Gilead's Wall of Jars

Ever since I first laid eyes on the beautiful wall of preserved fruit and vegetables at Gilead (4 Gilead Place, 647-288-0680), I've been longing to create a similar place for my jars – not that I can boast such a noble array of local fare as Jamie Kennedy has so lovingly concocted, but I do have some nice-looking pickles and tomato sauce, as well as a great raft of jam. This desire has recently been whetted by reading about the preserve display set up by Dana Harrison and Joel MacCharles of Well Preserved.

One of my challenges is that, instead of having a 20-foot wall to work with, I have about a 30-inch-square spot under the stairs. Nonetheless, I've been conniving and measuring and sizing up the spare lumber in the basement and haunting the local junk shops just in case a little two-shelf unit turns up. But finally I've come to the conclusion that if I want it done to the rather precise size I need, I'll have to build it myself.

Not having a car makes the project a little trickier, but I've picked out a rather attractive board that's about 5 feet long and nine inches wide, and I think I can do something with it. This may or may not happen tomorrow (I also have dreams of making tomato sauce, or maybe a honey cake in honour of Rosh Hashanah, to try out my review copy of The Jewish Princess Feasts and Festivals cookbook), but I'll be sure to keep you posted, whatever happens.