Summer’s Lingering Rays and My Everyday Breakfast
Summer is slowly drawing to a close.
How are you all spending these late summer days?
Last week, I took a summer break and spent a few days away from the city, surrounded by nature. Free from the rush of time, I simply gazed at the landscape before me and paused to feel the pleasant breeze. As I breathed deeply amidst the greenery, I felt a quiet, gentle peace slowly fill my heart.
After fully savoring the season, I returned to my everyday routine.
Surprisingly, even back in my normal rhythm, a subtle sense of spaciousness and ease has stayed with me.
On one such morning,
I was slowly preparing breakfast—crispy toasted hot sandwiches, a fresh salad, and a generous bowl of yogurt topped with granola and fruit.
As I moved about the kitchen, my hand naturally reached for “clay.”
Embracing Freedom Without Fixed Rules
“clay” first joined my home last winter.
At first, I had quietly assigned a specific role to each size in my mind—S for small dishes, M for sides. What gently dissolved these fixed ideas was a series of wonderful arrangements shared last year by food stylist Kimiko Hiyamizu.
She showed us that tableware doesn't come with strict rules like "this bowl is only for this dish."
Since that day, my own approach to using tableware has gradually expanded.
I began using the S size—which I used to treat mostly as a small bowl or side plate—for morning yogurt or a hearty serving of minestrone.
For the M size, instead of just side dishes, I spontaneously served a bowl of cold soba topped with grated yam and an egg yolk.
Capable of holding more than its appearance suggests, the M size has plenty of depth and feels surprisingly right for a dish like this.
Choosing how to use a piece based on the day’s dish or mood.
Since embracing this playful approach, I feel I reach for “clay” even more often.
Savoring Negative Space with the L Size
The L size, which I initially struggled to find uses for, has now become a frequent guest at my table.
I used to hesitate, thinking it might be a bit too large for an everyday meal for two. But Ms. Hiyamizu's flexible styling gave me a helpful hint here, too.
Filling the vessel generously, or intentionally leaving empty space.
Learning that the balance between the food and the bowl matters most helped me feel closer to the L size step by step.
On a recent evening when I opened a well-chilled bottle of white wine,
the table was set with hummus, grilled corn, sautéed zucchini, along with a little potato and baguette.
The figs and burrata went into the L-sized bowl.
While I would have previously chosen the M size for this portion, opting for a size larger made the deep red of the figs and the pristine white of the burrata stand out brilliantly against the chic black glaze lining “clay.”
The L size also lets you fully appreciate the organic form shaped by human hands, allowing the vessel and the food to elevate one another. Discovering this charm expanded my enjoyment of tableware immensely—a delightful change in my daily life.
On another day, a warm bowl of pho.
From a slightly special dish to a casual bowl of noodles, it is actually a remarkably versatile size.
Matching the Dish of the Day
“clay” carries an earthy tactile texture on its exterior and a comforting warmth when held in your hands.
By pairing it with a wider variety of meals, I’ve come to enjoy its unique charms through subtle new expressions.
“What shall I serve today?”
Whenever I open the cupboard, my hand almost unconsciously reaches for “clay” once more.
In that quiet, natural way, it has become a cherished staple in my home.
