DAYTRIPS & OVERNIGHTERS

ABOVE Flying Fish, Nanaimo

Foodie Finds for Your Kitchen

IF LIVING THROUGH A PANDEMIC HAS BROUGHT OUT YOUR INNER INA GARTEN, YOU’RE NOT ALONE.

Soaring sales of flour, yeast, cookbooks and more have sparked a new wave of home cooks eager to test out their burgeoning skills alongside their Instant Pots and sourdough starters.

Of course now that you’re into the swing of three squares a day, you may also be looking for ways to simplify the process. Smart and savvy cooking requires the right tools for the job. But in a world of ever-changing gadgets and trends, what tools do you need to kit out your cupboards?

We asked four of our favourite kitchen store owners to share their insights on the essentials. For Fairwinds foodies, you’ll be delighted to know that these well-appointed shops are right around the corner, making for a perfect fall day trip or overnight outing.

THE WORLDLY GOURMET KITCHEN STORE, LADYSMITH

In less time than it takes to rise a loaf of crusty artisan bread, you can be at the doorstep of The Worldly Gourmet Kitchen Store in Ladysmith. Located on the main drag in a 1944 heritage building, owners Kamal and Therese Saab attract customers from Tofino to Victoria and beyond with local and international gourmet and commercial cookware.

“A great kitchen starts with great pots and pans,” says Kamal. “But we encourage our customers to try a mix of manufacturers instead of buying a set. For instance, start with a stainless steel pot and then add a Scanpan which we think are the best non-stick pans on the market. They are ceramic titanium, not teflon, and they can go into the oven up to 500°F. You can use very minimal or even no oil and the pans have a lifetime warranty.”

Other pots you’ll find in this well-stocked store include carbon steel pans for ceramic top and induction ranges, commercialsized stock pots and paella pans from the tiny tapas size up to one metre in diameter. And if paella is on the menu, don’t forget to pick up the paella rice, Spanish oil and saffron here too.

LOVE MY KITCHEN SHOP, SALT SPRING ISLAND

A quick ferry ride away to Ganges, lies another gem of a kitchen shop with everything from small got-to-have-it items to investment pieces.

Owner Linda Koroscil says that some of her best-sellers satisfy customers’ needs for more eco-friendly solutions. “Anything made from bamboo is popular, right down to our bamboo toothbrushes. Now that people are trying to reduce their use of plastic, they’re buying items like our stainless steel straws which are totally reusable.”

Moving away from plastics has also paved the way for Koroscil to introduce a new produce bag for carrying fruit and veggies home from the store and for keeping them fresher in the fridge. “Our Vaya bags are made out of a netting material and crafted in a small village in Mexico. They come in a pack of three different sizes and you can wash them and use them over and over again.”

THE FLYING FISH, NANAIMO

Well-situated on a sizeable downtown street corner, this 6,400 sq-foot store is a go-to for local foodies looking for new items to add to their kitchens. One of the trends Assistant Manager Gina Moscrip is seeing is that customers are making artisan bread at home. “We sell a lot of Banneton baskets which are used to hold shaped loaves as they proof and undergo their final rise. They’re a caned, natural fibre basket and come in different round and oblong sizes. The basket texture is imprinted onto the loaf or you can line the basket with linen for a smoother finish.”

Home cooks are also embracing the fermentation trend as a way to improve gut health. “We sell fermenting kits,” says Moscrip. “Whether you’re making kimchi or sauerkraut, we carry a kit that includes a glass jar with an air lock and a ceramic disk that weighs it down.”

As the weather cools, cocktail-obsessed hosts will be keen to check out new additions to their barware. “People are experimenting with more fun, artisanal drinks. Strainers and muddlers and hammered copper mugs for Moscow Mules are all popular choices,” adds Moscrip. “We’ve introduced a line of local bitters from BC Buttered Sling with flavours that range from root beer to grapefruit and hops. It’s a nice way to introduce local flavour into your cocktail creations.”

WHAT’S COOKING, QUALIICUM BEACH

After 27 years of operating this destination store in Qualicum Beach, husband and wife owners Patrick Simpson and Vickie Sissons know a thing or two about what home cooks are serving these days.

“One of the items on the menu is pizza,” says Simpson. “We sell pizza stones that are made in California. Rather than cooking your pizza on a metal pan that moisture can’t escape from, these stones absorb the moisture and will take up to 1200°F of heat so you get true crispy restaurant-style results.”

Innovation also makes its way onto the shelves with the introduction of Lodge Cookware’s Blacklock pans. “Every kitchen needs a good quality cast iron pan but as we get older, cast iron is just too heavy. The new Blacklock product looks and functions like cast iron but it is about half the weight. We carry this line in different sizes of frying pans, as well as a Dutch oven, wok and a deep saute pan.”

When it’s time to serve, What’s Cooking carries white tableware as well as bold and bright Fiesta ® ware. “Most colourful dinnerware is chippy because it’s made out of ceramic which chips down to white really easily but Fiesta ® is durable and they’ve got a fantastic array of colours from primary to pastels. These are unique and retro-inspired pieces that add a lot of wow factor to a table.”