of favorite mugs, especially the one from Hell's Backbone Grill in Utah.

Like many folks, I have a favorite coffee mug, and, I suppose, certain plates/bowls for certain dishes.

But to best answer the question "Are you finicky about . . .", I would have to say:

First, I am finicky about spotlessly clean dishes, glassware, and utensils, and

Second, I expect a hot meal to be served on a heated plate!

(I was going to cite that very episode, Annmarie, but decided I was being too negative about a show that I never, ever miss an episode of. But you have to know that those carpenters were probably thinking she was totally nutso.)

I don't like drinking out of tall thin skinned glasses. Too much condensation and I feel as though I might break the glass when I pick it up. Heavy plastic is what I drink out of only, unless I don't have a choice.

I always only use the salad fork to eat everything with, our dinner forks feel too big for my mouth to handle.

I guess I am picky b/c I love to eat out of the deep and heavy ceramic bowls.

My husband brought a cheap set of forks and knives with him when we married. I hate those forks! They bend very easily, look ugly and just in general sort of ruin my meal so I never use them. I also only want a glass wine glass with wine, not an ordinary water glass. And I hate getting some sort of cold drink, such as a chilled wine, in a glass just out of a dishwasher still hot. I've had that at several restaurants lately.

I must have my coffee in a certain size mug, so apparently I'm not alone. I also must have my table look inviting for guests, even at a barbecue. It is usually simple- appropriate dinnerware, silverware, linens, candles and great flowers. When I serve, the platters must look like art- pretty colors arranged with thought.