Kitchen Aesthetic

I guess anyone who spends much time cooking loves utensils that add to the fun with their color or clever design, things are are a pleasure to use, like Janine's gratin dish, or Peter Barrett's pottery, or this little tangerine bowl.

My Fairy Godson and I drove out to Davis the other day to escape the omnipresent fog we have experienced this summer. In just under an hour, we whisked out from under the coastal cloud cover into sunny skies and warm temperatures. We left home at 65 degrees and gained 20 degrees as we drove.

We strolled around Davis wearing flipflops and short sleeved shirts, poking our noses into an excellent toy store, Alphabet Moon, where I found a gift for my grandson's first birthday; a gelato shop where we indulged while basking at a sidewalk table; and the Artery, an artists' co-op that always has interesting stuff. Sometimes, I go to Davis just for the Artery.

The color of the tangerine bowl caught my eye. When I picked it up, the funny little button design made sense - one's thumb nestles snugly into the dimple in the button, or firmly alongside. It's just the right size for scrambling eggs or making a sauce or a salad dressing, and it's beautifully hand thrown so it's light for its size.

Each time I use it, it reminds me of a fun day out with one of my favorite people on earth, enjoying each other's company and the warmth of a late summer day.