What to Buy Someone who Loves to Cook
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Everyone has a chef in their life, whether budding or gourmet, so we asked OUR favorite chef for some help on the gifting front. We heart this contributor and food blogger Kristy gave us four things that EVERY chef needs:
1. Pottery Batter Bowl ($25)
Everyone who does even a minimal amount of cooking or baking needs a good batter bowl. It’s your workhorse in the kitchen that you’ll use almost every time you’re in there. I like to keep one on hand that is as pretty to look at as it is versatile.
You’ll find more lovely bowls and pottery in a rainbow of colors, perfect for gifting, over at the Klayhouse etsy shop.
2. Cuisinart Immersion Hand Blender
I couldn’t live without my immersion blender. It not only makes preparing blended soups a breeze, but I also use it for pureeing carrots, cauliflower or even making a quick chipotle puree. It’s one of my favorite cooking tools!
This SmartStick hand blender from well respected Cuisinart is super lightweight with push-button controls, finished in brushed chrome and dishwasher safe.
It is not only a great gift for anyone that enjoys to spend time in the kitchen, it’s also a great deal for those watching their gift budget. Pick it up at Amazon right now for less than 30 bucks, almost half the normal $55 retail price.
3. Salts of the World ($36)
Everyone knows that proper seasoning is the key to turning an average dish into something extraordinary. Finishing salts take that one step further! They allow me to experiment in the kitchen; each subtle sprinkle adds a depth of flavor it would be otherwise hard to get.
4. A good balsamic vinegar ($49.95)
Much like finishing salts, a high quality balsamic vinegar can transform a dish from mediocre to amazing. A good balsamic can also be used for a quick drizzle at the end of a dish or as part of a cheese course.
This bottle of Villa Manadori’s artisanal Balsamic Vinegar, available at Williams Sonoma is handcrafted with Italian grapes and aged in a series of oak, chestnut and juniper barrels. Produced in limited quantities, no reduction is needed here; it’s good straight out of the bottle.
Happy Cooking and Season’s Greetings to All!
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I love my hand blender too! But it’s not cordless and I’m tempted to get this Cuisinart Immersion Hand Blender. Great picks for any cook and baker! :)
I’ll third the hand blender – it’s such a helpful tool. And now I want an upgraded cordless one.
I also wonder if I get a lovely yellow batter bowl, if I’ll make pancakes more often – a win/win situation if I’ve ever herd one.
Love the picks Kristy @thewickednoodle!
@thewickednoodle — Thanks for compiling this list.
A The Salts of the World is not something every foodie has on hand. I love this idea. Can you ever have too many types of salt? I do not think so!
I have that hand blender at home and absolutely adore it. I got it 2 years ago for a wedding gift and it’s still going strong. Perfect for soups and I also make smoothies with it.
Great choices! I really, really would love to have more nice kitchen tools, like an immersion hand blender… The salt set seems really great too.
This is such a great list. My husband is such a whiz in the kitchen. I will absolutely check out a few of these for his gifts this year. I love the batter bowl from Pottery Barn!
Love all of these ideas, great post.
Salt sets are such a wonderful, totally underrated foodie gift! We gave a foodie friend a salt set from the lovely ladies over at the Spice Station and let me tell you- all the dinners we’ve had at her house since have reaped the benefits! Great picks @thewickednoodle !