The Kitchen - Show Me What Cha Workin’ With

November 20th, 2007

Ever wonder what’s in other peoples’ kitchens? I’ve seen quite a number in my time and though a few were somewhat similar, I’ve never seen two that were exactly alike. They come in so many different sizes and styles, from huge and lavishly designed to small and modestly equipped. But there is one thing I believe all kitchens have in common. More often than not, they reflect (to varying degrees) the individual personality and style of the owner, with some exceptions of course.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on one’s perspective), I am an apartment dweller, which means that my kitchen is relatively small and I had absolutely no input regarding its design. Also, because my apartment community is a bit old, its buildings have more than a few issues, particularly with the walls, floors and doors (most likely due to foundation problems), which present a bit of a challenge when trying to spruce the place up. Add to that the typical lease-imposed restrictions and I am rendered quite limited as to how much I can do with this space. Hopefully, this situation will be remedied within the next year or so; I am planning to purchase another home. In the meantime, I simply make due with what I have and thank God for it!

Immediately after I started taking these shots, two things quickly became apparent. One, I was painfully reminded that I am most definitely an amateur photographer and not knowing much about my camera just exacerbated the situation. Two, this job would have been much easier if I had a wide angle lens. These limitations notwithstanding, I think I managed to capture a few decent shots that provide a glimpse into my culinary playground and convey the essence of my style.

The kitchen is one of my favorite spaces and being an avid cook and food lover, I’m always looking for ways and equipment to make beautiful, great-tasting food as quickly and easily as possible. That being the case, I am very much a “gadget” person. A few of my favorites include my granite mortar and pestle, food processor, blender and mixer.

I tend to spend large amounts of my time here, either prepping food, cooking, cleaning or simply staring out of the window, so I do what I can to make it as comfortable as possible. In addition to my cooking equipment, I have my trusty little stool, which makes the long job of food prep much more pleasant. I love music almost as much as I love food, so my kitchen wouldn’t be “my kitchen” without some smooth, jazzy background sounds to soothe me as I cook and inspire my creative flow. Of course, there are times when my kitchen-cleaning and cooking times clash or overlap with my favorite program/movie times, and since I cannot be in two places at once, a small flat screen and mini dvd player was the only solution.

As my friends and family already know, I am also a wine lover. Good wine and good music are perfect companions for those weekend afternoons spent in the kitchen preparing wonderfully delicious meals.

For a fresh and airy feel, the final touch for my cooking space is beautiful greenery. Few things lift my spirits more than live plants and flowers and having them as part of my kitchen decor seems only natural. I’m just disappointed that I wasn’t able to fully capture my four-rack plant stand.

Note to self: Must get that wide angle lens!

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