Vicki's Kitchenique Closing After 28 Years of Culinary Excellence

Kitchenique, a premier cooking school and gourmet pantry located at City Market in Destin, is closing its doors after 28 years in business. Owned and operated by local South Walton resident Vicki McCain, Kitchenique is a local treasure which will be missed by many residents, visitors and  friends.

Vicki has plans to take her store out in style with a celebration of food and friends. She will be offering a series of cooking classes for all those who love coming to her kitchen for fabulous food, wine and entertainment. The final class will be on Valentines Day. The store will close on February 28 but stay tuned for more about the future of Kitchenique, including Vicki’s cookbook now in the works.

Vicki’s very first Kitchenique store opened in 1985 at Shoreline Village Mall followed by a second store at The Market Shops in Sandestin. Kitchenique has long since been enjoyed by locals and visitors alike who enjoy gourmet foods, coffees, cookbooks, cookware, and fine culinary products. Kitchenique Cooking School came along in 1999 and shortly after moved along with the store to its current location at City Market in Destin. The cooking school has hosted an ongoing series of food & wine classes each week in the store’s custom-designed teaching kitchen. Local and regional chefs and experts have treated guests to some of the best cuisine and wine along the Emerald Coast in Vicki's kitchen.

Kitchenique has enjoyed a loyal following from the local community as well as visitors who made the destination a part of their travels to Destin and South Walton Beaches. The Kitchenique Cooking School has been as a top attraction in Destin by TripAdvisor.

What are Vicki McCain's plans? She states that Kitchenque is in the process of reincarnation. Stay in touch on Vicki’s Kitchenique website and facebook page. Vicki will certainly continue work on the second edition of the Kitchenique Cooking School Cookbook (published 2011) to include a chefs' collection of recipes. We are looking forward to hearing more about Vicki, the cookbook and anything else she may have in store for food lovers everywhere.

The Kitchenique Cooking School Cookbook by Vicki McCain is a treasure from one of SoWal's greatest past times - an evening in the cooking school is one you'll never forget with great food, wine, and friends. Pick up a copy at Kitchenique or order online.

Sign up for a final cooking class or two at Kitchenique for the most fun you'll ever have in the kitchen! Go to Kitchenique's website to see the class schedule and register online or call the store (850-837-0432). Classes are filling up and some are already sold out - please call to confirm class availability or ask if seats have been added.

Classes coming up include:

• Betty Sims Valentine Brunch - Feb 1
• Betty Sims Valentine Brunch - Feb 2 (Sold Out)
• Bistro Fare by Chef Dan Pettis - Feb 4
• Executive Chef Steven Withal, Stinky's Fish Camp - Feb 5
• Grape Gourmet Wine Pairings - Feb 6
• The Three Amigos Adios - Feb 7 (Sold out)
• Mardi Gras Brunch - Feb 9
• The Lake Place/Stinky's Fish Camp Farewell - Feb 11 (Sold out)
• Girls Night Out Wine Pairings - Feb 13