The Culinary Stone celebrates 10 years of providing an array of culinary experiences
By Jillian Chandler
From the moment you walk in the door, The Culinary Stone in Coeur d’Alene entices one’s culinary senses; it’s an experience unlike any other you’ll find in the Inland Northwest. What began in 2013 as a store for specialty kitchen supplies has evolved to encompass a variety of shared experiences—cooking classes, wine tastings, events and more—in its 7,500-square-foot space.
The visionary behind The Culinary Stone is founder Sandy Volkar, who believes that food is a celebration to be shared with family and friends. “The idea for a specialty kitchen store started with Sandy’s passion for cooking and everything that goes along with it,” shares Susan Odell, store operations and purchasing manager. “Riverstone was still growing its roots in the Coeur d’Alene community, and she saw the potential growth for the area, to provide an inviting place where neighbors could walk to our store for their kitchen needs or bring their guests for a delicious bite to eat. We’ve continued to grow with Riverstone over the years, offering new products and experiences for residents and visitors from all over the area to feel at home.”
From cooking classes taught by professional chefs, a wine club with unique tasting events, custom gift baskets for local businesses and customers, to over 3,000 square feet of shopping with gourmet foods, small appliances, kitchen supplies, tableware, gifts and home goods, “It’s a breathtaking space when you walk through the front doors, and we’ve worked hard to fill it carefully with beautiful products and exciting events,” smiles James Culp, merchandising manager.
They introduced their new Marketplace in August 2023. Featuring their already delicious menu of artisanal coffee, specialty sandwiches, refreshing salads and now a wider variety of local pastries for customers to enjoy, the renovated space has allowed for expanded seating for more morning coffee meetings, lunch dates and large parties. The redesign has also granted them the opportunity to grow their wine selection and partner with The Wine Maven to develop a more robust wine program. The Culinary Stone’s Wines of the World Wine Club is the only program in the area that provides a Pairing Selection: a monthly release with one wine and one food item that is hand-selected to enjoy together.
From the culinary beginner to the skilled chef, they see a wide array of customers looking to build their collection of kitchen tools or restock their favorite supplies—including entertainers preparing for their next holiday party or that person on the hunt for the perfect home décor gift—The Culinary Stone offers a variety of products to suit the home and kitchen needs of the people in the community.
“We’re dedicated to maintaining an inviting space that can be filled with conversation and laughter. You can come for many reasons, but what you’ll remember is the family feeling that you get when you are here,” Sandy affirms. “Everyone is welcome at our table!”
Come 2024, they are collaborating with their chefs to introduce more specialty cooking classes, where customers will be more hands on when learning new, delightful recipes from across the globe, as well as expanding their wine program. “We are also excited about our growing wine program and the opportunities ahead for pairing our wines and gourmet foods, as well as developing educational wine events,” The Wine Maven, Sharon Irvine, notes. Susan adds, “As we are always listening to our customers and what they need in their homes, we will continue to rotate new products throughout the year.”
Step into The Culinary Stone to see all the culinary excitement that awaits you.
The Culinary Stone
2129 N. Main St.
Coeur d’Alene, ID
208.277.4116