Pepper, sir, ma’am?
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Now, we have been given a mill of our own. It was a joint birthday present for Barry (February) and me (April). It is the ‘London’ design wooden pepper mill, made by Cole and Mason, a company founded in 1919 to sell gifts.
Cole and Mason soon expanded into a business providing many different kitchen and household accessories, from a solid (and extremely heavy!) granite pestle and mortar, to wooden serving utensils and acacia chopping boards. If you want a stylish salt pig, a garlic keeper, or self-watering devices for pots of herbs, or a nifty worktop carousel for herbs and spices, Cole and Mason is the place to look.
1946 was the year in which their first wooden pepper mill was launched. Since then, they have developed different mills, from spice mills to acrylic mills, and mills made from stainless steel. Some are electronic. There is even a rather interesting-looking nutmeg grinder for those who wish to ensure that nutmeg is ground without knuckles.
I have wondered why , in a restaurant, stall is always in charge of the pepper mill and never really know how much to allow. Is it for extra tipping? I have ground pepper on your salad, madam, give me five extra dollars...
ReplyDeletePerhaps they're trying to limit the cost of providing pepper, or it's something silly to do with health and safety!
DeleteIt's an elegant pepper mill, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteIt feels nice, too.
DeleteWhat fun to have your own pepper mill! As Robert doesn't really like pepper, I don't see a pepper mill in our future. I don't use it often enough to justify the purchase.
ReplyDeleteThinking about it, we use quite a lot of pepper!
DeleteMy home mills are quite small, not like those bazookas they wave about in restaurants. It looks as if you have your own home bazooka now!
ReplyDeleteWe have, indeed.
DeleteA magnificent present!
ReplyDeleteWe were happy.
DeleteIt's a beautiful mill. Mine are the smaller acrylic ones available in supermarkets here, one for sea salt and one for black pepper. I found the pepper one always got clogged until I learned to hold it at a slight angle instead of upright.
ReplyDeleteI do like freshly ground pepper and salt.
DeleteWe have had a lovely wooden one for many years - so many that I've forgotten how we came by it in the first place. It may even have been a wedding present. At any rate, I fully agree that using it to grind pepper is a very satisfying exercise.
ReplyDeleteGrinding one's own pepper is one of life's little pleasures.
DeleteI do love freshly ground black pepper. The nice thing about that mill is that it looks as if it could double as a weapon in case of home invasion!
ReplyDeleteGood thought, Debby!
DeleteI do like a large pepper mill.
ReplyDeleteIt won't have to be filled so often. 😎
DeleteVery interesting origin story. A nice gift!
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that the company hasn't expanded further.
DeleteHow smart. Mine is at least half that size!
ReplyDeleteIt's going to take up a lot of room on the dining table and I've never managed to crack the problem of setting the table attractively. Well, it's attractive until the serving dishes come in, then there's no room . . .
DeleteSmaller serving dishes? Perhaps a bigger table. Or place the serving dishes on a sideboard/buffet thingy.
DeleteI prefer milled sea or rock salt and pepper, ours are clear plastic set, so we can see how much is left.
ReplyDeleteIt's so much nicer when freshly ground.
DeleteOur major department store sells Cole & Mason, or it did. We've had Cole and Mason salt and pepper grinders. I have a feeling our electric set was Cole & Mason, but the pepper grinding wheel stripped its gears or something and ceased to operate. For me, forget the salt, I just want lots of ground black pepper.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for the Cole & Mason history. The company adapted well to the 21st century.
I'm quite surprised that Cole and Mason has managed to survive and thrive.
DeleteWe have a few pepper mills including a huge one which is never used. I like fresh ground pepper but from a much smaller version. It has a different taste all together from ordinary pepper.
ReplyDeleteI would love a nutmeg grinder. We often grate nutmeg.
I'm always very careful when grinding nutmeg. I do love nutmeg.
DeleteThere’s something timeless and satisfying about using a well-crafted pepper mill—what a thoughtful gift! Cole and Mason’s blend of tradition and innovation really shines through their kitchen tools.
ReplyDeleteThey must be doing something right to have survived so long!
DeleteIt's beautiful, it looks very tactile. I agree, grinding salt or pepper is very satisfying.
ReplyDeleteIt just tastes so much fresher.
DeleteWhat a wonderful gift. I had a rather inexpensive pepper mill at one time. It was a bit too generous when peppering my food and I think it eventually fell apart.
ReplyDeleteThe supermarket ones seem to clog very readily and then stop working altogether - very annoying.
DeleteI noticed they clog when held upright to grind, but not when held at an angle.
DeleteWe have one, but it is quite humdrum compared to this model.
ReplyDeleteI think this one will be used on special occasions - that is, infrequently.
DeleteOoh! I love that pepper grinder! And Happy belated birthday!
ReplyDeleteThank you. 😀
DeleteThat is a beaut of a pepper grinder.
ReplyDeleteIt won't be mislaid easily, it's true.
DeleteThat is a great gift! I agree about freshly ground pepper -- much better than the ready-ground type, partly because it feels better to do the grinding!
ReplyDeleteI was going to say, 'Grinding is always good,' but I thought it might be misconstrued. Damn, I've said it.
DeleteAh, the simple pleasure of freshly ground pepper. I totally get that urge to take over the mill from the waiter – there's something so satisfying about controlling the grind yourself. That Cole and Mason mill sounds like a lovely gift! It's interesting to hear about their history and all the kitchen goodies they offer. A self-watering herb pot sounds particularly handy. Enjoy your new pepper mill.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Melody - it will be used when 'in company.' 😎
DeleteFirst of all...I love your header picture!! Not sure what that plant/flower is, but it is full of beauty. And...Happy Late Birthday wishes to you both. I was excited when I saw the pepper mill. I LOVE pepper and have always wanted one of these. When we go to a nice restaurant where they offer you pepper or salt, I too always want to do it myself because I want more pepper. Happy Mother's Day weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Shug. My header photograph is of a lilac, whose name I cannot remember. I photographed it at a local garden centre.
DeleteI have quite a tall wooden one as well, but of lighter wood. I feel like I've "always" had it, which probably means since my early 20s. It lives on top of the fan cover over my stove.
ReplyDeleteFamiliar things almost seem to become a part of us.
DeleteNow that's what I call quality! xxx
ReplyDelete😀
DeleteI have a grinder filled with cinnamon that I can grind. It takes forever. lol
ReplyDeleteI bet it smells wonderful, though, and well worth waiting for!
DeleteYou can't beat freshly ground pepper and salt.
ReplyDeleteThat looks a very nice pepper mill.
All the best Jan
PS I do like your new header photograph, it's beautiful.
Thank you, Jan. It's a lilac, though not in my garden.
DeleteI've just noticed your beautiful lilac header photo! The lilac is stunning. Ours is fading rapidly, I'm afraid. It's one of my very favorite smells (until I lost my sense of smell due to a high fever some 30 years ago).
ReplyDeleteI love lilac, but this one was in a garden centre. I'm so sorry your sense of smell has disappeared.
DeleteI always think food tastes better with ground pepper or salt.
ReplyDeleteI really like your new pepper grinder.
Fresh ingredients of any sort are always good.
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