I was surveying the kitchen utensil aisle at the local hispano supermercado, and came across a molcajete! One of those volcanic rock mortar and pestles that you see in Latino restaurants to grind up guacamole. This one is the classic shape: three legs with a pig face in the front. The accompanying pestle is called a, “tejolote”. It reminds me of the guacamole appetizer at Mama Mexico. It also looks like the one I saw at Crate & Barrel earlier in the year (see bottom picture). The appeal? Keep using it over the months and years, and the basalt crystals will slowly release an intense flavor that you otherwise wouldn’t get in a wooden or ceramic bowl. And you’ll never be able to get them 100% clean either. These cool little gadgets are also dangerously coarse, sort of like a pumice stone.

Are they worth it? This one at the Mexican store sells for $19.99. The one at C&B goes for $32. I initially thought they were similar, but don’t be fooled! This cute little piggy at the Mexican store feels a lot like concrete. It’s much smoother than the C&B one. It almost looks like they painted a concrete sealant over the mold (like on your garage floor).  While it may not necessarily be that crude, I think I’ll choke up an extra $12 for something that looks a little bit more like volcanic rock. That is, if I ever have the kitchen space to stock a piggy in my cabinets.

misc life