Fort Scott store offering kitchen tools typically only available online

There are two places to buy kitchen tools designed by Michael Ruhlman and Mac Dalton -- on the Internet and at life+style, 22 N. Main, in Fort Scott.

Kate Emmett-Sweetser, a regular customer at life+style found these professional-grade tools on line and brought them to the attention of store owner, Cynthia McFarlin. McFarlin relayed the story at a recent Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce coffee.

"I loved the look of these tools, so I was thrilled when Cynthia was able to get them in the store," Sweetser said in a news release. "It's great we can shop locally and get such high quality items."

"I looked up the website and Kate was right -- they were sturdy, good-looking tools that I knew I wanted to carry" McFarlin said. She then contacted Ruhlman who told her that since they didn't have proper packaging and marketing materials they hadn't been wholesaling them.

"I let him know that I wanted to sell them even without packaging, so Michael directed me to Mac Dalton, his high school buddy who actually manufacturers them. Mac and I started talking and I suggested that maybe I could help them design their display and packaging if I had them in my store," she added.

Ruhlman is a writer who approached the Culinary Institute of American about doing a story on what it takes to become a chef.

He became so engrossed in the process that he signed up and became a CIA graduate.

Ruhlman has spent time in several restaurant kitchens and has been writing his own cookbooks and working with other chefs on their cookbooks.

His most recent book, "Ruhlman's Twenty," is in its second printing he also communicates via Facebook and on his website.

McFarlin also worked with friend Bobbi Ogle at Interior Motives in Nevada for display ideas. "Every merchant has their own ideas about how a line should look. It was fun to work with Bobbi and get her input," McFarlin said.

Ruhlman, who lives in Cleveland, has written many non-fiction books on many different subjects.

For more information contact Cynthia McFarlin (620) 223-2915.