My Old Maple Bowl

My bowl was handmade

Some 30 years or more.

It was turned from a block

of a maple by the man

from whom I bought

the bowl so long ago

The beauty of the bowl

Is in the tree’s own rings

Now bent to form a cradle

In which the salad may sit.

The inside is as beautiful

as the out to one’s eye.

But this was not meant

to be an idle bowl

But it was for Caesar Salad

was made with the size

of salad for four.

Off to the dinner we go.

Fresh Garlic gets pressed

Into the inside walls

Followed by Capers,

Dijon mustard, egg yolks,

and Lemon juice mashed

together for the dressing

Virgin olive oil dribbles

slowly into the bowl,

whisked into a frenzy as all

ingredients marry into one.

All except parmesan

still waiting on the side.

The bowl does well

As size is an advantage

The 12” width and 4” depth

Takes the full head of romaine,

torn into bite size pieces.

Tossed all together, almost done

Bits of bacon, croutons

and Parmesan top the salad.

Serve Russian style

from the maple bowl

They may see his beauty

Before he gets put off to the side.

Never the dish pit should he see!

But wiped clean first

with a hot wet cloth, dried,

and a light oil coating to preserve

till the next time needed

Let him be!

By Joe van Koeverden