What is "nambe"

Nambé manufactures serveware, barware, home décor and gift items. The company was founded in the village of Nambé, a small town outside Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1951. Their signature eight- metal alloy whose major component is aluminum was developed in 1953 by Martin Eden, a former metallurgist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Today the products are manufactured in India and China. The alloy has the luster of silver and the solidity of iron. Nambe has a lower thermal conductivity than silver. Nambé does not contain silver, lead or pewter (a tin and lead alloy) and resists tarnishing. However, it is susceptible to discoloration or pitting with acidic foods. It is not recommended any food be stored in Nambe metal or held for greater than a few hours due to these concerns (not health). Because Nambé's alloy is a trade secret, the Nambé company does not divulge the rest of the formula. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has declared Nambé safe for cooking and serving.

The metal is often sand cast and polished to a high luster to create aluminum alloy products such as serveware, cookware, bowls, platters, trays, dishes, plates, napkin rings, candle holders, wine bottle holders, martini shakers and coasters.