A tactic to get through the endless heartbreak of 2020 is loving the little things, especially in the kitchen, where a lot of us are spending more time right now. And right now, I have a lot of love for my new mortar and pestle, which was handcrafted and shipped from Carrara, Italy! The flawless design of the mortar and pestle or its Italian origin makes me believe I’m leveling up my cooking game.  

Searching for the best mortar and pestle

I did a lot of internet digging for “The best mortar and pestle.” I didn’t want to take the Amazon route, even though a lot of articles curated good options. One regrettable thing I did do, however, was settle on a $10 mortar and pestle from Bed, Bath & Beyond. I thought the little guy would do until I opened its boxed shipment and found a mortar without its pestle partner inside. Poor lonely mortar! I ended up at the store’s physical location the next day for an immediate return. 

After more internet digging, I came across Food52’s segment on testing different mortars and pestles. The marble mortar and wooden pestle performed the best in making pesto. Thai granite is another good mortar and pestle option, but it’s hard to resist the stunning appeal of a marble and wood combination.

In the end, I purchased a mortar and pestle from NuovaMarmotecnica, the same Etsy seller Food52 recommended. 

From Carrara, Italy to San Diego, Calif.

The mortar and pestle from NuovaMarmotecnica costs a pretty penny, but again, this is the best of the best we’re talking about. One purchaser noted that it would become a family heirloom and I believe the same will hold true for my kitchen. 

The purchase process was smooth-sailing and all my questions about sizing, type of wood, and quality were promptly answered each time. The seller also shipped the mortar and pestle through DHL Express right away. I got my order from Carrara the same week I ordered from San Diego.

Go with the olive wood option

I ended up choosing the olive wood option for the pestle and looking at its beauty each time reminds me that I made the right decision. The olive wood is pure craftsmanship and the mortar is harmoniously round. 

To clean, I simply rinse well. I don’t want to risk using soap and dyes on marble or wood.

Having the best mortar and pestle in your kitchen may not be a total game changer, especially if you already have a food processor, but it helps you to slow down and take things one step at a time. Besides, have you ever noticed how happiness shows up faster when you’re not rushed and you take your time to do things?

A handcrafted Carrara marble mortar and olive wood pestle also makes your kitchen counter look more elegant. Happy shopping and thanks for reading!

Here’s the link to the mortar and pestle seller on Etsy.

With glamour,

Rizzy