Photos by Cook on Bay
When it comes to giving (and receiving) gifts during the Holidays, these self-professed “foodies” who love to cook love anything from Cook on Bay. Quite simply, the iconic Bay Street shop, where their sign promises, “Cooking Tools & Foodie Fun,” has something for everyone. And, that includes us… hint, hint.
When we finally moved to Beaufort full-time and experienced our first Holidays season here, we really enjoyed joining in on the tradition of sharing tasty and tasteful gifts with our neighborhood and beyond. Whether it’s homemade cookies and other sweets, seasoned nuts of some sort, treats from the Chocolate Tree (hint, hint), and more, we have really enjoyed giving and receiving dozens of perishable gifts from near and far… and the yummy gifts typically “perish” quite quickly.
And, nope, we don’t regift food… even if it’s fruitcake. In fact, we may just try southern author Johnathan Scott Barrett’s “Mama’s Christmas Fruitcake Cookies” this year. The recipe is in one of his great cookbooks, Cook & Celebrate, and Johnathan also has a new and highly recommended novel called Ship Watch that’s coming out this month. We also really enjoy making Holidays recipes from beloved area caterer and popular Lowcountry Weekly contributor Debbi Covington’s popular cookbooks, as well as from Mary Martha Greene’s bestseller, The Cheese Biscuit Queen Tells All (cheese biscuits, anyone?).
But, when it comes to a gift that’s a bit more substantial, we love giving (and receiving) something from Cook on Bay.
Inside Cook on Bay
Founded in 2017 by sisters Jodi Campbell and Anne Willey, it was obvious to us the first time that we entered Cook on Bay many years ago that, like us, they love to cook and have a passion for food, family, and friends.
“When you visit our store, you’ll be immersed in a cook’s dream come true,” Jodi says. “Our mission is to make shopping for cooking tools and much more fun and educational.”
Jodi adds, “We offer special coastal cooking tools and serveware, locally sourced Lowcountry foods and seasonings, and an extensive collection of unique kitchen tools and gadgets, cookware, bakeware, grilling accessories [we’ll admit to having four grills, including a new Big Green Egg], knives, barware, and more.” We’re also huge fans of spatulas and have more than a dozen, so we always say hey to their fun apron-donning Spatula Girl “sculpture” in the front window when we’re in Cook on Bay.
Along with spatulas, we can personally attest to the “more” part of Jodi’s lengthy menu of possibilities. There’s something for everyone, including: dog and cat owners; boaters and RVers; crab, pineapple, flamingo, bird, and bee lovers; Beaufort and South Carolina items; lots of collegiate stuff for fans; and a lot more. And, did we mention their great knife sharpening service, which we highly recommend?
Front window
Along with adding a plug for their special kids section (for the budding young chefs in our lives), Jodi says everything they carry is hand-selected based on quality and performance, Cook’s Illustrated reviews (a “foodie” magazine that we have used and collected for years), personal experience, and special requests from customers like us.
Of Cook on Bay’s great staff, Jodi says, “These are the gals who work so hard and deserve all the recognition.” We’ve found all Cook on Bay staff are very knowledgeable and can assist in finding the perfect Holidays gift. They have 2,500-plus items and more than 200 brands! We thus thought it best to simply ask for favorite “Staff Picks” and let them take it from there.
Jodi’s Picks:
*Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Ovens: “This iconic Dutch oven is the most versatile pot in my kitchen! Think 
casseroles, one-pot meals, soups & stews, breads, desserts, frying, braising, slow-cooking. It does it all!” There’s an in-store Holidays special on the 3.5 quart Dutch oven!
*Wusthof Classic 5” Santoku Knife: “The Santoku is my go-to knife in my kitchen — perfect for chopping, slicing and dicing. I love that it is lighter and more manageable than a chef’s knife, and the blade is thinner than a chef’s knife, making it less likely to produce rough cut.” There’s an in-store special on this knife for the Holidays!
Janet’s Picks:
*A set of Wusthof Steak Knives in Olivewood Box: “A beautiful gift that will last multi-generations.” There’s an in-store Holidays special on this set.
*Le Creuset Cocottes: “Great holiday hostess gift or Le Creuset starter items. They are microwavable.” We are huge Le Creuset fans and these colorful cocottes are also specially priced during the holidays
*Smithey Cast Iron Pan: “Another beautiful gift that will last multi-generations.”
*FinaMill Grinders and Mills: “Perfect gift for someone with arthritis – no twisting to grind the salt or pepper! They come in several colors and have a light to show how much salt or pepper is dispensed.”
Micki’s Picks:
*Avery’s Home Dish Towel with a Matching Swedish Dish Cloth: “I love the Blue Crab Christmas Tree! But there
are so many great choices. I like these dish towels because they are a lovely fabric and the artwork is very expressive, fun and 
beautiful! A matching Swedish Dish Cloth makes it a perfect gift with a good price point — this is an ideal hostess gift!”
*The GreenPan 10” Skillet with a Supoon Spoon: “The GreenPan is a healthy alternative to the traditional non-stick pans because there are no chemicals in the ceramic finish and the surface is slick and non-stick. Cleanup is a breeze! The Supoon is a fun pop of color to add to this gift and it is very functional. It sits up off the counter and measures as a tablespoon. I love to use it for sauces.”
Laura’s Picks:
*Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Skillet: “I love this skillet for many reasons. I love that it goes easily from stovetop to oven. Perfectly sear and caramelize a delicious steak. Easily make one skillet meals. Even bake focaccia or cornbread. Available in a variety of beautiful Le Creuset colors. This skillet will last a lifetime. An investment you could even pass down.”
*Fred Good Measure Cocktail Mixing Glass and BOLD Unbreakable Barware: Perfect for Holidays cheers…and, “Cheers!”
Jodi says customers can also shop at the comprehensive online store, with free shipping over $100, so they can ship to friends and family across the United States. Every product they carry in the store is available for purchase online. For those who aren’t sure what to get that special someone for the Holidays, they also offer gift cards — both in-store and online…hint, hint.
Cook on Bay often holds events, with special promotions, product demos, and giveaways — especially First Fridays! They are especially known for their signature cocktails for First Fridays. Cheers to that!
Cook on Bay has special extended Holidays hours, giving us even more time to find tasty and tasteful gifts for the Holidays.
Cook on Bay
720 Bay Street
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 379-2202
