I have an ongoing, acute case of kitchen hankering.
It makes me laugh sometimes, because I’m sure there are a lot of people who would look at our kitchen and think that it’s pretty close to ideal (and it is) but when you live and work in it every day, eventually you pick up on the shortcomings and faults.
Chief amongst those downsides for me would be the lack of a double sink. When I lived on my own (pre-Everyman) I got so used to that small luxury that when we moved in together it was one of the things I ended up resenting about our shoebox apartment (that and the gaudy Scarface-esque rose-tinted mirrored walls, and chipped granite floors. A spacious kitchen was always in the plans when we were condo/house shopping a few years back, and even though I knew I wanted it, the sink ended up being one of a million tiny details that I wasn’t paying attention to. Not that I would’ve walked away from our place because of it when it came down to decision time. Of course, since our countertops are stainless steel, it’s not exactly the easiest thing to refit the kitchen with a new sink, either.
Another thing our kitchen lacks is a sizable pantry. We have 5 standard over the fridge or under the counter cabinets, but I’m a hardcore cook; I come with a plethora of gear. My kitchen tools, dishes and implements take up 4 of the 5 cabinets, plus one whole windowsill, which only leaves one small 3 shelf cabinet for dry staples. We have a minuscule broom closet that could theoretically be converted into a small pantry, if I weren’t using it to hang coils of my home-cured sausages.
The third thing that’s missing is an island. When we first saw our condo, it was staged and they had a movable island set up in the empty space between the kitchen and the living area, so I just sort of assumed that once we moved in we’d get one. In an attempt to keep the flow of the space open we’ve since decided against this, but it also means that I have nowhere to centre a well-placed ceiling pot rack to free up that valuable cupboard space.
Other than those 3 small nuisances, our kitchen is practically perfect, though my dream kitchen for our next house has been shaped by nagging kitchen covetousness. One of our neighbours a few doors over has a droolworthy wood-burning oven situated in their backyard, one which I have contemplated hopping the half dozen fences between our properties to use late at night. Due to that, (plus a trip to my in-laws friend’s where a wood-burning hearth formed the central heating system for their cottage) a wood oven has now become a near necessity. It might take me until I’m retired and living in the country pickin’ beans, but dammit, some day I will have one!
In recent years a secondary oven has also become something of a want; one that I didn’t grasp the convenience of until I met the Everyman’s mom. Not only does she have a second oven, but it happens to be installed at their home-away-from-home cottage – making it perfect for hosting large holiday celebrations. In general it just seems like a smart (if luxurious) idea that would aid in expedited baking.
An ever-increasing appreciation for the art of charcuterie practically guarantees that my next home will have a workable area to use as a curing room or cave that’s far enough away from cat toilets so as not to taint my precious meats. I still don’t know much about what makes a space ideal for this, but at this point, anything’s got to be a step up from my broom closet and kitchen window, right?
My biggest wish and greatest love crystallized after I saw the episode of Alton Brown’s Feasting On Waves where they tour the CuisinArt Spa in Anguilla; specifically their amazing greenhouse. Some day I hope my home will have a tremendous conservatory where I can grow delicious edibles and tropicals year round. Though it’s quaint and reminds me of too many hours spent playing Clue, it is the one truly outrageous desire I have for my forever home. Silly perhaps, but nobody ever said I wasn’t a dreamer.
So, that’s it! No doubt a few of these are somewhat niche, but I’d rather have any of them than a kitchen full of Sub Zero, Wolf or Gaggenau any day. Because really, if you’re not a very good cook to begin with, it doesn’t matter if your range cost you $400 or $40,000? Have you ever noticed how a lot of people who have those fancy schmancy designer kitchens never even cook in them, anyway? To that I say, what a shame.
Care to share what sort of kitchen toys top your wishlist?
Until next time…
Tags: Alton Brown, CuisinArt Resort, dreams, Feasting On Waves, kitchen, ramblings
