Cookshop Throwdown

I finally made it to the Sur La Table that opened on 50th and France in Edina, mere steps down from Cooks of Crocus Hill. Of course I did a little comparative secret shopping.

I’ve enjoyed Sur La Table in many places before, the Seattle Pike’s Place market location being my favorite. The store has always held a cozy accessability to me as a cook, with kitchen tables piled high with rubber spatulas and whisks a-go-go (I’ve always felt the same about Chef’s Gallery). There were high-buck pots and pans, as well as fun and less expensive gadgetry which seem to suck me in, and everything was merchandized smartly. Though I meandered for over half an hour, I wasn’t chatted-up until I got to the register, and there were plenty of employees around. Maybe they’re upgrading as a company, but this outpost seemed a little more Williams-Sonoma and little less kitchen table.

Heading down to Cooks, the first thing I noticed was the word LOCAL on their kiosk. Inside, it was business as usual, if not a little more solicitous. There were plenty of people, merchandizing is just as good as the new neighbors, and the staff seems unworried.

Overall, I’d say they could work well together: each had a strength that parried the other’s weakness. Sur had more cutting edge gadgets (nifty silicone pan holders) while Cook’s had a huge selection of food books. Sur had more appliances, Cook’s had more cool ingredients. Sur, being larger, has more stuff, but Cook’s has the demo kitchen and a killer line-up of chef’s who teach. After all the perusing, I left Sur with some funky drinking straws and garbage disposal cleaners. At Cook’s I bought two paper toques for Jake and his cousin.

Quite inspired to cook something, I headed to Trader Joe’s to pick up some ingredients, but ended up wandering over to the small and virtuous Bellaria Bakery Cafe. Anyone should be in awe of their wedding cakes, but I sit in amazement over their pain au chocolat, which I have never been able to produce to satisfaction. I must not have the right gadgets.