Pete Yavner...retired from the computer field early in 2001, having been a programmer, writer, and technical editor. A lifelong dedicated cook and deeply interested in woodworking as a hobby, he now sought to "do something fun, which would show my involvement in these two hobbies." He added a lathe to his roster of woodworking tools and began experimenting with turning rolling pins from laminates of domestic and exotic hardwoods.

He presented two of his rolling pins to Chefs Dean Fearing and James Wagner. Their accolades convinced him that he should make them in limited quantities, each one unique, for the discriminating gourmet. Recently, Chef Kent Rathbun was also presented one of Pete's unique rolling pins.

Now Pete has turned his hand to creating unique pepper mills, coffee grinders, honey dippers, wineglass caddies, and cutting boards, to name a few, out of the same domestic, South American, and African hardwoods used in making the rolling pins - with spectacular results! Each is a perfect, handsome complement to the kitchen, and to the cook using it to tailor the meal to perfection.

"I lie awake nights forming new patterns," he admits. "No two tools are exactly alike, assuring each owner of possessing a unique, handmade tool. Each takes several days: the woods are selected and cut, shaped, planed, sanded, and glued together to set for one to two days. After being worked "until it looks right," each is finished with many coats of glossy finish. Then, after being signed and dated, it is ready to "go home!"