Although Sandra Keitel owns a store full of cooking utensils and other items, she finds it humorous that she doesn’t do the cooking at home ? she leaves it to her husband.
But her husband Martin, who was born in Germany, was what inspired her to open a store where wannabe and professional chefs can purchase the best cooking equipment money can buy at a reasonable price ? that’s what Gourmet Concept is all about.
The store, located at 6 S. Washington St. in downtown Oxford next to the Wireless Toyz store, made a comeback earlier this month after a six-year absence.
Keitel, a Clarkston resident, first opened a cooking store in Oxford in April of 2001, but then moved to a larger location in Grand Blanc. But, the small, hometown feel of Oxford seemed to keep calling her back.
‘Oxford’s such a great community in the parades and the events they have,? she said. ‘We missed that.?
As soon as you walk into Gourmet Concept, it seems every inch of wallspace is full of European stainless steel utensils, baking pans and many other products, like All-Clad, Zyliss and special Wusthof knives.
‘If you want the good stainless steel that’s going to last, we’ve got it,? she said.
There are also cookbooks on Japanese and Australian cuisine, dipping oils for bread, colorful napkins and tablecloths, racks for wine bottles, wine bottle stoppers, goblets, cookie cutters, and even creative serving dishes, like one dish shaped as a bundle of asparagus.
Aside from cooking products, Gourmet Concept sells hand lotions, candles, creams, meat marinades and special sauces. The list goes on and on.
Keitel said her store is also planning on being very active in helping the less fortunate, like hosting cookie bake-offs for SCAMP, who provides recreational activities and academic support for multiply impaired children and young adults, raising money for the Michigan Food Bank, and even donating some proceeds from her October cooking classes to various breast cancer awareness funds.
Starting next month, the Gourmet Concept is hoping to begin cooking classes, from basic home economics to corporate etiquette dinner classes. As of now, one cooking classes will be taught by a chef from Williams-Sonoma, and even some local chefs.
The classes will run at different times during the week and will have a different cost depending on the type of class. Call the store for further information.
With all of the larger chain stores, like Bed, Bath & Beyond emerging, Keitel said Gourmet Concept strives to give a more personal service that will keep their customers coming back.
They carry more contemporary European items, offer free gift wrapping and will search to no end in finding and ordering the product you need.
‘We’re a little guy, so we can be different and unique,? Keitel said.
Gourmet Concept will have its grand opening on Tuesday, October 3, with food samples from Victoria’s, free knife sharpening from Wusthof from 4-7 p.m., and representatives from All-Clad and Zyliss will demonstrate how some of their gadgets and utensils work.
Gourmet Concept is open Monday from 11-5, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10-6, Thursday from 10-8 and Saturday from 10-5. Contact them via e-mail at gourmetconcept@msn.com or call (248) 274-5107.