By John Dickson
Our family is a kitchen of cooks. Among many traditions is that of the wall-mounted pepper grinder.
This doodad is passed from generation to generation, and gifted to intruders into the family circle with great ceremony. It is a signal that you have been enveloped by the familial love and all the responsibilities that entails. For some, that might be a burden, but that’s another story.
It is sometimes confused for a coffee grinder. That is a mistake. This cast iron beauty is wholly purposed for the crunching of peppercorns and the releasing of perfumes that bind the generations to a mythic history. You will find yourself grinding out a panful just to hear the music and whiff the bouquet. If you can find one.
Buona fortuna! JD
