sauce bowls

A man guards petite covered bowls that can be filled with exquisite treats — salt and pepper, jellies and jams, spicy sauces. Master ceramist Putu Oka Mahendra's unique design is crafted by hand and expressively detailed. The bowls recall those used for temple offerings and feature spoons carved from coconut shell.

This pair of deep bowls is perfect for serving pasta or noodles, soups, stews and saucy dishes. Crafted by ceramicist Lilyan Benecke of Guatemala, they feature a geometric and floral-inspired design in blue and orange on an off-white background.

Prepare herbs, spices and sauces the way our ancestors did--with handmade stone tools. The Comonfort Group presents this heart-shaped basalt bowl, crafted by hand in a labor-intensive process.

The artisans recommend that the bowl be "cured" before the first use. To cure the molcajete, place some dried beans, corn or rice in the bowl and grind with the pestle until pulverized. Allow the pulverized grain to sit for 15 minutes. Once this has been done, the molcajete can be hand washed and allowed to dry. This step will ensure that any stone dust remaining from the carving process does not affect the food.

Prepare herbs, spices and sauces the way our ancestors did--with handmade stone tools. The Comonfort Group presents this traditional basalt molcajete or mortar, crafted by hand in a labor-intensive process. The pestle, called a tejolote, is used to grind or crush the foodstuffs in the molcajete. The molcajete can also be used as a unique serving dish for salsa or guacamole.

The artisans recommend that the molcajete be "cured" before the first use. To cure the molcajete, place some dried beans, corn or rice in the bowl and grind with the pestle until pulverized. Allow the pulverized grain to sit for 15 minutes. Once this has been done, the molcajete can be hand washed and allowed to dry. This step will ensure that any stone dust remaining from the carving process does not affect the food.