New cookware shop, James Nicholas cooking up a chefs paradise!

On behalf of Balhampeople, I popped into the newly opened cookware shop at 99 Balham High Road to find out more about the new kid on the (chopping) block..James Nicholas which opened its doors to the people of Balham this week.

I had a chat with co-owner, Nicholas o'Beirne about the new venture he has opened up with his business partner James Elsdale.

James Nicholas has two other cookware shops thriving in West Hampstead and Crouch End and now their unique business is bringing taylored cooking products to Balham.  Each shop is taylored to the area and Nicholas wants to hear what the people of Balham want from their cookware business. However, this is no ordinary cookware shop, oh no, save that for your department stores on your ordinary highstreet.

James Nicholas will be offering so much more and teaching amateur cooks a few tricks of the trade that they can take away and carry out in in the heart of every home..the kitchen.

You will be able to watch live demonstrations from their trained Chef, who will be cooking up many delights and yes! the food he makes will be free to sample. The shop aims to bring a new dimension to your average high street shop, with two free recipe cards each month and even hiring of cake tins for that cake masterpiece. You never have to be caught short in the kitchen again and with cooking becoming more popular in recent years with the rise of cookery shows everywhere and interest in cooking and making food , I am sure people will be flocking to snap up reasonable priced baking and cooking products.

Nicholas has been overwhelmed by the response they have received since opening their doors this week "We love it here in Balham, in fact it has been the best response we have had when opening a shop, we have been made to feel so welcome." He added "We have chose Balham as clearly there is love of good food and we thought we could bring a something to this great community. We really want to listen to what people want and we have a real enthusiasm to engage with the community as our moto is the kitchen is the heart fo the home, so the cookware shop should be the heart of community."

With all any chef or budding cook would need from cookie cutters, to professional sharp knifes, cutlery and more kitchen utensils than you could shake a stick at, this will be the place Balhamites will want to visit and purchase their cookery essentials. 'Victoria' who has lived in Balham for six years popped in for the first time, I asked for her opinion on Balhams new business she said "It is fantastic, just what we needed in Balham, It surely will be very popular here as its something we have needed for a long time, it looks great, there is something from everyone here, I will be back for sure."

Alongside the cookery demonstrations, the knife sharpening service and cake tin hire, in time James Nicholas aims to offer cookery classes in their basement for locals to pick up the skills and tips to rival any Gordon or Jamie. Also joining that will be Kitchen furniture and many great ranges much of which are sourced and made in Britain which is a very important aspect to the business partners.

Their website (http://www.james-nicholas.com/) gives a deeper insight into what our newest Balham business has to offer with a promise of a simple aim from the outset 'We are a cookshop with a simple aim. Our aim is to help the local community enjoy cooking seasonal foods.

To help us with our aim we carry an extensive, carefully selected range of cookware from around the world'

This is a great exciting addition and cooks will be rubbing their hands with glee at having a endless source of new products to buy, a great new business with lots of promising things to look forward to, a friendly service and a passion for community, so stoke up the stove and heat up those ovens and why not pop down to James Nicholas and find out what you can get to cook up a delight, surely a chefs paradise.