Fresh mozzarella needs to drain before it's served. Not on a plate, not on a sheet of paper, but on something that breathes, that lets the liquid through and keeps its shape.
 
 
 
Maurizio's mozzarella drainer is made of terracotta: a shallow bowl with a pierced base, designed for exactly that. The liquid drains away, the mozzarella stays. Simple, like things that really work.
 
 
 
Terracotta is the right material: it doesn't absorb flavours or pass them on, and it's easy to wash. In Calabria it was used for all fresh cheeses, not just mozzarella. For ricotta, for goat's cheese, for anything that needs to rest and drain before reaching the table.
 
 
 
Handmade by Maurizio in Altomonte, with the natural imperfections of a handcrafted object. No two pieces are the same.
 
 
 
A small, precise object that does its job well. As it should.