I do have a personal sized ash bowl that I take to all of the shows I
do. It is 5 years old. I use it to show how a bowl can age, for product
testing, and because when I take it to a food booth and ask for a fill
up, they seem to give me larger portions. I've had ice cream, stirfry,
bar-b-que, pasta, pizza, Mexican, tofu, fries, cakes, cajun, and
anything else I can fit in it. It started out snow white, and now is a
beautiful amber. All I have done thus far for maintenance is to wash in
out with water, and dry it. No soap thus far. I haven't noticed any oil
build up. The outside of the bowl is a little dry, but the inside is
fine. Cheese cake leaves the most beautiful sheen on the bowl when I'm
done.
robo hippy















Arch wrote:
Maybe the finish on a salad bowl matters while selling it, but most
salads will be dressed with everything from anchovy to blue cheese
plus
a garlic rub and (_extra virgin) olive oil. Salad bowls that are used
will end up with a 'salad dressing finish' regardless.

Sprinkling salt into the soiled bowl and rubbing out with kitchen
paper,
the way pre-teflon chef's skillets were cleaned, is one way to clean
and
avoid a gummy, rancid oil finish. Hand washing with soapy water,
another. Rinse well & dry right away.

If only greens or fruit are put in the bowl, no finish is needed. A
salad bowl ought to smell like salad anyway, otherwise let them
settle
for ceramic and you turn bottle stoppers . You might make a
positive
point by suggesting that you leave the bowl unfinished (well maybe a
little mineral oil & wax for looks) so the buyer can customise with a
favorite dressing.

You might want to have bottles of various dressings, salt and kitchen
paper for them to finish and season their treasures on site when
purchased. Maybe not, but at least, you would draw a crowd of
sniffers!

Sorry, I got carried away. I do love to build and consume a good
salad.
I'll discuss the unfortunate *******izations of a proper martini
another
time. Thanks for not bringing up the question of food safe finishes



Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter



http://community.webtv.net/almcc/MacsMusings