lola's secret beauty blog: Cooking

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Bembo White Carrara Marble Mortar and Beechwood Pestle Handmade in Italy

Purchased (Affiliate Link)

The first time that I actually saw the Bembo White Carrara Marble Mortar and Beechwood Pestle in person, many years ago, I wanted one. I almost bought it so many times, but this year when my birthday approached, I knew I just had to get it, and I was delighted when my husband bought it for me. It is not only an authentic and highly effective tool for making authentic Genovese Pesto, but for many other types of pesto. Additionally, it is perfect for grinding spices, herbs, nuts, seeds and more. They are available in a wide variety of sizes, and their Amazon Store features a 16cm, 18cm and 20cm mortar. I selected the 20cm size so that I would have enough room to make a larger batch of Genovese Pesto, but this is large and quite heavy, and therefore if you don't need a larger mortar, then a smaller size might be a better for you.

This mortar is hand carved from White Carrara Marble, the same marble that Michelangelo used to carve his work. The pestle is hand turned from Beechwood, and together they are perfect for authentic Italian cooking. The narrower base, generous bowl and 4 handles make this a very easy to use and highly effective mortar.

According to Bembo,

The Genovese model white Carrara marble mortar is essential in your kitchen. With the Marble Mortar and its beechwood pestle, you can prepare an excellent Genovese pesto. To choose the size, use the following table: ø14 - 2 generous portions; ø16 - 3 large portions; ø18 - 4 large portions; ø20 - 5 large portions.

The White Carrara Marble mortar is a made-in Italy model, 100% handmade, handcrafted piece by piece in Tuscany, a few kilometers from the quarries where the precious Carrara White Marble is extracted. The pestle, also made in Italy, is made of untreated beechwood, suitable for food, ideal for crushing spices, seeds, biscuits, and, of course, preparing pesto.

The mortar with pestle, Genovese model, thanks to its practical division into quarters, allows you to make the recipe for Genoese pesto according to the centenary Genoese tradition.

Pestle and mortar set is not only perfect for preparing pesto but also for crushing spices, seeds, biscuits and for mixing other sauces with your favorite recipe.

Handling and Cleaning: handle and clean the mortar using only a damp cloth, or in any case without using any detergent.

The interior surface intentionally is not perfectly smooth, and this creates the perfect amount of friction to effectively grind whatever you are grinding without having it slip around.

The pestle is sturdy and beautifully balanced.

Not only is the mortar and pestle exquisite quality, but it is beautifully packed in a lovely gift box that ships directly from Italy.

Overall Assessment: This was the best birthday present, and an heirloom piece that is supposed to be handed down from one generation to the next. I highly recommend this mortar and pestle if you are in the market for such an invaluable kitchen tool. A+

$138.00-149.00 for 16cm-20cm from the Bembo Amazon Store (Affiliate Links). Purchased. All views expressed are categorically my own.

Thursday, December 14, 2023

WOLF Gourmet Countertop Oven Elite is Perfection

Purchased (Affiliate Links)

I have to confess that I have coveted the WOLF Gourmet Countertop Oven Elite since I first saw it in person years ago. Having cooked on a WOLF range for many years, I know how incredible their appliances are, firsthand. I promised myself that I would one day purchase this countertop oven, and two events occurred that made me decide to finally take the plunge: it was on sale for Cyber Monday and my microwave died. Therefore, I decided to make this splurge of a purchase. We purchased ours online at Crate & Barrel and picked it up in the store and it was easy and fuss free. In fact, there was no need to fight holiday crowds in the store or driving in circles seeking a parking spot. We simply arranged for pickup and it was placed in our car curbside. Easy peasy!

I should state upfront that this is no toaster oven, instead this is a legitimate oven made with all of the precision one expects from WOLF appliances. You can cook full meals including whole chickens and anything else you can imagine. I have baked cakes, roasted vegetables and cooked full meals in this workhorse of an appliance, and can cook just about anything that I could cook in my WOLF range in this countertop oven. You can't fit a huge turkey in it because it isn't big enough, but it will allow you to cook a lot more of your holiday dinner if your stove and oven are at capacity. It is a very efficient oven, and has a maximum temperature of 450° F. It has all of the stylings of WOLF appliances, including their iconic red knobs. It is heavy, well made and nothing short of extraordinary.

This is an efficient way to reheat food, cook quick meals, bake, broil, toast and so much more. I am utterly smitten with this oven, and I am using it on a daily basis. I have also used it in conjunction with my WOLF range, and it cooks just as efficiently, but it uses far less energy to do so, but if I need to cook above 450° F, which I never do, then I would need to use my range. It also has a nice tight seal, like the large ranges and wall ovens, that prevents heat loss, and an efficient halogen light that can be turned on without opening the oven.

It has a very effective confection cooking feature, and this beauty has 7 cooking modes: Bake, Roast, Broil, Warm, Proof, Bagel and Toast.

I must underscore the fact that this is an actual oven, and you want to make sure that you don't keep it too close to the wall while it is on. I have mine on a countertop beneath a cabinet, and I just make sure that there is space between the oven and the wall.

What’s Included: In addition to two removable easy-glide oven racks, this countertop oven includes a temperature probe, baking pan with broiling rack insert, removable crumb/drip tray, red knobs and a use and care guide. Additionally, WOLF has a 5 year limited warranty on this oven.

According to WOLF Gourmet,

Introducing Wolf Gourmet’s most advanced countertop oven yet. Wolf Gourmet’s most advanced countertop oven offers all the benefits of a Wolf oven in a compact, energy-efficient form, plus new features that make countertop cooking even more convenient. The Wolf Gourmet elite countertop convection oven bakes, broils, roasts, proofs, toasts, heats bagels and warms food quickly and evenly, thanks to five heating elements, intuitive controls and advanced electronics. The interior is spacious enough to fit most 9” x 13” stoneware dishes or a 5½ pound chicken. Packed with upgrades like halogen interior lighting, a “Bagel” setting that toasts the cut side and warms the other, a fully removable oven rack system for easy cleaning and an extra smooth-glide cooking rack for cooking flexibility, you’ll enjoy discovering all the little luxuries this countertop oven has to offer.

Specifications:

Width: 22 3/8"
Height: 12 5/8"
Depth: 16 5/8"
Weight: 46.60 Pounds
120V~ 60 Hz 1800W
Max Temperature: 450° F

Additional Features:

Stainless steel construction
Spring-loaded door with seal
Intuitive controls
Nonstick interior
Fits most 9” x 13” stoneware dishes

Features:

A Wolf Oven in Countertop Form: Get the precision, quality, and look of a Wolf oven in one countertop-friendly appliance. The elite countertop convection oven boasts heritage Wolf features like interior lighting, advanced convection, temperature control, and an integrated temperature probe.

7 Cooking Modes: Seven cooking modes – Bake, Roast, Broil, Warm, Proof, Bagel and Toast – offer the cooking flexibility to make everything from cheesy garlic-parmesan crostini to broiled lamb chops.

Advanced Convection Cooking: Unique perimeter convection thoroughly circulates heated air for even baking and faster cooking, reducing cooking time by up to twenty-five percent. Convection can be used in roast or bake mode with a simple press of the button.

Integrated Temperature Probe: Cook an herb-crusted roast, balsamic-glazed chicken, or a sourdough boule to your preferred internal temperature. The probe gives you precise control over the temperature of your food without opening the oven door. Keep an eye on the oven temperature as well as the probe temperature on the LCD display.

High-Performance Temperature Control: Temperature is finely tuned and uniquely calibrated for the best cooking performance in each cooking mode. Intuitive controls allow for simple selection of cooking mode, time and function. Five heating elements and advanced electronics deliver more even cooking performance for baking, broiling and roasting every time.

Interior Halogen Light: The interior halogen light gently illuminates the countertop oven’s interior, so you can quickly and easily see how your food is progressing without having to open the door.

Two Easy-Glide Oven Racks: Sized to fit quarter sheet pans and most 9” x 13” stoneware dishes, each oven rack slides in and out smoothly, putting your food within reach easily and safely just like a Wolf range. Three rack positions offer flexibility for broiling, baking, and toasting.

Easy to Clean: Drips and splatters wipe away effortlessly from the BPA and PFOA free nonstick interior. Now the entire oven rack system is fully removable, simplifying the cleaning process. The stainless steel crumb/drip tray also slides out for easy cleaning and is dishwasher safe.

Overall Assessment: It is no exaggeration to state that this is the best purchase that I made this year. I am utterly smitten. Keep an eye out for special prices and sales this season because this oven is worth having– especially if you can get it on sale! A+

$749.00 (Suggested Retail $949.00) from Wolf's Amazon Store, Crate & Barrel, Williams Sonoma, Sur La Table, Macy's, Best Buy, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale's, Horchow, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Perigold, Wayfair, Dillard's and Belk (Affiliate Links). Purchased. All views expressed are categorically my own.