mhberk Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 I have one now, but I feel that I am out growing it an need a bigger one. Are there any stores in the MD/DC area where I can pick one up at? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Slater Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 I have one now, but I feel that I am out growing it an need a bigger one. Are there any stores in the MD/DC area where I can pick one up at? Google Shopping lists these It looks like Bed Bath and Beyond has them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banco Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 The large, heavy green ones cut from a solid piece of stone and made in Thailand can be found at Sur la Table at Pentagon Row. If you have the requisite biceps and storage space they are really the best ones to have, I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhberk Posted October 30, 2007 Author Share Posted October 30, 2007 Thanks for the replies! I have a marble mortar and pestle now and I like how the rough interior is able to hold onto the spices (fennel seeds, black pepper, star anise, etc) and really grind and tear them (not just crush them). I would like to get another one, but they don't seem to make marble ones as big as they make granite ones. Does anyone here, that uses a granite one, have favorable experiences or similar experiences to the one I described with marble? For some reason, I just picture the granite ones being too porous. Any feedback would be great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotech Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 I have a small marble one I rarely use these days and a thai one that is my daily took for crushing and grinding spices. It isn't porous at all and I got it at my local thai store in Vienna for a very reasonable price. I've had a variety of mortar and pestles over the years and this was the best investment of them all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catharine Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 I've seen a selection at World Market. It is worth checking out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banco Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 Thanks for the replies!I have a marble mortar and pestle now and I like how the rough interior is able to hold onto the spices (fennel seeds, black pepper, star anise, etc) and really grind and tear them (not just crush them). I would like to get another one, but they don't seem to make marble ones as big as they make granite ones. Does anyone here, that uses a granite one, have favorable experiences or similar experiences to the one I described with marble? For some reason, I just picture the granite ones being too porous. Any feedback would be great! The Thai green granite version that I and others have referenced above do have a rough interior that is perfect for grinding things into a fine paste or powder. That also makes them perfect for things like garlic puree or pesto. The stone is somewhat porous, but this has never been a problem for me. I wash mine with soap and water and let it air dry. Once you use these things the average marble or porcelain version seems like a toy. There are heavy French versions like the Thai one, though, but made of marble instead of granite. Last I checked, Sur la Table had those as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunnyJohn Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 Concur with Banco on the superiority of the rough-hewn larger mortar vs. a marble or smoothed surfaced one. My wife bought hers which resembles the Mexican type with her from Malaysia. She uses it mainly for the basic ginger/garlic/shallot foundation for curries, but I use it for grinding spices and making pesto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhberk Posted November 1, 2007 Author Share Posted November 1, 2007 Thanks for the feedback! I broke down and drove down to Sur la Table on Wisconsin Ave and bought this granite one today. The woman who sold it to me (though she didn't really sound too familiar with mortar and pestles) said that she wouldn't suggest using soap on it. I know that Banco uses soap to clean it. Does anyone else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blakegwinn Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 I have one now, but I feel that I am out growing it an need a bigger one. Are there any stores in the MD/DC area where I can pick one up at? You can have your pharmacist girlfriend "borrow" one from the pharmacy lab....Did I say that out loud? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunnyJohn Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Thanks for the feedback!I broke down and drove down to Sur la Table on Wisconsin Ave and bought this granite one today. The woman who sold it to me (though she didn't really sound too familiar with mortar and pestles) said that she wouldn't suggest using soap on it. I know that Banco uses soap to clean it. Does anyone else? No soap unless the stone has been sealed! If just rinsing and wiping out doesnt work, boil some water and pour it in while it is still steaming hot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvanrens Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 How big of a mortar and pestle do you need? I am a professional potter; I can make one in any size you need. I usually make them out of stoneware, with an unglazed interior; it provides a coarse but non-porous surface. I also proved pestles in both wood and stoneware. I usually make them with a 2 or 3 cup capacity, but I can make one pretty much as big as you could want. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tripewriter Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 I picked up this 10-buck marble set at IKEA during the summer and it seems to work pretty well. But a Braun electric coffee grinder is still my go-to utensil for pulverizing spices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbq4me Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Thanks for the feedback!I broke down and drove down to Sur la Table on Wisconsin Ave and bought this granite one today. The woman who sold it to me (though she didn't really sound too familiar with mortar and pestles) said that she wouldn't suggest using soap on it. I know that Banco uses soap to clean it. Does anyone else? Ouch, that price is double what the thai stores sell them for . I got mine at the Thai store on Maple Ave in Vienna. I usually just rinse mine and air dry, but have had to use soap on a few occaisons without any detrimental effect whatsoever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Pressley Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 Thanks for the feedback!I broke down and drove down to Sur la Table on Wisconsin Ave and bought this granite one today. The woman who sold it to me (though she didn't really sound too familiar with mortar and pestles) said that she wouldn't suggest using soap on it. I know that Banco uses soap to clean it. Does anyone else? You can clean it the same way you clean a spice grinder--just grind some uncooked white rice in it and wipe it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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