I’m becoming more and more “auntie” or Ah Soh or 師奶 (or however way you want to call it) as I age – I bought myself this mortar and pestle set as a birthday gift last week. Kitchen contraptions now send me into bouts of delirium.

This Ching He Huang (a British food writer) set was very expensive (HK$445) compared to another which was going for a quarter of its price. But I was a sucker for the pretty design – the sinewy grains of the brown bamboo bowl on which the well cut and sleek mortar sits is a good contrast of the wood and metal elements. The mortar can be removed from the bamboo bowl so that the latter can be used as a serving bowl for snacks. Neat.

The flat surface of one side of the pestle also prevents it from rolling around – another thumbs up to the product designer. I also liked the set’s small size and light weight, making it easier to store and carry.

Verdict: Money well spent. (But it’s really just me being a sucker for good design.)