WHEN SHOPPING COMES TO A BOIL SPECIALTY STORES CAN FILL THE VOID FOR COOKS AND FOODIES.

Byline: Natalie Haughton Food Editor

The holiday frenzy is at hand. There are parties, friends and relatives to cook for, guests to entertain, special ingredients to buy, food presents to make and buy, gift baskets to fill.

To ease the burden, we've compiled a roundup of treasured discoveries - interesting specialty places for ingredients, prepared foods, baked items and food-related gifts.

Even if your gift list is short and you don't have much shopping to do, you'll probably find these places fun to peruse. You might even splurge on something for yourself.

Establishments range from an Italian deli and a shop specializing in dishes and cookie jars to a store featuring used cookbooks, a cookware shop that's a cook's dream, and wonderful pastry and ethnic food shops.

Since most cooks are familiar with Cost Plus World Market, Trader Joe's, Costco, Bristol Farms, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Crate & Barrel, Linens 'n' Things, Big Lots, 99 Cents Only Stores, Smart & Final, Gelson's and other major supermarkets, farmers' markets and the like, they haven't been included in this list.

where to find it

Call stores for specifics on hours and holiday schedules.

Sur La Table, 4050 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, [phone] (also Los Angeles, Pasadena, Newport Beach and other locations). This store is like a Disneyland for cooks. It stocks gadgets, dishes, small appliances, fancy foods, table linens and more. It's a great place to pick up gifts for foodies. It doesn't get much better than this.

Monte Carlo Delicatessen, 3103 W. Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, [phone]. Head here when you need imported Italian ingredients. The shelves, cold and freezer cases are filled with an array of foodstuffs, including cheeses, cold cuts, salamis, pastas, olive oils, fresh breads, pizza doughs, homemade sausages, canned tomatoes, ravioli, Italian Christmas items (chocolates, cookies and such) at reasonable prices. They'll even make up meat and cheese platters.

Fiesta Specialties, 12401 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, [phone]. A wonderful array of dishes (plain or patterned) and cookie jars, including some with holiday themes. It stocks 200 different cookie jars, 15 to 20 dish lines, assorted glassware and glass serving pieces, linens, teapots, and salt and pepper sets. Both old and new Fiesta Ware and Bauer dinnerware - and other fine collectibles - are carried here.

Cook Books! by Janet Jarvits, 1388 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, [phone]. Formerly located in Burbank, this treasure trove of used cookbooks moved to Pasadena two years ago. Proprietor Janet Jarvits stocks 25,000 used and out-of-print volumes for cooks of all ages and experience levels. Also available are old food magazines - including Bon Appetit, Gourmet and Chocolatier. If there's something you're looking for and Jarvits doesn't have it, she'll be happy to search for it. Call ahead to check if a specific book you want is in stock. She'll also mail-order books. It's fun to explore the shelves in person - and meet Jarvits' charming cats.

Pastries by Edie, 21608 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, [phone]. Danish (poppy seed, cheese, apricot, raspberry), croissants, babkas, raspberry-walnut or alligator coffee cakes, almond pizza (puff pastry with custard and sliced almonds), assorted cookies, pies, assorted pastries (68 different varieties including fruit tarts, florentine cups with mixed berries, hazelnut tarts, creme brulee and cappuccino cups) and stollen are just some of the offerings found at this 18-year-old establishment that relocated to Sherman Way a few months ago. Cake selections include chocolate mousse and raspberry, tiramisu, mango delight and passion fruit. During the holidays, you can order a gingerbread house ($25), a buche de Noel or a croquembouche.

Le Gourmet Chef, Camarillo Premium Outlets, 740 E. Ventura Blvd., Suite 526, Camarillo, [phone]. You'll find a wealth of kitchen gadgets, the newest small appliances, cookware, bakeware, utensils, serving dishes, holiday and food items (spices, vinegars, oils, mixes, candies, cookies, preserves) here.

99 Ranch Market, 6450 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, [phone] (also other Southland locations). Imported and unusual items for Asian and other ethnic cooking can be found here. Also available are lots of fresh fish (including some whole ones) and shellfish and live lobster and crab along with fresh produce and a selection of meats and poultry.

Surfas, 8825 National Blvd., Culver City, [phone]. This place is a chef's paradise. Although the company specializes in design and installation of commercial kitchens, Surfas offers food professionals and home cooks commercial-quality pots, pans, knives, china, glassware, tools and bakery items. It also stocks gourmet food products such as fruit syrups, caviars, high-end chocolates and imported espresso beans.

Fish King, 722 N. Glendale Ave. Glendale, [phone]. When you're in the market for excellent-quality fresh fish for a special recipe, give this shop a whirl. It carries more than 30 different kinds of fish (including a large selection of Hawaiian fish) and shellfish. Call in advance to check if it has what you're looking for.

Belwood Bakery, 12634 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, [phone] (also in Brentwood). This shop carries all kinds of breakfast rolls and Danish along with pastries including cakes and fruit tarts. Order cakes in advance for special parties.

Bauducco's, 2839 Agoura Road, Westlake Village, [phone] (also in Moorpark). Imported Italian products include olives, oils, pastas, tomatoes, grains and wines along with fresh frozen homemade entrees and sauces. Also on the premises are a bakery, meat and cheese cases, and a takeout counter where you can order pastas, pizzas and sandwiches to go (or to dine in).

Dishes a la Carte, 113 W. Los Feliz Blvd., Glendale, [phone] (also in Los Angeles). When you're in the market for consumer and commercial dishes, mugs and platters of all kinds at bargain prices, make a trip here. The shop sells firsts, seconds and overruns. If you're having a large bash and need some serving dishes (ovals, rounds, bowls, etc.), check this place out.

Stolichnaya Bakery, 7875 W. Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, [phone]. Russian bakery items including breads along with an array of continental cookies, Danish and cakes including German chocolate, Black Forest and fresh fruit - and at reasonable prices. Order a cake with the filling of your choice. We loved the chocolate-dipped almond florentine cookies (a bargain at 25 cents each).

Schreiner's Fine Sausages, 3417 Ocean View Blvd., Glendale, [phone]. This German shop offers homemade sausages, Canadian bacon, German and Dutch cheeses, and an array of European groceries including herring, mustards, Hungarian noodles, and German beers and wines.

Plusko's Bakery, 21013 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, [phone]. No bread here, but you'll find a variety of Danish, cookies and cakes (including champagne, banana and chocolate) that can be customized. You can order decorated sheet and tiered cakes with holiday themes, a log cake, cupcakes, stollen and a variety of pies. The miniature tiered decorated cakes could do double duty as holiday table centerpieces and dessert.

Kake Kreations, 21727 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, [phone]. This cake and candy decorating supply store is full of all kinds of goodies ranging from pans, molds, tools and confectionary candy coatings to special holiday cookie decorations.

Let's Get Cookin', 4643 Lakeview Canyon Road, Westlake Village, [phone]. Serving platters, utensils, gadgets, linens, kitchen equipment and gourmet food items are featured. Consider giving a gift certificate for one of the shop's cooking classes (offered year round) to the favorite cook on your list.

Cottura Ceramic Art Imports, Century City Shopping Center, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Century City, [phone] (also Newport Beach). If you're into imported hand-painted Majolica dishes from Italy, this is the place to find them. Serving dishes, biscotti jars, bowls, planters and other ceramic items are available in a variety of beautiful designs.

San Fernando Valley Produce & Deli, 18345 Vanowen St., Reseda, [phone]. This market carries a wide selection of produce at very reasonable prices. It also stocks pita and Persian-style breads, bulk grains, imported cheeses, yogurts, olives, sausages and other Middle Eastern products.

Star Restaurant Equipment and Supply Co. 6178 Sepulveda Blvd. Van Nuys, [phone]. Utilitarian kitchen equipment - ranging from all sizes of automatic release (ice cream) scoops (I use various sizes for dropping cookie batter and making chocolate truffles.) to pots, pans, plastic dishes, utensils and baking equipment. Many of the items are heavy-duty, as they are designed to withstand the rigors of a restaurant kitchen. This is also a good place to buy pastry bags, tips and plastic scrapers.

Baklava Factory, 17145 Ventura Blvd, Encino, [phone]; 1415 E. Colorado St., Glendale, [phone]; 12909 Sherman Way, North Hollywood, [phone] (also in Covina). These shops specialize in a wonderful assortment of 12 kinds of baklava (with all kinds of nuts), Middle Eastern and European pastries, kadaifi, assorted Middle Eastern cookies and fried honey balls.

Topline Wine & Spirits, Sandale Industrial Center, 4718 San Fernando Road, Glendale, [phone]. This no-frills, warehouselike place in an industrial area offers many wines and spirits at bargain prices - and some unusual wines that can't be found elsewhere. Look for good buys on wine glasses, too.

CAPTION(S):

15 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- cover -- color) Sur La Table, Thousand Oaks

(3 -- 4 -- cover -- color) Cook Books! by Janet Jarvits, Pasadena

(5 -- 6 -- cover -- color) Fiesta Specialties, Studio City

(7 -- 8 -- cover -- color) Monte Carlo Delicatessen, Burbank

(9 -- 10 -- color) All kinds of Italian foodstuffs - including salamis, cheeses and olives, above, and dry pasta, right - are available from Monte Carlo Burbank.

(11 - 12 -- color) Fiesta Specialties in Studio City carries an array of dishes, left, and cookie jars, below.

(13 -- 14 -- color) Pick up a chef ornament and biscotti jar for foodies on your gift list at Sur La Table in Thousand Oaks.

(15 -- color) A plethora of used cookbooks can be found at Cook Books! by Janet Jarvits in Pasadena.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

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where to find it (see text)