A recipe for success
Find the perfect gift at TuTuTu Kitchen Cottage in Newport
By Naima Baker
For the TODAY
Create a true-to-you kitchen with TuTuTu Kitchen Cottage, where the cookware selection is a 10 out of 10. Whether it's filling in a missing utensil at a rental, searching for the perfect pan or simply fulfilling a desire to peruse, a walk through this colorfully full yet orderly establishment in Newport’s Nye Beach district has something for every fancy.
From practical chopping knives to whimsical retro magnetic oven timers, owner Genae Collett has curated an impressive variety of culinary tools, gadgets, cookbooks and spices, plus a few goodies just for fun.
The warmly lit, music-filled and carefully crafted culinary shop is a feast for the eyes of any foodie. As an avid lover of fresh homemade meals, working at, and then purchasing, a kitchenware store was second nature to Collett.
"It helps support my kitchen habit," she said.
Though the decision to buy the business did cause some waffling, not of the breakfast variety, Collett has no regret, happily hosting the store along with her helpful daughter Moirae and co-worker Becky. Ready to assist with advice and answer questions, these bright women shine with the love of good food and family.
They offer the highest quality for ambitious bakers and seasoned chefs, with products like the Ankarsrum Mixer, voted number one by “America's Test Kitchen.” This top-notch mixer is available in a variety of tones to match your tastes and has a mighty motor with innovative rotation that moves the bowl as opposed to the metal mixing arm, a build that will blend even the thickest and stickiest of dough.
Close by is a collection of La Chamba ware, smooth black ceramic cookware with an organic texture and aesthetic. Strikingly ancient looking, the straight-to-table serving vessels are designed for open flames and ovens.
Also for those who appreciate a cooking surface made from all natural materials is the French Carbon Steel line. A favorite of professionals, these pans and woks are made from a winning combination of stainless steel and iron.
"Most people who buy one of these come back for another one in a different size," Collet said.
Similarly, the 75-year-strong Le Creuset line is an iron ceramic blend available in a rainbow of colors, and this is the only place on the coast that sells them.
The store’s hybrid ceramic pots and pans with raised stainless steel above the non-stick surface allow the use of metal spoons and spatulas without fear of tearing the smooth underlying material.
"We are very particular about our non-stick,” Collett said. “We stay away from all the nasty stuff.”
Missing an appropriately sized, sharp knife? American-made Lamson Cutlery has you covered with their decorative red marbled handles. Or perhaps a bowl for batter and bread dough? The shop carries the ones Mason Cash makes, the very same brand used in the “Great British Bakeoff.” Every culinary essential is available in a range of prices and styles, organized loosely from North American and Dutch, to Latin and Japanese.
Seekers of small gifts will find plenty of mini purchases, like a Moonstruck espresso dark chocolate bar, real cheddar cheese popcorn flavoring, golden chamomile loose leaf tea or a pocket-size tin of the locally produced Jacobsen Salt.
Those who like to color coordinate their kitchens will be in a heaven of choices. From burnt orange teapots to pastel plates, a motley assortment of mugs, lime green glasses glimmering in the sunlight and several shades of purple analog wall clocks from violet to periwinkle, the possibilities are perfectly pigmented.
With the cozy cottage's combination of cutlery and culture, some people come here just to relax. Let the stress of the week melt like butter while meditating on the mysteries of sourdough starter and the simple luxury of a leaf-shaped bread embosser. Calm the mind by stirring up a recipe from "Appetizer Deck" cookbook, imagine all the possibilities held in a new casserole dish, or treat yourself to some self-care with the ideal kitchen vanity item. A leisurely stroll through TuTuTu Kitchen Cottage, pondering all the yummy, tummy-pleasing creations these tools can craft, will elevate your mood as well as your cooking game.
TuTuTu Kitchen Cottage is located at 222 NW Coast Street in Newport and is open Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm and Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. For more information, call 541-265-8065.
• TuTuTu Kitchen Cottage and other Nye Beach Businesses will host a holiday open house this Friday, Nov. 21, from 4 to 7 pm, with festivities including live music, food and hot toddies.