Alex's Kitchenware Supply

Alex's Kitchenware Supply

160 Baldwin Street
Kensington Market
Toronto, ON

It all started when my brother over-slept. I had gone on a mission to stock his kitchen. He doesn't cook a whole lot, it's true, but there are some things that everyone definitely needs.

Knives.

He had pots and pans, but I could have gotten those too at Alex's Kitchenware Supply, a shop in Kensington Market that I stumbled into while I waited for my brother to drag himself out of bed in the middle of the afternoon.

Looking in the window of this shop on Baldwin, you immediately notice the wall of knives. You also see a sign for a bridal registry. If it has a registry, it's got to be fancy, I figure, never having been married. Upon wandering into the small shop, I discover a wall of beautiful Berghoff knives, pots, pans, flatware and other kitchenware. I certainly can't afford this. I was wrong. I was looking for good quality knives, not too expensive, since my brother really doesn't cook that much, but something that would last. I think I stumbled into the perfect shop.

A $34 German stainless steel chef's knife. This was the promotional price for the next few months on the beautifully balanced knife. How could it be so affordable? Turns out the whole new line of Frederick Aerts (a Berghoff designer) is always ridiculously affordable, even when it's not a promotional price. "Affordable luxury," it's called, says the Berghoff catalogue, and Alex (Sasha) Chernishov, the Kitchenware Supply shop owner, agrees. These are not handmade, one of a kind knives, but the value for the high quality is amazing. Mr. Chernishov insists that the hundreds of dollars you save on these knives make them a very attractive option. Stick the shop in the middle of money-saving Kensingon Market, in the middle of over-priced Toronto, and you've got yourself a winning business plan.

With 25%-off sales on high-quality flatware, cookingware and knife sets, this is definitely the right place to go for a bargain while avoiding Chinatown, and keeping your tail firmly out of between your financially-challenged legs. There are lots of options to choose from, ranging from the incredible $32 chef knife to the top of the Berghoff line $66 version.

And it is a good bridal registry shop. The flatware is beautiful. It's the kind you take out for special occasions that you always wished you had (maybe it's just me who always wished I had). Surgical-grade stainless steel will certainly not bend at the touch of over-cooked meat. I dare you to cook a tough enough steak to do that. The worst chef suddenly has his work cut out for him to keep that title.

Fondue pots (it's a Belgian company, Berghoff. Maybe they do a lot of their neighbour's fondue?), teapots, sauce pans, strainers. All amazing quality for the price.


And the service? The kindness fits right into the friendly market mentality.

Whether you're getting your knives sharpened and you're a vegan chef who does a little butchering on the side, you're looking for a simple paring knife, or you work for the Food Network, you'll be happy with what you get from Alex's Kitchenware Supply. Good people, good prices, good merchandise. My brother will have a good kitchen whether he oversleeps or not. Fortunately meals don't have fixed hours when you make them yourself...

Expect to Pay: $34-$66 for an individual chef knife, similarly good pricing on all other types of knives (less for a paring knife, more for beautiful Japanese knives), $125-$350 for a good to amazing knife set (no bad sets here. Some sets come with their own knife sharpener, or you can bring your knives back to the shop to be sharpened), $125 for flatware you'll keep forever, various amounts for pots, pans and other kitchenware.

Hours: Mon-Fri 12:30pm-7pm, Sat 11am-7pm, Sun 12pm-5pm
416-595-9530
www.berghoffcookwaretoronto.ca