Pistoulet, inspired by the magical farmhouse of the same name in Jana Kolpen's book, The Secrets of Pistoulet, expresses the sunny hospitality of southern France. Crafted of durable stoneware, this oval-shaped bowl beautifully serves up grilled asparagus, herbed roasted potatoes, pesto-infused pasta, and much more, and complements Pfaltzgraff's complete line of Pistoulet dinnerware, introduced in 2002. Unadorned on the inside, the buttery yellow exterior of the bowl is delicately hand-painted with green leafy vines, tiny bunches of purple grapes, and a thin terracotta wave. A band of soft blue accents the rim, while a sage green band circles the foot. Slight variations due to the hand-painting give each piece of Pistoulet a charm of its own. Measuring an ideal 10 by 7-1/2 by 2-1/2 inches, the serving bowl is safe for the oven and microwave and retains heat efficiently. Also safe for dishwasher and freezer, the bowl is backed by Pfaltzgraff's five-year warranty against defects. Pistoulet pieces come prettily packaged in sunflower yellow gift boxes. --Ann Bieri
