"I've always wanted a desk in my kitchen," says writer Tara Austen Weaver. "I like the idea of being able to pop up and stir the soup as I work." Instead of putting a table in her eat-in Seattle kitchen, she refinished a small student desk where she could write, cook food from her garden, and photograph the result for her blog, Tea & Cookies. More

Lola Milholland is an avid home cook with an amazing range of culinary abilities from making her own whole wheat English muffins to spice blends such as za'atar, tortillas from scratch, organic yogurt and growing her own mushrooms — she cooks with tenacity and confidence! Lola is also the assistant editor for Edible Portland, a soulful publication in which Lola collaborates with local farmers, recipe developers, chefs and photographers. Join us for a tour of this giant, personality-filled kitchen.

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If you live in Los Angeles you probably know of or have dined at Casa Vega, a family owned Mexican restaurant that has been open since the 50s. You may also be thinking, "Wait! I know Christy and Casa Vega from someplace else..." Yes, she was on Bravo's Flipping Out with Jeff Lewis. It is always really intriguing to see the personal kitchen of someone who works in the restaurant business, so I was very grateful when she gave me a sneak peek.

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If you met Maggie Nemser, the founder of Blackboard Eats, a free service that encourages diners to eat at top restaurants by offering specials handpicked by food editors, you wouldn't be faulted for assuming that she and her husband eat out a lot. You would be right. You would also be wrong. Despite the fact that Maggie's work often finds them making reservations instead of recipes, they love throwing dinner parties. Give Maggie the thinnest of excuses and she'll fire up her Breville sandwich press. In fact, the day we stopped by to take these photographs, the table was already set for that night's guests and Maggie insisted on making grilled cheese sandwiches, which we ate too quickly to document.

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Are you a great photographer? Do you enjoy blogging, writing, and seeking out fabulous kitchens? Do you have lots of friends or contacts who are avid home cooks with great, personality-filled kitchens, both big and small? Do you like telling stories in words and photos of how people cook today? If so, we may be looking for you. We are looking to hire a few new Kitchen Tour contributors for the site. Interested? Read on to see what we're looking for. More

Seven years ago Kathleen bought a derelict century-old carriage house, gutted it, and transformed it into a warm and wonderful home. The Eastern design aesthetic of the renovated space filters into Katherine's kitchen as well. It's easy to imagine what joy this kitchen brings to Kathleen. She can cook, host, share, and celebrate all in one glorious spot!

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The very last thing I did in Parma during my visit this past fall was to stumble into Gloria Canelli's magical apartment and gasp. Gloria is an archaeologist whose excitement for the world's little artifacts is immediately evident when you step into her home, but especially so when she takes you to her kitchen.

What amazed me most was that despite her clusters of knick-knacks and towers of memories, she cooks every single day, knows where every last utensil and pot top hides, and keeps all her ingredients in very fresh rotation. This was one of the most fascinating kitchens I'd ever seen.

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My husband and I have lived in this rental kitchen in Portland, Oregon for over a year now, and while it isn't a designer showcase space, it does have its quirks and charms. It's been the site of many cups of hot chocolate, champagne toasts, triumphs and failures, for which I'm incredibly grateful.

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I've driven by Kathy Delgado's store, Vintageweave Interiors, a dozen of times. She specializes in amazing French farmhouse style antiques and home decor. I am not sure how I got so lucky to get an invite to have lunch with her and tour her own kitchen, but I did!

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When I went to Parma, Italy a few months ago, I asked everywhere I went if someone, anyone, would let me into their home kitchen for a tour. It wasn't until the final day that a taxi-driver's dispatcher offered her mother's place right in central Parma.

Lina Germi and her husband, an electrician, live in a house originally used as wine shop and trattoria in the early 1800s. Signora Germi, a tiny woman who wears a tie every single day, says that despite her retirement, she works more now than ever, feeding her children, nephews and grandchildren, and she has a freezer full of handmade tortellini to prove it.

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