When we laid out the kitchen, we wanted lots of counter-top workspace. That turned out well.

 As time passed, we bought more and more sauces, vinegars, cooking oils, etc. Before we knew it, a large section of the counter-top was taken up with storing this stuff. With everything crowded together, finding what I wanted was a real nuisance.

So we decided to get things organised. Wall mounted racks were an obvious choice, as they would free up counter space below. We ended up getting 3 racks as well as 3 wooden trays to hold stuff like cooking oils, salt, bottles of dried chillies and the like.

 As you can see, with everything lined up it is much easier to locate whatever I need. The smaller rack in the upper right hand corner of the photo is used for holding commonly used spices. The ones that I use less often are in a pull-out cabinet.

We did not go for the brand name racks; 1 rack cost twice as much as the total we paid for our 3 racks. Quality is good, and we figure even if the racks need replacement at some point, we are still way ahead by not paying so much.

At left you can see a photograph of a mortar and pestle as you find in South-East Asia. It is made from granite that has been worked to a smooth finish for the grinding surfaces, and a rough finish on the exterior for safer handling.

It is medium-sized and that carries a couple of compromises. If I want to grind a lot of ingredients, it means multiple lots and possibly more time taken, but the plus is it is lighter to carry and wash.

If you look at the left-front surface, you will see a small knob-like protrusion which serves as a sort of mini-handle so that it is not so slippery when wet.

If you follow the link, you will see an example of a mortar and pestle in Europe in the second photo of the post. I suspect it is machine milled, but that is just a guess.

And if you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m a little crazy about traditional kitchen equipment, and the mortar and pestle is one such item.

I recently popped in to the Central Chidlom Department store to have a look at the household department.

 I was pleasantly surprised to see a decent selection of good quality (read heavy-duty) bakeware. So, if you are on the lookout for this, you do have an option besides the Emporium Department store.

Both places have easy BTS skytrain access.