Today’s gift guide is for the cook in your life – this is the person on your list whose Christmas cookies you eagerly await each year, and whose holiday party you just wouldn’t miss because of those awesome bacon wrapped scallops! My picks are sure to please the culinary master in your life.
1) Salts of the World Test Tube Set via Uncommon Goods This is a great giftable set because it’s not necessarily something you would buy yourself. My mother-in-law gifted me a similar set of salts last year, and I’ve been savoring them ever since! Each salt comes from a different part of the world, which will add a little bit of magic and that special touch to a dish. Plus, it looks great sitting on the counter!
2) Wusthof Epicure Chef’s Knife via Sur La Table Whenever I talk to my friends or family who might not be as experienced in the kitchen, I always tell them you really only need one knife. Okay, it might be a bit of an exaggeration (of course you’ll need a paring knife for finer cutting and a serrated knife for slicing that crunchy French baguette) but this 8″ chef’s knife will take your favorite chef far. It’s versatile, high quality and has a solid handle, giving it just the right balance and excellent durability. It’s a bit of an investment, but will last for years.
3) KitchenAid Professional 600 Stand Mixer via Williams Sonoma This baby is every baker’s dream – I considered myself very lucky when I inherited my KitchenAid from a family member a few years ago. Since then, I’m sad to say it’s having an electrical problem and I need to have it repaired – and I miss it desperately! It’s almost not worth baking anymore without my trusty KitchenAid to do most of the heavy lifting for me. Trust me – if you are looking to impress someone special who loves to bake this holiday season, this is your go-to gift! Bonus points for picking his or her favorite color 🙂
4) Belkin Kitchen Stand and Wand / Stylus for Tablet via Amazon I’m all for cookbooks – I have many! One of my favorite birthday gifts was a good old fashioned hardcover cookbook. However – this day in age, rushing home from work, zipping through the grocery store, I often find myself looking up recipes on my phone or tablet on the fly. This sleek stand will help keep your cook’s tablet upright and out of the mess of ingredients on the counter, and the wand keeps the tablet’s screen fingerprint-free.
5) Gift Certificate for Cooking Classes One of my favorite gifts to give is a gift of experience, whether it’s tickets to a favorite band, a show on Broadway, or some other experience of a lifetime. These are my favorite kinds of a gifts to give and receive, because it comes with the most priceless gift of all – memory making with loved ones. Even the most experienced cook would welcome the opportunity to take a cooking class or two and learn some new techniques or experiment with some new ingredients. Plus, they will be thrilled to know you’re interested in sharing in their passion. For our local blog readers, Jones Family Farms offers a variety of cooking classes at their beautiful location in Shelton, CT. Check out their Spring 2015 calendar now!
