This year marks the 5th anniversary for Kyle and Jenny Otsuka's Zest Kitchen Shop in Picton. Since the day they opened their doors, visitors have likely first been greeted by Carter (one of the cutest pooches on Main St who just celebrated his 15th birthday!) followed by a warm welcome from either one (or both) of these owners. Kyle and Jenny are extremely personable and passionate about cooking and have an in-depth knowlege on all of the product they carry. On their site, they share their philosphy that many of life's warmest memories are created in the kitchen and around the table - and the products in-store reflect that philosophy.
Zest carries a terrific selection of top notch product for all activity in the kitchen with a focus on quality, style and function. Their prices are extremely reasonable (I believe much less than you would find at Williams Sonoma, for example, in Toronto) and the service is second-to-none. They also offer knife sharpening, a gift registry and carry quite a bit of product from local artisans. We have purchased a couple of Staub pots from them, and one of my favourite finds has been a $10 wine glass dryng mat. That's right - a rubber mat that has grooves in it and is PERFECT for giving your delicate glassware a stable surface to dry on. I've even picked up a few for hostess gifts :)
In addition to his duties with Zest, Kyle is also the GM for Seasoned Events - a catering/event company. In partnership with chef Scott Royce, they create and host unique dining experiences in locations across The County, and they also cater weddings. While I have never attended one of their events, I hear they are wonderful.
If you love to cook or need to find a gift for one of your foodie friends and find yourself in The County - stop by this wonderful store, you won't be sorry that you did.
Zest Kitchen Shop is located at:
192 Main Street in Piction
613-645-9378
