Chef Lesa Sullivan, of Lesa Cooks in Seattle, selects her favorite ingredients from ChefShop.com.

Lesa Sullivan was our very first employee, way back in the dark ages of the Internet. After going off to learn the art and craft of cooking and working as a chef, Lesa is back and badder than ever. Her writing is spectacular and her knowledge comes from the practical side of a real working in the kitchen.

Here are her favorite picks from ChefShop.com. Be sure to check out her blog, The Pink Hobart, where she writes (more radical prose), and if you're looking for a personal chef for a day (or more) in the Northwest, well....

Some of these items may be gifts. Would you mind selecting items that have the latest-use-by dates and that are in lovely condition? Thank you. I just discovered your site and am smitten.