Johnsons Overalls is one of those places that I have walked pass numerous times and never batted an eyelash at it. It wasn’t until I started this blog that I began to pay attention to the window merchandise and realised that it was more than just a haven for chefs and restaurants. They sold kitchenware to the public. However, it is obvious that dressing chefs is their main drawcard. They have shelves upon shelves and huge racks dedicated to smartening up the geekiest of apprentices.
I enter the store and I am immediately drawn to a shelf of sauce tubs, pickling jars, mixing bowls and measuring jugs.
At the very top of the shelf I find some wooden blocks with carved out shapes for mooncakes. I gawk at this find because I walked the length of Mongkok and Yu Mei Tai in Hong Kong to look for the perfect block as a gift for my mother, only to find that they can be found here on our shores.
I also had to use every muscle in my body to refrain from buying up their jar section. They are too cute to be true!
Enough friggin' boards to sink a ship! Chopping boards, Plastic Cutting boards, Pizza Boards, Acrylic Boards.
“Hey Amy!” Pizzaboy calls from around the corner.
“Yeah what?”
“You gotta come here and see this!”
“Shut up. I’m busy taking photos of the chopping boards!”
“Forget about the chopping boards. Look at all these cookie cutters!!”
“WTF!”
There are cookie cutters of every shape, size and form. They have sections dedicated to special days such as Easter, Christmas, Valentines Day and Halloween.
Next to the cookie cutter shelf there is a cabinet of food colours in liquid and powder form. There are an amazing array of colours and I pick up a few bottles.
“Err, excuse me Miss Amy?”
“Yes?”
“What do you need all those bottles for?”
“There for when I bake stuff.”
“…and when are you going to bake stuff.”
“I dunno. I’m getting them just in case I need them.”
“Hmmm. Why can’t you buy them when you need them?”
“They don’t exactly have convenient opening hours.”
“Excuses. Excuses.”
I turn the corner and find the cabinet full of baking tins of every shape and form. I instantly have a vision of cakes that I could make with all the tins that I come across. However, after the above scolding I get from Pizzaboy I decide to ease off on the tins… for now.
Towards the back of the store there is a wall dedicated to every pot, pan, wok and skillet for the serious cook. I can’t help but glide my hands over the paella pans and marvel at the weight of the heavy-bottomed frying pans.
Mandolins, Graters, Juicers, Mortar & Pestles, Paster Machine, Ravioli Cutters, Potato Ricer.
Too many whisks not enough whiskers
OMG! Look at the size of this whisk! Its almost as long as my leg!
Johnson Overalls & Kitchen Ware Pty Ltd
739 George St
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9211 3128
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday – 9.00am-5.00pm
Saturday – 9am-12noon
Comments
Maria
May 16, 2010 at 6:11 amI think this is another must visit next time I head to the city… I just can’t stop myself when I enter a shop like this one!:D
panda
May 16, 2010 at 12:26 pmlol, i’m the same – i buy things saying i’ll need them for baking 🙂
i used to come here quite a bit but haven’t in awhile – looks like they’re really stocked up on the equipment – they even have those mooncake moulds!
Mark @ Cafe Campana
May 16, 2010 at 3:35 pmI have walked past this place many times and just thought it was out chef outfits. I will have to go in next time 🙂
Yen@foodforfour
May 16, 2010 at 9:59 pmI can spend all day in a store like this and buying up the whole shop. Great find and thanks for sharing.
angie
May 17, 2010 at 10:14 amHaha I had the exact same feelings/thoughts when I first walked into Essential Ingredient. Looks like you found another great place though for me it’s not the exact convenient location to get to.
sweetlife
May 17, 2010 at 10:45 ami would have had a heartattack at this store and charged my credit card to it’s limit…oh what fun
sweetlife
FFichiban
May 17, 2010 at 12:19 pmAhh I’ve always walked past this place but never gone in. Although I always amused myself with the thought of buying those chef hats hee hee
foodwink
May 17, 2010 at 10:26 pmHere’s another one who’s walked past this shop but never gone in. I want a potato ricer after watching Guy Grossi make gnocchi on Italian Food Safari 😀
Juliana
May 18, 2010 at 8:01 amI love this kind of store, can spend the whole day there…thanks for the pictures, enjoyed them very much 🙂
OohLookBel
May 18, 2010 at 9:52 amOh what an Aladdin’s Cave of cooking stuff! It’s like heaven on George St – thanks for showing us!
tangerine eats
May 18, 2010 at 11:55 amHoly moley this place is awesome! I’ve walked past here too and next time I’m stopping in! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Barbara
May 18, 2010 at 9:33 pmLOVE stores like this. There is one in a tiny little town in northern Michigan. (how it survives there I can’t imagine) I love going there when I am visiting my sister. I could spend hours.
cityhippyfarmgirl
May 19, 2010 at 1:58 pmYour killing me with those photos. I know the shop, and another who has never ventured in. I was at Chef’s Warehouse a few weeks ago and it looks like it may trump it?…. Tell me, you didn’t happen to see any bread baskets did you?- (for proving bread, not serving)
Great post.
Maria@TheGourmetChallenge
May 19, 2010 at 2:07 pmI try to refrain from walking into places like these, I’d end up buying everything in sight!!
mademoiselle délicieuse
May 29, 2010 at 10:29 amHeheh, don’t you just want to buy the whole store! Those wooden blocks can also be used for making traditional Scottish shortbread that gets cut into wedges before eating, as opposed to pre-cut fingers. I’ve read that each ‘clan’ had their own moulds with their crest carved into them.