Large stone mortar and pestle: where to buy?

[Mrs Sparkles]

In the past I have seen large stone mortar and pestle sets in Sia Huat and in the Thai supermarket at the Golden Mile Complex.

Now that I have decided to purchase one, neither place has any! 

I'm looking for one with a bowl about 25-30cm outer diameter.

Does anyone know of other sources?

[LVSnot]

Hi Mrs Sparkles. Around any of the wet markets there's usually a pots and pans vendor in the dry goods section. You'll most likely get a better price than Sia Huat, too.

[ex-pat]

I bought a big stone one with chinese engraving at Tang's basement around where the woks are sold.  Wasn't expensive and I have had it for years. It is not as deep however as the Thai ones.

[little India]

The smaller shops in Little India have wonderful ones and very cheap.

[Musashi]

I got mine at Robinsons (during a sale) and it's one of the best I've seen around...

[Mrs Sparkles]

Thanks for the replies so far.

With the weekend coming up, any tip offs about places that have them in stock now will be very useful.

[Dear Mrs Sparkles]

Don't mean to pry but why do you want the stone thingy? Isn't a small chopper more practical?

[Pestle Pleasure]

OP, I wish I could tell you where to find your dream pestle this week. I would have thought you'd be able to find them in any market. Anyone seen one in Mustafa's? They sell just about everything there.

To answer the poster who thinks a small chopper is more practical. maybe, but, in order to make a wonderful, unctuous paste, a good grind with a mortar and pestle is unbeatable. It's very satisfying, on a wonderful, primeval level.

[Mrs Sparkles]

I've been looking wherever I go (including wet markets and Mustafa) and all I can find are small ones.

I already have a small chopper, grinding stone and plate, Indian brass spice grinding set, two English porcelain mortar and pestles (small and medium) and a Thai clay and coconut mortar and pestle (as used for making salads). Oh, and a Jamie Oliver flavour shaker.

While I love and use them all, none is the right tool for making pounded curry pastes. I would love to be able to perfect my technique while here in Singapore with ready access to all the ingredients (except, it seems, a mortar and pestle!!!).

Someday my pestle will come ... 

[Scummy Mummy]

You, or the Ambassador, must have a bloody big kitchen 

[prana]

You will find your pestle -- and other kitchen gear in industrial sizes! -- in the shops along Joo Chiat Rd and Onan Road. Go to where those roads meet Geylang Road (near the Malay Village) not at the Katong end. Start from Joo Chiat Complex and walk along Joo Chiat Rd, within 50yards you will start seeing these shops with all sorts of cooking utensils etc spilling out.

Singapore hawkers and restaurat chefs get their supplies from there. There are also "normal size" stuff but it is fun to browse and marvel at the gigantic woks, and paddle-sized stirring sticks.

There are also shops nearby which sell dried goods, spices, canned foods, pestos etc at wholesale prices. As I said that is where the cooking professionals shop. And not to worry you don't have to buy a half-truckload either.

[Mrs Sparkles]

Thanks Prana, will check the area out. Sounds like fun!

[Splat]

Mrs Sparkles you will loooove Joo Chiat Road. There is an amazing store there, it's about 50 metres down from Changi Road on the right hand side walking down from Changi Road. I am so tempted to buy a gigantic wok myself.

I didn't realise there was more on onan road, thanks for the heads up pp.

[Mrs Sparkles]

Enjoyed our excursion to Joo Chiat. I didn't find a mortar and pestle in the size I wanted but will go back for a more careful "hunt" around the Malay Village. Thanks again, Prana.

[marriedguy]

You could try Carrefour Plaza Singapora. I have a 19cm dia mortar and pestle that I bought there a while back. They may carry the size you require.