Treasures New & Old: My New Piastra Radiante in Chisa Smaltata

I don’t suppose I really knew that such a thing existed but if I did, I would not think of calling it a Piastra Radiante in Ghisa Smaltata.

Knowing that it is a flat plate of cast iron, glazed on one side, about the size of a dessert plate, I wondered how it got its name.

Does piastra have something to do with pastry? The consonants sort of match up with those in patisserie, which the French unabridged says does mean cake shop or confectioner’s shop.

A further search reveals that piastra means griddle, hot plate, iron plate, or waffle iron. My piastra ghisa is iron, yes, but also smooth and sh...