As someone who loves to cook, I love to putz around in a well-stocked kitchen shop.  I never know what new tool or utensil will catch my eye and have me longing for yet another addition to my kitchen arsenal.  Now, I’ve found a new spot to get lost in for hours and dream of culinary possibilities.

The Kitchen Shoppe in Carlisle, PA.

Located just off of Exit 52 from I-81 (about 20 minutes from Harrisburg), this unique store has just about everything under the sun for use in the kitchen and/or home grill.  They have spice blends, wonton presses, olive oil spray guns, cast iron cookware, and bar accessories.  They have ‘The Big Green Egg’ smokers (in all different sizes, from table top to mammoth stand-alone), coffee makers, ramekins, dishtowels – even little rubber pigs to set on the rim of a boiling pot (so you can prop up the pot lid to let some of the steam escape without the excess moisture dripping out of the back side).

If it is made for use in a kitchen, chances are the Kitchen Shoppe has it.

Good thing I have some self-control, or else it would be very easy to get carried away and fill my trunk with a fortune’s worth of kitchen accessories.

The Kitchen Shoppe also has a demonstration kitchen/cooking school where they hold classes and demo dinners for about 35-40 people.  The guest chef (and his/her assistants) prepare a multi-course dinner (sometimes with wine pairings) and the lucky attendees get to eat everything prepared before them – as well as take home the recipes (and learn useful tricks and techniques from the chef along the way).

They have dozens of these classes and dinners, ranging from elaborate wine pairing dinners to various meal ideas to make out of common grocery store finds (like rotisserie chickens).  They also offer a wide range of classes, covering such topics as gluten free meals, holiday cocktails, or making home preserves and jellies.

If you have a love of cooking (or need an interesting gift idea for the cook in your life), point your vehicle northward and take a trip to the Kitchen Shoppe.

Visit them online for directions and class schedules at  www.kitchenshoppe.com.