If you're a homeware junkie like me, this is your haven!…read more Tucked away in SF's Japantown, SF76 is a beautifully curated store featuring all things homeware, kitchenware, and cutie knickknacks. Walking in, it reminded me of an elevated Muji, but with more intentionally sourced goodies from local artists and makers. I could truly spend hours here- the selection is amazing! I ended up with a handful of adorable chopstick rests to take home.

Selection: Nice unique mix of goods. Service: Above and…read morebeyond! I bought some pencils that look like Twizzler sticks and said they were gifts. The clerk made a custom long slim gift wrap for them with loop bow and store logo sticker! So pretty & perfect!!

What a great place to buy gifts for the cook in your life. Stylish, unique and practical items…read more We had a great time browsing here. Found several fun gift options. They have a small fry pan wi the a removable handle so it can also be used as your dinner plate.

Unsung gem of a Japanese household goods store tucked in a corner of Japantown. Calling it a…read morehigh-end Daiso is doing it a disservice, but if one took the kitchen/household section of Daiso and replaced all the items with crafted wares, and things that are not disposable this is the feel of Sanko. Cutting to the chase, I'm here for the Hasami Ceramics. While one could order these online, Sanko carries the entire line. One could touch/feel and purchase these on the spot.

There is no place like this place. It's such a beautiful store, filled with all sorts of absolutely…read moreexquisite things, nothing like typical Mexican import places. You feel like you're in a museum surrounded by artifacts, except the prices are so reasonable. Talavera Ceramics brings the real Mexico to us. And there's no one like Lilia, the amazingly knowledgeable gal who has run the place for 20 years. She and the store are truly Bay Area treasures!

We are so happy to have our wood burning oven finally completed. The tiles we chose were special…read moreorder, but work the wait. This oven has been used for years and we finally got our tiles done, long over due. There were so many options, it was hard to choose.

We love their work! We have their plates and bowls of all…read moresizes. My two favorite finishes are eel skin and moonshadow.

MMClay is an experience of beauty, creativity and joy! To go to the studio and hangout with the…read moreartist and meet the staff is a joy. To watch the creativity in the work is an experience. To serve my guests dinner or appetizers on these beautiful hand glazed and designed dishes is beautiful! Thank you MaryMar for making dinner feel magical again!

In this great city by the Bay, Sacramento Street in Pacific Heights has been a well traversed…read moreshopping district with edgy boutiques, home decorating stores, cafes, salons, etc. Sue Fisher King, (aka SFK) is, hands down, the QUEEN of them all! Located on the south side of Sacramento, between Baker and Broderick, the store is flanked by a design store, a cool edgy and hip boutique, and 2 home stores. In my city walks since I moved here 5 years ago, well almost 6, I would always walk by SFK not really stopping in as in my tiny tiny abode, I had no room nor time to entertain parties of more than 3! But I was always impressed with her fabulous windows and it took just ONE time when the word "sale" was posted, about a year ago, that I was finally drawn inside. Aside from my eyes popping out, I was BLOWN AWAY!! I loved everything I saw! Sue's eye for beauty, design, fabrication, and style is impeccably amazing!! I am an antique and modern jewelry addict, but I will never forget when saleslady Elaine told me that Astier de Villatte is better than jewelry! She WAS right!! While I have not given up my addiction, I am now collecting Astier!! I can go on and on listing more fabulous finds in her store but their great website can give you a better idea and with photos! I can add that ALL the items the store carries are superbly crafted. And an added bonus to any store, ALL, and I mean ALL, the sales people are very knowledgeable, courteous and special. I have become friends with them all. And if you so happen to be lucky to meet Sue herself, you will see such a wonderful, kind, and special lady that she is! So put on your coat and shoes and please make SFK your next stop!! You won't be disappointed!! You will see why this store is: SUE-perb!!

Don't shop here. I want to start out by saying that I was actually really looking forward to coming…read moreto this store. I had walked by a few times and spotted through the window some watercolor workbooks and I really wanted to buy them, but each time it was closed. On my forth time trying I finally saw the store open and I excitedly went in to look at the watercolor books. As soon as I walked in to inspect the books by the door, I felt bad vibes. I got the sense that everyone who worked there was staring at me like they expected me to run out with the books I was holding. A few moments later, I felt a presence behind me. It was one of the workers, a middle-aged woman that physically stood between me and the door and was hovering around without saying a word. I ignored them as I continued flipping through the books trying to narrow down my choices. The entire time this person stood right behind me, and only after several minutes did they ask if I needed help in a sarcastic tone, which felt to me as if they did not expect me to be seriously considering purchasing their items. I said no thank you. They continued to stand there and pretend to straighten the front area for over 5 minutes while I considered my choices. I finally picked out what I wanted and I got a good look at the rest of the store. I noticed a man with the glasses at the register eyeing me and a younger woman pretending to not be staring at me, in addition to the lady still standing by the door. Also in the store was a group of tourists speaking French, and another at the register, and yet none of the workers were even paying them any attention: their entire focus was on me. I have never felt so clearly unwelcome and eyed so suspiciously -- and I grew up as one of the few Latino people living in Carmel, a central coast town known for being filled with wealthy, elderly Caucasian residents. Initially, I bought my book to prove a point that I still had every right to be there, though I left feeling shaken, shocked, and angry. I just couldn't believe how I had been treated after being so excited to come to this store. A few days later after some reflection, I came back to the store to return my purchase because I decided I wasn't going to support a store that so obviously racially profiles people like me. I told the workers what happened and why I was returning my item (some were different employees, but a few I recognized from my initial visit). Instead of providing customer service, they proceeded to gaslight me about the experience I had, and with a straight face tried to tell me that they couldn't racially profile because they are also PoC (Asian). Then, to my surprise, out of the back room came Sue Fisher King herself. She was generous enough to talk with me, and I do really appreciate that gesture. That being said, she tried to brush the whole thing off as a misunderstanding. I respectfully disagree. Ms. King said that in her 40 years in the business she's never had a complaint like mine. I don't find this to be a compelling argument, as I almost didn't return to complain either. If you're a dark-skinned person like myself, racial microaggressions like these can be as exhausting as they are traumatizing. She and her workers told me all about how this is a high crime area and that it is protocol to stand by the door if there are a lot of customers in the store, and that they watch everyone. Including the French tourists (that they were not watching), and someone at the register, I was the fourth customer in the store, but the only one who seemed to warrant extreme monitoring. I understand the need to be vigilant against theft, as I've worked in retail. However, I do not agree with this tactic that a customer should be treated like a vandalism waiting to happen -- especially if this process becomes highly selective based on race or perceived looks. So there you have it. If you want to feel like a criminal just by walking through the door, come on to Sue Fisher King. And if you're the wrong color you will be watched like a hawk. I know I will not be returning.

Every time I walk into this store I remind myself that I find this to be one of the best curated…read morelocal shops. Cleansing Palo santo, accent furniture pieces, gold details, art, books. Even when I don't have a shopping list I find things that enrich my home environment. Yes, super simple indeed!

Customer service is very horrible at this place. Just be careful of buying anything here! We went…read morethere to buy a lamp (Menu)! I wanted to send few pics to my partner on facebook to check which one is better! Hence asked shop owner i can take few pics! I was totally refused! Dint buy anything. There are lot of stores in SF for minimalist and nordic stuff!

Perhaps I missed the point. Perhaps I need to increase my flow before I step foot in here again…read more Perhaps, when I hear that a place is a "mecca" for gourmet foodies; a palace containing an abundance of spices, I believe I'm about to set foot into a shop that has at least one wall lined with spices. No, dear friends, this was not the case. Instead, i walked into a practically empty (as is the "less is more" style, I suppose) shop, featuring essentially one brand per genre of cookware (ie. one brand of knives, one brand of kitchen gadgets, one brand of dish ware, silverware, you get the point). Their selection of books was the only standout aspect of Le Sanctuaire for me, lining a few shelves in the back -- not really a redeeming factor, if you ask me. No worries though, because I am on the hunt for obscure spices that folks have been claiming I would definitely be able to find in this "sanctuary". Well, shocker, the "less is more" goes for their spices as well. I was unable to find one obscure spice that I was searching for. Not only that, but they carry only one brand of spices, all prepackaged, all outrageously priced, and rather underwhelming to boot. Am I disappointed? Yeah, you could say that.

Last week I decided to make my first foray into molecular gastronomy (chronicled on my blog…read morehttp://mockeel.blogspot.com) and discovered online that people all over the country order their supplies from La Sanctuaire, just a few blocks from my office. After waiting an hour and half later than I was told on the phone for them to open, and surviving one of the scariest elevator rides of my life, I stepped into the serene showroom, which housed a sterile, gallery-like display of cookbooks, high end cutlery, copper and machinery. Along the wall, shelves of every obscure spice or seasoning you can imagine sat in little Tupperware boxes with handwritten labels. I was asked to sign in, which I did, leaving the line for "my restaurant" blank, and one gentleman asked eagerly if I was a cook, but when I replied "just a hobbyist," he smiled politely, nodded and made a bee-line for anywhere I wasn't. I browsed for a while before getting down to business, but all I really needed was a bag of sodium alginate and some calcium chloride. I told the man at the desk that I heard this was the place to come for my food chemical needs and he agreed enthusiastically and went to dig out my supplies. He even offered me a smaller than usually sold bag of sodium alginate, so I wouldn't have to shell out for a whole pound. When I inquired about the pipettes on the back table, he told me that they only sold them in bulk, but suggested the ideal plastic syringe for the task, of which he informed me "most of the guys who are into this stuff use something like this." The other customers who came in were clearly culinary professionals, but despite my inability to contribute to a conversation on the woes of working in a "union kitchen" everyone was friendly and welcoming. I had a good experience, and although I felt way out of my league, they took good care of me and made sure I was satisfied with my experience.

If you're looking for a place that supports artists, Heath Ceramics is the place. They have a wide…read moreselection ranging from kitchenware, ceramics, toys, art prints, and even tiles! The prices are fairly high, so come prepared to either spend quite a lot or walk out with only a few or no pieces depending on your budget. During my visit, Felicia Chiao was having an exhibit there with a few pieces up for sale. However, they were definitely artistic pieces of plates and bowls, as they were in the $1000s range and I wouldn't dare to use a $1000 bowl to eat cereal out of. I ended up getting a cute gnome. When I went to check out, the person working was telling me about how she also owns some of the gnomes and even helped to wrap it nicely in paper to make sure it traveled back safely with me.

Subtly beautiful and sturdy dinnerware and subway tiles presented in an equally understated upscale…read moresetting. Wow.. Just around the corner in the same building as Tartine Manufactory is Heath Ceramics, located in the chic former industrial district called Potrero Hill. Stroll inside and you will find rows and rows of simple sturdy dinnerware that is thicker than most, and finished in a range of earthy subtle colors that can serve at a beautiful understated backdrop to the food that will be served upon it. Mind you, the prices aren't inexpensive here, but the quality is worth it, even for just a couple of pieces to cherish and take home. It's about $60/each for a dinner plate, with prices hovering around that for most pieces. Heath also makes a range of wall tiles, and their manufacturing facility dominated by a pair of massive kilns is just behind the glass windows. Be sure to check out the simple display area at the entrance that details the history of Heath Ceramics, with a newsstand next door too, also run by Heath Ceramics! A bit of a non-sequitur there, but cool to see also!

Best place to shop in the city for cookware, dishware, and anything kitchen related! Especially…read moreanything Asian like matcha bowls, teapots, etc. Everything is well priced and affordable, and they have aisles and aisles of stuff! I could easily spend over an hour walking through all the aisles to check everything out. Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for things for your kitchen or are nearby. Btw they are closed on Sundays.

This place, as the name implies, it's a restaurant supply company. They have an amazingly large…read moreselection of plates, bowls, and various types of cookware. We go here once or twice a year and shop for plates and bowls for our house. You can buy one or more of any style. The prices are excellent. The service is fast at the register. They wrap each dish in newspaper to keep it safe for your travels home. If you've never been here, I recommend checking it out. It's hard to imagine you wouldn't leave with a few things that you didn't know you needed. Lastly, it's worth noting that they are very consistent in their brands. So if you buy dishes and a few years later, need to replace one or two due to breakage or wear and tear overtime, they will likely still have the exact same item. This makes keeping your dishes, consistent as opposed to a mishmash of different types and styles.

Heath Ceramics in Sausalito is a personal favorite of mine: a design focused retail destination…read morefeaturing Heath pottery, decorative homewares, and iconic ceramic tiles. Founded in 1948 by visionary ceramicist Edith Heath, the brand is an icon of California modern design. The items here are undeniably expensive, but the timeless design and constantly updating of color palettes make each piece feel special. In 2003, the company was revitalized by husband-and-wife product design and business team, who thoughtfully reinvented the brand. Heath is a great example of how with a good steward, classic design can be successfully revived and made modern. I find Heath to be a good spot for finding special design focused gifts.

I grew up with Heathware bowls, plates, and other pieces. While I've always loathed the noise they…read moremake when stacked together or when cutlery is moved across them, the pieces are very beautiful. I stopped by today, with my mom, to buy my sister some gifts for her wedding. I loved the new colors I saw - they had some yellow bowls and bulb vases that I was seriously tempted to buy, in addition to the other items. What I didn't love was the lack of customer service. I don't expect or want to be waited on hand and foot, but a simple acknowledgement would have been nice, rather than having multiple employees just watching us the entire time. I ended up purchasing from the seconds section and buying less than anticipated due to the overall vibe. I try to be understanding, and perhaps something was off for them today. Regardless, I was so uncomfortable in the store that I waited outside while our items were gift wrapped.