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.
One of my favorite gifts was my first cast iron pan. It’s still as good as the day I got it and will be for years.
A scrapbook my friends made for me
My own laptop because I could go on whenever I wanted.
jofo120 at yahoo dot com
DVD set of Alias – my favorite show!
The best holiday gift I’ve received was just last year! I had spent a few days for Christmas at my parents’ house before traveling back to my current home six hours away. I was bummed that my boyfriend had to work throughout the rest of my holiday break, but he ended up surprising me with a two-night addition to a day trip we had planned to see one of our favorite bands. We got to see them play in two different cities and spend a snowy night in rural Vermont in between our two stops. Can’t think of a better way to ring in the New Year!
Best gift i received was a chef’s knife from Tokyo!! Quality is out of this world!
Last Christmas, my boyfriend got us a reservation at a hotel in our city for Christmas. We did nothing but order room service, go swimming, and lay around. Best gift ever!
Round-trip plane ticket to San Francisco (I’m banking on this one being “the best” since it is what I’m getting this year! So excited to go there and work on a farm and at BAR TARTINE and spend time exploring the city and all it has to offer!
best gift? a watch. :)
I am going to say my pet hamster that I received years ago.