I should say this outright - I don't like to cook…read more I find it taxing and stressful, so with that in mind, you'd think I would hate the Kitchen Catering Utensils store, but I'm strangely drawn to its mesmerising arts-and-crafts-like setup - rows upons rows of multifarious items I never knew existed but must now have because it'll make my lacklustre attempts at cooking that much easier. Decked out on two expansive floors, the Kitchens store is an emporium dedicated to the culinary art, whose sensual powers appears to have eluded me; but fear not, like I said, even if you hate cooking, I bet you can find something here that piques your interest, whether it's espresso machines or cake decorating paraphernalia. I think it's the largest kitchen supply store of its kind in Cardiff, so if they don't have it, I'd say your best bet is to take your hunt online.

Kitchen's is amazing. It has every gadget for your kitchen you never realised you wanted until you…read moresaw it here. There are 2 floors dedicated to everything from plates to blow torches. I happen to be a bit of a cake making enthusiast and they have a good range of tins as well as lots of decorations to top them off. Me and mum often play the guess the gadget game in here and try and work out what things do. The staff will helpfully explain if you really want to know. I could spend a fortune, I just need a bigger kitchen now!

Whenever I stay with my mum, I always ask her to cook me the foods that I love that I don't eat…read moreunless she cooks them for me. When she asks why I don't cook them for myself, my reply is something along the lines of "I don't have a [insert kitchen item here] like you have". This is true, I do only have the basic kitchen equipment, and it's also fear that if I could make it myself, I'd do it wrong. The last time I had this conversation, her response was a rather exasperated "well isn't there a market in Cardiff? You must be able to get one there!" So, to appease my mother, and to finally be able to start cooking my favourite foods, I headed to the market and straight to this stall which I knew very well existed after having bought a jug here in my first year at uni. Pots & Pans sells all the kitchen things you didn't realise you needed until you went back to your mum's house and saw how much better stocked her kitchen cupboards were, and remembered how good a cook she is. Of course, it also sells the things you know you need in a kitchen. And it's all at bargain prices, and is pretty decent stuff too.

Guess what they sell here. I'll give you three goes, like a genie…read more So Aladdin, what is it to be? No, no and no. And I thought this was an easy one for you. They sell pots and pans, silly. Pots, lots of them. And. Pans, lots of those too. Pans to cook food in, to bake cakes, to mix batter. If you ruin pans on the scale that I have been doing of late (absent-minded, iplayer-distracted cook that I am) this place will save you. You can replace ruined pans or stock up for your new life as a student (one pan, a milk pan is best, something completely useless for cooking for more than one person in) or as a new free and single person (many shiny pans to show off with at all the dinner parties you will throw to show how wonderful you are without them). You could also buy gifts for your mate that always cooks for you (HINT)/ your house husband/ your Gran. Pots & Pans, does what it says on the (cake) tin.

Mode - [mōd] (plural modes) noun. [L.modus]…read more 1. A manner of acting or doing something; method; way. 2. A particular type or form of something. Mode was founded by product designers Duncan and Kevin in late 2004 as a design consultancy and they have since expanded to produce their own range of affordable products for the home - design-led gifts and interior design accessories. Another of their best mates from school, Alun has since joined the team. They now design practical iconic products for contemporary kitchens and homes with a quintessentially British twist. The industry is taking notice. They've won the Gift of the Year award for the first of the products - a rubber Fridge Clock that magnetically attaches to your fridge door. They've also racked up numerous gongs for other products including international recognition with Design Plus winner and Design Preis nomination for Fridge Monkey, an anti-roll matt which stops bottles and cans from racing around in your icy interiors. I also like their new lab ware range of shakers and drizzlers.

Madam McLovely dragged me round here the other day. Really didn't want to go in there, but with a…read moreforced smile I entered the dreaded Lakeland. Oh how my reservations subsided instantly as we walked round. Men, it's essentially a gadgets store! I was held back many a time in the spacious, brightly light wooden floored shop. I'm not quite sure what half the things were I was playing with, but was told by my lovely chops that the store had everything you needed and more for cooking. With great gadgets, come great prices and you won't get your Ikea deals here though. A special mention must go to the super nice staff. Probably feeling sorry for my other half as I bombed around like a child, they spoke extensively to her and seemed genuinely friendly without forcing a sale. So next time your dragged in Lakeland lads, just close your eyes and believe yourself to be a gadget shop to get you through.

Lakeland has long been a slightly guilty pleasure of mine (I'm far too young to be getting excited…read moreover kitchen accessories). Unfortunately I don't think this Lakeland is anywhere near as good as the old one opposite House of Fraser on Wharton Street. Whilst they have a nice selection of Kitchen utensils, and accessories, it's no way near enough. The lay out of the store is rather cramped. So give this a miss!

Well I know for one fact that IKEA do not allow photos to be taken in less you ask the Human…read moreResources department! Typical or what?! That's the first place that I have told not take pictures of within a long time. I know this because I was told off by the till area for not being able to take pictures without permission, but that was after I had been taking pictures already inside and plenty of staff where around who could have also told me off. Mind you the guy at the entrance did look a bit shifty towards me as I had my camera around my neck, but he did not say anything to me still. It is a very useful and massive shop, based around the Cardiff Bay and it is free to enter. They have several sections of products such as; lights, bed duvets, candles, pictures frames, cloth hangers, plenty of storage items, mirrors, a cafe, a car park, a low deals offer, large lifts, escalators, and a Swedish food market area. Entry is free; the staff do seem a little picky about certain things, but it is a very useful shop and our house and Caravan in Pembrokeshire are both full of IKEA items and products. I would still recommend it as a shop for everyone to attend and buy house items from.

We all know Ikea is a must for furniture hunters on a budget - not just in Cardiff but world wide -…read moredid you know that Ikea is the biggest furniture seller in the world? But this review isn't about the furniture - ohhhhh controversial!!!!! I hear you say. This review is about the food. All I want to say is consider Ikea not just as a furniture store but a quite good cheap restaurant too. Its great value for money. You can get a cooked breakfast for 99p! Where else in the developed world can you get that? Ok the meatballs and the fish and chips are not as cheap but they are as cheap as a chip shop and you have all the sauce you could wish for and a table and chair to sit down and eat it at too! One word of advice I wouldn't take a first date here - I did once and it didn't last long after we left the store - pity really she looked quite nice all dressed up.

Xantippe (try saying that when you've had a few) is a boutique furniture and gift shop that…read morespecializes in all things French. Style wise I'd say this is a place for the ladies as I'm not sure how many men would be keen on the delicate hand painted book cases and pink garden chairs. That aside, if the furniture isn't to your taste then there is a huge selection of gifts for the women in your life. Expect beautiful little china tea cups, candles and hand woven baskets, (perfect for storing bottles of vin!) It's a little on the twee/kitch side but that's exactly my style so you won't find me complaining. If you're not into it then that's a whole other kettle of poissons.

Devon, when I lived there about ten years ago, used to be awash with shops that sell the kind of…read morestuff that Xantippe specialise in... but their prices were never quite so steep! I guess there's been a fair few price hikes in the last ten years, but I'm still prone to a stiff intake of breath when I pick up a mug, albeit a very nice mug, and see that it costs somewhere around the £12 mark! i am also astonished by the cost of butter dishes! Did you know that you can pay as much as £40 for a butter dish...? yes, that's right, a butter dish! And that's on eBay. My quest, whilst not being of the Holy Grail epic proportions quite yet, has seen me visit practically every interior design, kitchenware, and charity shop in Cardiff and surrounding area over the last six months, and so desperate am I to find one soon that I have resorted to looking on-line. I peeled through in excess of twenty pages of dishes the other day, and didn't find one that I was suitably impressed by... well, I did actually, but I am unwilling to pay £40 for it! Sadly, Xantippe also didn't offer me a solution to my perpetual search either! But it did provide me with a half hours worth of extremely contented browsing. This is a lovely shop, that sells a lot of rusticana... delightful!