Originally posted by John:

There is always a cosmetic use for them.
Have a table, put 3 item stands on it, one for a food item in a bowl, one for a tankard and one for a fire wine or stamina mead. Arrange them a bit where you want them, turn the stand around a bit left and right and you go, a table with food :)

That's what I've done at our main base. Tankards set up at the chairs, with handles turned toward the spots we sit at. A meal of sausages and soup laid out too. It feels so homey when we return after a long expedition..