The Real Joy of Using Bowls Handmade for Every Meal

I recently cleared out my kitchen cabinets and realized that the only pieces I actually enjoy using are the bowls handmade by local potters I've met at weekend markets. There is something deeply unsatisfying about a stack of perfectly identical, factory-made ceramic bowls that you can buy in a pack of twelve for twenty bucks. They're fine, I guess. They hold cereal. But they don't have a soul. ...

February 27, 2026 · 6 min · Shonali Stenger