I really love kitchen tools and what you’ll find in my kitchen is a good mix of super-specific items and general use. I don’t tend to get a lot of one use items, but when I do, I think long and hard before I purchase. This is my ultimate kitchen gadget-y wish list – a mix of high-end and affordable products. To make these products even more affordable, you might be able to find some voucher codes! I would love to receive any of these items this holiday season and I’m sure the cook in your life would too!
Ever since I tried rigging up a ghetto-sous vide machine to make Momofuku’s 48 hour short ribs, I’ve been wanting a sous vide machine. Nomiku just came out with a new wifi home sous vide machine and I backed it because I was so impressed with their past incarnation. Essentially, a sous vide machine lets you cook food (usually in a vacuum sealed bag) in water bath set at an extremely low temperature. The sous vide machine both heats and circulates water and your food is gently cooked to scientific precision.
If you’re going to ask for a sous-vide machine, the next thing you might want to add to your wish list is a Searzall. I don’t have one of these (they just finished their kickstarter and are gearing up to sell on Amazon), but it’s definitely on my radar. It’s basically a portable salamander – use to sear sous vide steaks, melt cheese, or finish dishes off with a blast of heat.
The above two items are things that I think I’ll love, but they’re definitely more things I wish I had rather than things I need. These spatulas on the other hand, I have in my drawer right now and reach for all the time. I’ve talked about my love for silicone spatulas previously and I’m still a big fan of them. These colorful guys from Get It Right make me happy every time I reach for them. They make a perfect little gift. They’re unibody (which means no grotty parts to clean), hold up to heat well, and are dishwasher safe.
One of my favourite kitchen tools is a garlic press. I actually like mincing garlic (I’m weird, I know) but I don’t really like my fingers smelling like garlic every time I do it. Garlic presses take that problem away. This press from Savora is both pretty and functional. It’s an excellent gift for a garlic lover.
I wish I could send everyone a holiday present but since I can’t, I’m doing the next best thing and hosting a little Le Creuset Giveaway!
Giveaway: I’m giving away a Le Creuset Cherry Wok, a Le Creuset Balti Dish and a cute little Le Creuset Condiment Pot. They’re cherry red and perfect for the holiday season – thank you Le Crueset!
Enter: Leave a comment letting me know what the best gift you received was and why and then use the widget to enter. Open to US residents only. Winner will be selected at random and contacted by email. Good luck!
Update: Congrats Vicky! Get ready to start cooking! :D Look for an email from me shortly.
A calphalon non-stick omelet pan has been my favorite gift because I use it every morning to make my breakfast egg.
The best gift I received was my DSLR camera for all of the adventures I got to capture.
The best holiday gift I’ve received was a leaded glass hummingbird, picked out by my son and daughter when they were about 4 and 5 years old.
I forgot to add ‘why’: Because even at that age they understood and honored my love of all things nature.
A really nice set of all the essential herbs and spices from a local shop.
This might seem small but I have 3 of those silicon spatulas in my kitchen drawer and I love them!!! They are seriously good for everyday use in the kitchen whether cooking or baking. Whenever I think about gifting others, I think of buying those gems.
Best gift for me wasn’t one I received but one I gave my wife for Christmas a few years ago. She had been wanting a mixer so I got her a bright red Kitchen Aid with all sort of attachments, including a meat grinder and sausage stuffer (OK, so those two were for me).
To date, the mixer has only been used to make sausage. Best. Gift. Ever.
Best food gift I ever got was a chef’s hat from my two boys when they were little. So cue and I had to wear it. I have no idea where they came up with that!
Best gift ever was an AAA membership from my aunt last year. Didn’t realize it until I locked my keys in the car at the airport with the car running and music blasting while dropping off a friend. An eventual end to the humiliation was priceless :)
I have loved all of the homemade gifts throughout the years! In particular, my sister paints some amazing things and I love decorating my apartment with them!
The best gift I ever received was my engagement ring!