This is a leaf-shaped serving spoon with a nice, deep bowl. Being a gravy fanatic, I like to use serving spoons like this so that I can not only scoop rice, mashed potatoes and vegies onto my plate, but heaping spoonfuls of gravy and onions as well. I'm Southern after all, and unless I need to set a table for a special gathering, I don't use a gravy boat. I make my gravy in the same pan that I cooked the meat and I fix my Blue Willow plate at the stove, country style! But, this spoon would be equally at home on the table in a more formal setting and is deep enough to avoid dripping on your white tablecloth.