Reader’s Choice

Northwestern Cutlery

Sure, other shops have fancy displays and the latest gizmos, but if you’re of the school that believes all a cook really needs is a good knife and a few essential pots and pans, this is the place. Just ask the pros who converge here to get their knives sharpened. Inside, shiny new blades glitter in a long row of display cases: Henkels, Wusthof, Fornscher, Misono. Shelves and walls are crammed with professional grade zesters, sieves, ricers, chinois, and whisks. There’s also a selection of Le Creuset and All-Clad cookware priced slightly cheaper than at Sur la Table and, for the truly dedicated, $14.95 copies of Basic Butchering of Livestock and Game.  810 W. Lake, 312-421-3666, northwesterncutlery.net. —Martha Bayne

Readers’ Choice

Sur la Table

52 E. Walton, 312-337-0600, and 755 W. North, 312-787-5111, surlatable.com.

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