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.
My Kitchen Aid stand mixer with lots of attachments is the best gift I ever received. I use it often for so many things.
A Global paring knife! I use it for absolutely everything.
A Canada Goose jacket! It gets real cold, and it’s weather-appropriate and very practical.
a crockpot! It’s amazing how much I’ve come to rely on it.
Definitely a surprise trip to Chicago. The entire trip was planned–including all of the great restaurants I got to eat at!
I think the most useful gift I ever got was my iPad. I used to schlep around whatever book I was reading every day to and from work so that I could read on my commute. My bag is so much lighter now! :)
Best gift I ever received was my food processor. I use it for everything from smoothies to homemade almond butter. Nothing it can’t handle!
I received a Shun knife a few years back and I can’t say enough good things about it. Not only is it just beautiful to look at, it is a incredible tool. I encourage all my friends to make the investment and quit using “cheap” knives.
I think it would have to be my chef’s knife…nothing gets more use in my kitchen and I’m thankful to have it every time I chop!
One year I received a whole set of things to go with a baby doll like a cradle – it meant a lot because my dad had just passed away and my mom was struggling to provide for us.