When it comes to cooking at home, it helps to have the right tools for the job. From the basics like a frying pan, wooden spoon, sharp knife and cutting board to the more obscure, like a cherry pitter, pizza peel or tortilla press, these stores have you covered. [Photo courtesy of Yellow Pages]
The folks behind locally owned Cook Culture believe the kitchen is the most important room in your house. Carrying a range of high-end brand names, as well as wealth of fun gadgets (who knew you needed an egg yolk separator or a special bag to make hemp nut milk?), they also offer classes and have a lovely selection of cookbooks for sale.
This kitchenware store has been a Chinatown staple since 1917. From a range of wonderful baking supplies to stemware and cookware, the bustling, full-to-the-brim shop on East Pender will outfit your kitchen. Whether you need small appliances or linen napkins, the friendly, knowledgeable staff will guide you the right way. They also offer knife sharpening services and, not surprisingly, a great selection of Chinese dinnerware, from rice bowls to gorgeous Japanese cast iron teapots.
An emporium of all things cooking and food, Gourmet Warehouse is any home cook’s favourite weekend outing. Their 19,000 square-foot space houses aisle after aisle of all the kitchen tools and equipment you could ever need – at very reasonable prices. Store buyers scour the globe for hard-to-find and lesser-known brands. They even sell a small, but excellent selection of foodstuffs, perfect for stocking stuffers and hostess gifts.
Despite its size, this small little corner store in the Net Loft on Granville Island still manages to pack in oodles of fun kitchen gadgets, lovely linens and aprons and beautifully handpainted Moroccan tagines. They carry unique pieces like their selection of abelskivers – cast iron pans specifically designed to bake Danish pancake puffs – as well as standard brands like Le Creuset.
It wouldn’t be a complete list without mentioning of the Cadillac of kitchen stores, Williams-Sonoma. This beautiful shop on South Granville carries nothing but the best of every gadget, appliance and ingredient. It is an excellent stop for a wedding present or for that ultimate kitchen piece you can no longer live without. Pop in any time for live cooking demos, free food samples and expert gift-wrapping. The whole experience is an inspiration to up your culinary game.