Before traveling to a new city or any destination, the inner shopper in me does a quick mental scan through the list of purchasable items (call them souvenirs) that are endemic to said location. I know I'm not alone in this, and earlier this week Gardenista editor Michelle, having come back from Barcelona with that enviable post-vacation glow, mentioned she had picked up a few olive oil cruets on her trip. The cruet is definitely at the top of the list of must-haves from Barcelona, but if you can't wait until your next visit, we've discovered one of the best, and it's available online.
Designed in 1961 by Catalan architect and designer Rafael Marquina, his olive oil cruet is revolutionary for its non-drip and sanitary features. And according to Olive Oil Times (my new favorite news source), the European Union has been working to ban the use of tabletop cruets in public restaurants. One reason for this is a very French style, AOC-like approach that prevents serving olive oil that has been cut with cheaper varieties; the other reason is for sanitary purposes—if only every restaurant served authentic oils in Marquina's cruet.
Above: The Marquina Olive Oil Cruet is made from glass with a detachable spout and measures 4.7 inches high; $30 from Ancient Industries.
Looking for more items to serve with? Shop everything from cutting boards to barware in the Tabletop section of our Shop.