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.
Being together at Christmas AND snow on Christmas day! : )
The best gift I received from my wife last year was cooking lessons. I never learned to cook from classes or other people. I learned from books, and YouTube videos, and TV (bless the holy name of Julia Child!). In one evening I learned five different cooking techniques, which we used to cook five different dishes. Having that kind of hands-on help, being guided through the steps, and having the opportunity to bring together the separate skills I’d picked up on my own, was invaluable.
Well the best gift… Wow that is a hard one… I think it was a Thai Amulet that was given to my father when he went to the Vietnam war.. When he passed away it was given to me by my mother. It is always around my neck. The other was the gift of cooking.. Learned from my mom and the travels I have done and all the cook books it have read…… Great ? …. Makes you really think… Ha ha ha
The best present I ever got was my parents surprising me by letting me fine dine with one friend this year for my 21st birthday. They know all I like to do is eat and cook, so this was the best, thoughtful surprise and present I ever got from them or anyone. (Also super excited for them to buy me a food processor to have in my first apartment!!)
the best gift ive ever received was a nice chef’s knife. i use it everyday!!
My best holiday gift was my grill pan. I use it almost 5x a week whether for grilling toasts or some pork chops or fish. It heats perfectly, and can go in the oven. Since I live in an apartment, I can’t have a big grill, but this is almost as good. I always get compliments on my stovetop/oven “grilling.” Happy Holidays everyone!
My first cast iron skillet. One year later it’s looking pretty beautiful!
My education!
The best gift I ever received was a cast iron skillet for christmas because I literally use it every.single.day
Lasik Eye Surgery – I can see perfectly now! and not on my dime, thanks parents!