JK Adams, Dorset
Jessi Kerner and Megan Long oversee retail operations at JK Adams in Dorset. Rooted in nature, crafted for home—as its slogan proudly proclaims—JK Adams has been in operation since 1944 and is celebrating its 80th anniversary. Yes, it has every conceivable kitchen gadget, plate, and napkin you might want displayed harmoniously, but it has another side.
Josiah Knowles Adams founded the company, but several years later Malcolm Cooper, Sr. bought him out. The thrifty Cooper kept the brand on the stationery, so the name remained. The store specialized in wooden cutting boards, often sold to locals directly from the loading dock. When those boards and other products started drawing customers from throughout the country, Cooper knew he had a good thing. Over the years, he created the original dowel wine rack and slanted knife block, staples still sold today at Williams and Sonoma, Crate & Barrel, and Sur La Table. Workers on site—some of whom have been with the company for decades—cut the wood to size, sand and finish it, and a beautiful cutting board winds its way into the world.
Jessi suggests a new product for outdoor entertaining: a 36-by-18-inch maple grazing board. “We have not had a board this large for a number of years,” she says. Big enough to be a staging area for smoked meats, carving, and prep. Big enough to hold cheeses, charcuterie, kabobs, and sliders—or alternatively a nice breakfast. The board’s patina, deepened over the years, may well make it a family heirloom, passed on to the next generation.
The Nordic Ware Grill 'N Shake Basket ups your summer grilling game.
Rooted in nature, crafted for home— as its slogan proudly proclaims— JK Adams has been in operation since 1944 and is celebrating its 80th anniversary.
The Grill Top Pizza Pan from Nordic Ware ensures a crispy crust and easy cleanup.
Jessi goes on to suggest the Nordic Ware Backsplash Griddle. Toss it on the grill or your stove; its cast aluminum nonstick surface makes it perfect for roasting veggies or smashing smash burgers. While you’re looking, consider the Nordic Ware Grill & Griddle, Grill ’N Shake Basket, or Grill Top Pizza Pan. All are lightweight and can easily transform your outdoor grill into a fancy stove—or your stove into a grill!
And then, of course, there is melamine. (Sure, I knew melamine is “a colourless, crystalline substance belonging to the family of heterocyclic organic compounds, which are used principally as a starting material for the manufacture of synthetic resins.”) Okay, you will know it when you see it, without Google. Modern melamine plates are lightweight and durable, making them great for outdoor use and later tossing into the dishwasher. JK Adams features lively, floral-patterned plates and bowls. These 21st-century iterations can contain bamboo and plant fibers, fancier and more ecological than paper plates, a reminder that this is not your grandma’s melamine. According to the team at JK Adams, melamine is the new darling of dining.
Never underestimate the power of a humble cutting board, especially one that represents a creative collaboration of philanthropic-minded community members.
CUTTING BOARDS BUILD COMMUNITY
WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARIA BUTEUX READE
The cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead famously avowed, “Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.”
And when a handful of entrepreneurs stand behind a small cutting board (figuratively speaking), that humble square of wood can help feed hungry members of their community.
Kerry Mackinnon, owner of Vermont Kitchen Supply, and Adam Sigel, president of JK Adams, met for coffee early in the spring to brainstorm ways their two businesses could collaborate for the good of the community. When Kerry mentioned that her top priority is the Manchester Community Food Cupboard (she serves as a board member), Adam proposed that his woodworking team create a special cutting board complete with a laser etching of the Food Cupboard’s logo. Making the boards would also keep the JK Adams staff busy during a seasonal slow period.
“We really wanted to raise awareness of food insecurity within our community,” Kerry explained. “Every dollar directed to the Food Cupboard makes a difference, so we’re always looking for creative ways to generate funds.”
All proceeds from the sale of the special cutting boards go directly to the Manchester Community Food Cupboard. The boards are sold at Vermont Kitchen Supply, and they were also available at Battenkill Bicycles’ annual bike swap in mid-May. The shop’s owner, Barrack Evans, generously donates all profits from this popular event to the Food Cupboard. “The swap at Battenkill Bicycles has always been a benefit for the Manchester Community Food Cupboard,” Barrack says. “I am happy to continue the tradition in memory of my father and stepmother Rhys Evans and Kathie Wall who both served on the board of the Food Cupboard.”
Adam Sigel stepped in to his role at JK Adams in March 2023. “I’ve lived here less than two years, but I’m amazed at the network in the Manchester area. We’re happy to be working with Kerry at Vermont Kitchen Supply, and these cutting boards will bring both awareness and financial support to the Manchester Community Food Cupboard.”
Kerry agrees. “We all have the opportunity to make difference in our community. It’s mind-boggling how much we achieve when we collaborate.”
Never underestimate the power of a humble cutting board, especially one that represents a creative collaboration of philanthropic-minded community members.
