The Perfect Gift for Anyone with a Kitchen

Oct 19, 2021 by Chef David

By Chef David

It can be a struggle to find just the right gift, especially for someone who seems to already have everything or someone who dislikes clutter or items that serve no purpose. Look no more, Emile Henry makes a storage bowl that is cleaver, practical and sophisticated. On the surface, it is an elegant ceramic bowl topped by a low cork lid designed to hold fruit. Unbeknownst to the casual viewer, its base functions as a mini pantry for root vegetables.  Decorative, elegant yet deceptively functional. Once I saw it, I knew this bowl would become the centerpiece of my kitchen table.

It’s Not Your Grandmas’ Fruit Bowl

Leave it to the French to combine form with function, in a stylish way. Emile Henry envisioned a fruit bowl that helps fruit stay fresh longer by using cork to keep fruit flies away. The shallow removable cork lid displays fruit while acting as a barrier creating a multi-purpose storage solution. The bottom section of the bowl where neglected fruit goes to spoil becomes a dark space for safely storing potatoes, onions, or other root vegetables. It is simply brilliant!

As a Fruit Bowl

Placing fruit on top of the cork lid provides easy access, creating an aesthetically pleasing table decoration. The cork lid is not just decorative, it was inspired by an old trick of tossing wine corks in fruit bowls to keep fruit flies away. 

Ripening fruit creates sweet moisture that attracts fruit flies. But not with this fruit bowl, the natural cork absorbs the moisture and gives off an odor that repels fruit flies. Offering a clean and natural solution to an age-old problem. And it seems to work! 

No Wasted Space Below

While a large fruit bowl makes an attractive centerpiece, filling the center of your table, it becomes a chore to keep filled.

Emile Henry uses a shallow cork lid for fruit placement and the bottom of the bowl to store root vegetables, maximizing space, by taking advantage of the hidden storage.  The body of the bowl keeps the light out, while the cork lid provides insulation, absorbs moisture, and there are three holes on the bottom for ventilation.  Your fruit bowl becomes a storage cellar while sitting right in the middle of your kitchen table. 

Store Root Vegetables Out of Sight but Not Out of Mind

A cool dark area creates the ideal condition for extending the life of root vegetables. Potatoes need to be kept out of the light to prevent them from turning green, which may give them a bitter flavor. They need low humidity (so, no refrigeration). In fact, when potatoes are refrigerated starch breaks down to sugar, making them sweeter and more likely to turn brown when cooked.  They need ventilation, as potatoes age, they release vapor and create moisture.  

Onions also do best in a cool, dry, and dark place, moisture leads to mold and sprouting. While onions and potatoes need similar storage conditions, it is recommended to keep them separate, because moisture released causes spoiling. The cork lid can help remedy this issue, absorbing moisture, the bottom holes provide airflow creating conditions that may allow onions and potatoes to cohabitate.

Product Specifications

Emile Henry Storage Bowl comes in four rustic colors: crème, burgundy, truffle, or blue flame. Dimensions: 14.1″ x 14.4″ x 6.2″ Capacity: 6.9 QT and can be purchased online (with free shipping) or in-person (the website includes a store locator).

Emile Henry is family-owned and operated, established in 1850 in a small province of Burgundy, France in the town of Marcigny. They specialize in ceramic cooking products.

A Unique Storage Solution 

Imagine having one place to store both fruits and root vegetables, that is attractive enough to adorn the fanciest table while extending the freshness of your fruit and vegetables!  For me, it’s a dream come true. I no longer have to worry about finding the distinctive odor of produce which past its prime or discovering overripe fruit hidden in the bottom of a deep fruit bowl. 

Having a dedicated storage location makes it easy to know when I am running low on basics (onions and potatoes) with a quick glance. Placing this attractive bowl as a fixture on my table is also an easy way to increase the consumption of seasonal fruits.  What better way to dress up your Shabbos table, than adding a centerpiece of fruit, without the risk of pesky fruit flies.  

This food bowl is unusually versatile, providing hidden storage while adding a French provincial flavor to your table. The Emile Henry storage bowl is worth the splurge, treat yourself, you deserve it, and it even makes a memorable gift.