With Christmas dinner just around the corner, every cook needs essential tools to make that turkey golden and perfect. So, I thought it would be a good idea to check out some local kitchen stores and see what cool kitchen ware is available to make your holiday dinner a little easier.

Cook Culture, 1317 Blanshard St, is a fabulous source for those who love food and cooking. They sell a beautiful array of essential and fun kitchen ware in an open and bright new store located in the Atruim building.

Cooking classes are also offered for all interests and skill levels, given by local chefs, passionate about their trade.

So with Christmas dinner in mind, I was shown the beautifully designed All-Clad Stainless Roasting Set. It comes complete with pan, rack and poultry lifters. This roaster holds up to a 25-lb. bird in its non-stick rack and the roaster’s designed handles make it easy to get a family-size feast into and out of the oven. I can’t imagine going back to the old black speckled roaster, my mom had for years!

Penne and Co., in the Broadmead shopping centre, is another local store for those who love to cook. They too, sell a wide variety of colourful cookware, dishes of all shapes, utensils and everything kitchen.

There, I found out where to put that beautifully roasted bird after it’s out of the roaster. This Acacia wood carving board is perfectly designed to carve the meat and have the juices drain to a small pool where you can keep your slices moist. Good functional design is everything!

With that in mind, before you start carefully planning a festive meal for friends and family, pop into one of these local specialty shops and find out what will make that bird easier to get to the table.

Sheri Peterson has been an interior designer for 22 years in Victoria. She designs for commercial, residential and hospitality clients.