Using serving platter having disposal opening and shallow sealing lid

Abstract

A method of serving food includes arranging food on a serving area of a serving platter having a main body including a top portion defining the serving area comprising a plurality of primary serving wells and a bottom portion defining an interior space, the top portion defining a disposal opening configured to receive food waste into the interior space, wherein the top portion includes a plurality of dividing walls defining and separating the primary serving wells. The serving platter includes a shallow lid configured to be removably coupled to the main body such that the lid seats off the serving area, wherein each dividing wall is engaged by the lid such that two serving wells are isolated. The method includes securing the lid to seat off the serving area; and removing the lid to uncover the serving area and expose the food and disposal opening.

1 . A method of serving food, which food generates food waste when eaten, comprising the steps of:
 (a) arranging, on a serving area of a serving platter, food that generates food waste when eaten, the serving platter comprising,
 (i) a main body including,
 (A) a top portion defining a serving area comprising a plurality of primary serving wells for receiving food items therein for presentation to a person for eating, and 
 (B) a bottom portion defining a substantially enclosed interior space, the top portion defining a disposal opening configured to receive there through food waste for deposit into the substantially enclosed interior space, 
 (C) wherein the top portion includes a plurality of dividing walls defining and separating the primary serving wells, and 
 
 (ii) a shallow lid that is configured to be removably coupled to the main body such that the lid is positioned above and extends over the serving area and seats off the serving area, 
 (iii) wherein each of the dividing walls is engaged by the lid such that two serving wells are isolated from one another by a dividing wall engaged with the lid; 
   (b) removably securing the lid above and over the serving area to thereby seat off the serving area; and   (c) removing the lid to thereby uncover the serving area and expose the food for eating and expose the disposal opening for receiving food waste into the substantially enclosed interior space of the serving platter.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the serving tray to a customer by a commercial food service establishment, wherein the customer is a dine-in customer. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the serving tray to a customer by a commercial food service establishment, wherein the customer is a take-out customer. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the serving tray to a customer by a commercial food service establishment, wherein the customer is a delivery customer. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lid defines a plurality of dividers, each of the dividing walls of the main body being generally aligned with a respective divider, such that two wells are isolated from one another by a dividing wall engaged with a divider when the lid is removably coupled to the main body. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a dividing wall is engaged by a divider by being received within a channel that is defined by the lid. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion and the bottom portion are part of a single molded piece. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the primary serving wells shares in common a dividing wall with another primary serving well. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disposal opening comprises a circular opening centrally located relative to the serving area. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein each dividing wall extends generally linearly away from the circular opening. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein each dividing wall extends from the circular opening to the outermost peripheral wall of the main body. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each primary serving well has a bottom defining a food support surface, and wherein the food support surface is planar and configured to be generally horizontal when the serving platter is placed on a generally horizontal surface. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion further defines a secondary serving well that is defined at least partially by a partitioning wall that extends between adjacent sides of the outermost peripheral wall of the main body. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion further defines a secondary serving wells that is defined by a partitioning wall that extends between two dividing walls and by an outermost peripheral wall of the main body. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion further defines a plurality of secondary serving wells, each secondary serving well being defined by a partitioning wall that extends between adjacent sides of the outermost peripheral wall of the main body. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion further defines a plurality of secondary serving wells, each secondary serving well being defined by a partitioning wall that extends between two dividing walls and by an outermost peripheral wall of the main body. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each secondary serving well includes a volume that is less than half of the volume of each primary serving well. 
   
   
       18 . A method of serving food, which food generates food waste when eaten, comprising the steps of:
 (a) arranging, on a serving area of a serving platter, food that generates food waste when eaten, the serving platter comprising,
 (i) a generally rectangular main body, the main body being a single molded piece and including,
 (A) a top portion defining a serving area comprising,
 (I) a plurality of dividing walls defining and separating a plurality of primary serving wells for receiving food items therein for presentation to a person for eating, and 
 (II) a plurality of secondary serving wells, each secondary serving well being defined by a partitioning wall that extends between adjacent sides of the outermost peripheral wall of the main body, each secondary serving well having a volume that is less than half of the volume of each primary serving well, and 
 
 (B) a bottom portion defining a substantially enclosed interior space, the top portion defining a disposal opening configured to receive there through food waste for deposit into the substantially enclosed interior space; and 
 
 (ii) a shallow lid configured to be removably coupled to the main body such that the lid is positioned above and extends over the serving area and seats off the serving area, the lid defining a plurality of dividers; 
 (iii) wherein each of the dividing walls is generally aligned with and engaged by a respective divider, when the lid is removably coupled to the main body, such that two primary wells are seated off from one another by a dividing wall engaged with a divider; 
   (b) removably securing the lid above and over the serving area to thereby seat off the serving area; and   (c) removing the lid to thereby uncover the serving area and expose the food for eating and expose the disposal opening for receiving food waste into the substantially enclosed interior space of the serving platter.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the lid also seats off the disposal opening when the lid is removably coupled to the main body, whereby the interior space of the bottom portion is completely enclosed. 
   
   
       20 . A method of serving food, which food generates food waste when eaten, comprising the steps of:
 (a) arranging, on a serving area of a serving platter, food that generates food waste when eaten, the serving platter comprising,
 (i) a generally rectangular main body, the main body including,
 (A) a top portion defining a serving area comprising four equally dimensioned primary serving wells for receiving food items therein for presentation to a person for eating, and 
 (B) a bottom portion defining a substantially enclosed interior space, the top portion defining a disposal opening configured to receive there through food waste for deposit into the substantially enclosed interior space, the four primary serving wells being symmetrically arranged about the disposal opening of the serving area, 
 (C) wherein the top portion includes a plurality of dividing walls defining and separating the primary serving wells, and 
 (D) wherein the top portion and the bottom portion are part of a single molded piece; and 
 
 (ii) a shallow lid configured to be removably coupled to the main body such that the lid is positioned above and extends over the serving area and seats off the serving area, the lid defining a plurality of dividers; 
 (iii) wherein each of the dividing walls is generally aligned with and engaged by a respective divider, when the lid is removably coupled to the main body, such that two wells are seated off from one another by a dividing wall engaged with a divider; and 
 (iv) wherein the lid engages the top portion such that the lid seats off the disposal opening when the lid is removably coupled to the main body, whereby the interior space of the bottom portion is completely enclosed; 
   (b) removably securing the lid above and over the serving area to thereby seat off the serving area; and   (c) removing the lid to thereby uncover the serving area and expose the food for eating and expose the disposal opening for receiving food waste into the substantially enclosed interior space of the serving platter.