Bottled Up

When it comes to all things kitchen and cooking-related I’ve always paid close attention to my Italian grandmother. And that extends beyond me hovering behind her back making mental notes while she’s cooking osso buco or rolling out dozens of meatballs; I also take note of what’s in her fridge. That observation led me to Bormioli’s Giara bottles, which she has used for years to store water. The slim glass swing-top style with the durable rubber stopper was so wonderfully unfussy; it felt, and I know this might be incredibly weird to say about a bottle, sorta elegant. So I’ve taken to stocking my own kitchen with them Stateside. Like my nonna I use them to keep water cool in the fridge, but I’ve also used them for homemade limoncello and they are a perfect vessel to display infused oils or vinegars. The original clear glass remains my favorite, though the Giara also comes in a rainbow of other colors to complement any kitchen color scheme. FIORELLA V.

$7.99 each, see bormioliroccousa.com for information