A shallow ceramic plate with a ridged centre, thrown and painted by hand in Spain. You rub garlic, ginger or hard cheese against the ridges, pour oil straight onto the plate, and the dressing is made where it will be served. This one is Costa Azul — broad cobalt stripes on white.
We like tools that do one thing and then stay out on the counter. This one grates, mixes and serves without changing dish, and the ridges keep their bite because they are cut into the clay rather than glued on.
Made by Alfar Tierra Cocida, a small pottery in Spain. Each plate is thrown, ridged and painted by hand, so no two carry exactly the same brushwork.
The large one doubles as a serving plate: grate at the centre, pour the oil in, bring it to the table with bread. We grate the garlic first, add oil, vinegar and salt on top, and whisk it with a fork in the same plate.
