Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Look at what I found in the cupboard above the fridge!!

How in God's name did I not know I had these!!

Look at what I found in the cupboard above the fridge. The three bowls on the right were nested in the cupboard. I needed to make room for a canning jar of Kombucha.
First the backstory. I used to have a set of Gripstand bowls. They were accidentally given away during a move, oh about 34 years ago. Gripstand bowls were made by a company called TG Green. I LOVED them. My mom had one and I just loved using it. I learned to cook using that bowl. I grew up, bought two for myself and you know what happened to them. See above.

I bought myself another one about the size of my mother's about 30 years ago. My husband accidentally dropped something into it and broke it. At that time I just couldn't afford another. So I bought a knockoff. It developed a lot of fine cracks so it needed replaced. So after last thanksgiving I went on the hunt. Turns out, sadly, they aren't made anymore. ARGGGGHHHHH. I went online and looked for TG Green Gripstand bowls. There are some on eBay, but OMG they're crazy. One in mint condition is about 100.00. I looked everywhere for a knockoff...there just aren't any. So I started researching. I read about Mason Cash bowls. Amazing bowls but they don't have my beloved gripstand feature. {update: Mason Cash now makes a Gripstand Bowl. You can get it in Canada at Lee Valley} So I went to my favorite kitchen store in the world!! Muffet and Louisa in Sidney BC. I bought myself two Mason Cash bowls. One large, one smaller.
That brings us to today. I had to make room in the cupboard above the fridge for the Kombucha. I opened the door. I actually let out an "OH MY GOD", so loud my husband asked if I was okay. There were three very neatly nested gripstand bowls. The smallest is an actual TG Green. The other two are Cloverleaf. I've done a bit of research and I think Cloverleaf is the same company as TG Green. I'm in nirvana.
So I have one TG Green, two Mason Cash and two Cloverleaf Pottery/TG Green. Okay, confession time. I also have two vintage Pyrex bowls. A yellow and a green from the 50's, and of course my 35 year old Tupperware mixing bowls. Can you say 'overkill'?
Vintage Pyrex
Well, as I said to my husband tonight. I definitely have enough bowls to last me the rest of my life.
Mason Cash and Tupperware
As people who follow my blog know, I am suddenly on a decluttering and de-pack-ratting my house. I am spending hours a day doing it. I cannot believe what a gift these bowls are. I wonder how many other little treasures have been squirreled away that I have no memory of.

11 comments:

  1. Just don't be tempted to give them away - or take them to the Recycling point...!

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  2. I wouldn't dream of it. I just cannot believe my good luck. Have you ever used these gripstand bowls? They are a dream...and very nostalgic for me. Yup, very good luck indeed.

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  3. I could kick myself, I left a set in the UK when we emigrated thinking I could easily buy more here.WRONG!I have one,and I love it...but it's a smaller one.
    Jane x

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    1. Oh Jane. I'm so sad for you. I know exactly how you feel. And I imagine you know how excited I was to see these in the cupboard. I still have no idea where they came from. I am thinking of them as a gift from the universe!!

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  4. I have two of those bowls I've had for years. I use them every time I make bread. Love them!

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    1. They are absolutely the BEST bread bowls in the world. And nope, I'm not exaggerating am I?

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  5. Can you return the Mason bowls? My Dad saw on the news in the last month or so that Pyrex is going to start making measuring cups in plastic. I immediately bought two glass measuring cups because I don't want PLASTIC! They suspect that it monkeys with our estrogen and causes cancer.

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    1. I can't return them. I've used them. Darn.

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  6. Thank you for the heads up. I, as well, will go buy more glass measuring cups. I won't use plastic. I think if they discontinue glass they will be disappointed with sales. I hope at least they offer both.

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  7. Well I had to get up and look in my cupboard to see if that was what I had...sadly, no! Mine's a knock off, made in Canada. But, I loved reading your story and finding out about this ceramic ware. Will keep my eyes open for a piece.

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  8. Brenda! HI! I loved my knock off a lot and it served me well for years. Wish you great luck in the bowl search. I am going to start haunting our many thrift shops for old Fire King Jadite. My grandma had the mugs and they are totally nostalgic and make me feel warm and fuzzy.

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