Melamine, touted for its durability and versatility, is making a comeback

A table set for an afternoon brunch using melamine dishware at the Graber Olive House in Ontario. Melamine is a hard plastic, an organic industrial compound created by combining melamine resin with strengthening materials. (Photo by James Carbone for the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)Is it real (fine china) or melamine? Many of today’s melamine pieces mirror their ceramic/marble/china counterparts, making it difficult to tell the difference by sight alone. (Courtesy photo Pier 1 Imports