"4"^^ . "2010-01-16T00:00:00"^^ . "5"^^ . . . . "I love giving this store my money.\n\nI hate to do it, but I'm going to make the comparison: Think Sur La Table, but way cooler - locally owned, VERY knowledgably staffed, with a range in almost every category of snobby cooking accessory, pricey to cheap. Plus, it isn't in an ant farm of a mall. Which is always a plus.\n\nKnife sharpening weekly for 6-7 a knife, no extra for serrated edges. Last time I had this done I was gently admonished for sticking them in the dishwasher as they were thrown on the pile - most of which was from chefs working at restaurants in the area.\n\nAsking questions here is a blast. They've either tested products in their back-of-store kitchen or own the product themselves and have good tidbits of advice to give. They'll special order you something, if they don't carry it. The selection of appliances is conservative but smart. And they do affordable cooking classes year-round. \n\nParking is annoying but either stick it in Hawthorne's lot, or drive around back and park in the gravel. Don't let it deter you from checking out Charlotte's awesomest cooking store."^^ . "0"^^ . "8"^^ .