John Lewis – ‘Edition’ magazine

Feature Article

Food for Thought

When one considers the shift into autumn, the brain sources images not simply of

looming early nights and dropping temperatures. The changing scenery from red to

brown brings with it a cosy, autumnal change of heart. British desires evolve from

bikinis to parkas; ice cream to baking. Our nostalgic love affair with the kitchen

grows from a bleak flame to a roasting log fire, warming our hearts with images of

freshly baked bread and mouth-watering hot cross buns.

But with this change of heart comes a natural need for renewal. Bringing out the

mundane, dusty kitchen utensils after another long summer filled me with dreaded

memories of past experiments gone awry. It’s time that we British begin choosing

long-lasting and reliable utensils that fulfil our reputation of ‘the baking nation’. John

Lewis’ extensive autumnal inspired range of cookware, storage and gadgets provide

an idyllic surrounding to any British kitchen regardless of style and era. Once again

the kitchen may become the queen of our castle.

The mixer is undoubtedly the staple garment of a kitchen’s wardrobe. Now more

affordable than ever, ‘KitchenAid’ and ‘Kenwood’s contemporary ranges of mixers

and blenders not only look good, but are easy to use and work efficiently. I personally

recommend ‘Kenwood’s kMix HM792 hand mixer. The vintage aesthetic and

compact structure means that this beautiful little aid works both in and out of storage

spaces. For a similar colour theme, look no further than ‘Kenwood’s ‘fire cracker’

mixer. At £369, her beautiful appearance and minimalist design makes her an element

on any ‘good housewife’s Christmas wish list. For the colour brave, I recommend

Emily Biggs

‘KitchenAid’s ‘Artisand Stand’ mixer. With a choice of finishes including cobalt,

raspberry ice and candy apple red, this gadget is not for the faint-hearted.

Those naughty dessert and bread makers are back with a vengeance. Nothing says

autumn more than a batch of warm, sugared crepes and ‘Severin’s S2198 Crepe

maker allows this French art to become child’s play. Equally, ‘Breville’s VTP100

Cupcake maker provides an exciting activity to fill many cold afternoons with the

kids. Easy to use and in a candy-floss pink finish, don’t be surprised if come January,

the children are focussing their career options on the patisserie world!

For entertaining guests of a more sophisticated breed, we understand that every course

counts. After dinner coffee is no longer served noir, a la crème or frothy. With an

extensive choice of hot beverage makers and servers, coffee now takes multiple

forms. For a classic ground coffee, choose the ‘DeLonghi’ EC152.CD. Affordable

and chic, your post-dinner kitchen will be filled with the classic aroma of warm

Italian cafes. For something a little more decadent, invest in the ESAM6700 ‘Prima

Donna’. Priced at £1,395 this machine is guaranteed not to miss a second glance.

Silver, chrome and with 12 different functions, she is ideal for an autumn dinner party

to remember.

Alternatively, for a more modest end to your soiree, choose from a large range of

cafetieres, tea makers and tea pots, my favourite of which being the Moroccan

inspired ‘Folklore Teapot’. Large enough to handle a large family of tea drinkers and

a style which reflects current design trends, she is a vital finishing touch that no

kitchen should be without.

All in all, John Lewis’ kitchen range is designed with you in mind. We aim to make

kitchen living easier, more enjoyable and productive. From initial preparation to after

dinner treats, details can make all the difference in your home-hub. With well-made

Emily Biggs

products and easy to use gadgets, cooking can once again become a pleasure. Happy

autumn.

Emily Biggs