Virginia del Giudice of La Percalina in Buenos Aires sent us a tiny gift via a friend. The wrapping was SO wonderful, that we felt as though we had been given something mysterious, deeply special: a treasure. We took our time unwrapping it and were reminded  that when a gift is wonderfully-wrapped, opening it is, in itself, a pleasure:  a pleasure that precedes and amplifies the gift itself.

Virginia had used the simplest of wrapping: Kraft Tissue Paper tied with thin hemp twine to look like a party favor.

There were two layers of the fine tissue that took some time to unroll to reveal…a silver walnut!

…rather mysterious…

…we thought it might be an antique chocolate mold…

We found out later from Virginia that it may be a mold for a delicious Argentine candy called Nueces Confitadas: dulce de leche caramel joining halves of a walnut covered in fondant icing. We’re thinking just walnuts sandwiching caramel might be a simple perfect dessert.

Virginia’s teeny gift seemed like a really BIG one to us. As have other teeny treasures we’ve been given over the years, like the green stone apricot that interior designer Suzanne Shaker once presented us with. It was wrapped in an amazing outfit:

We felt like we were undressing something…

…very special…

…and have treasured it ever since.