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.
I think the best gift I’ve ever received was when my parents took me to a Michelin starred restaurant for my birthday, which is three days before Christmas!! That still remains the most unforgettable and favorite meal I’ve ever had (: It inspired me to cook more and to experiment in the kitchen!
The best gift I ever received was a Le Crueset Dutch oven. I use it almost every day. It’s functional and nice to serve from too!
I got a baby brother for Christmas one year, most of the time… I think he is a great gift.
vmkids3 at msn dot com
Greatest gift was easy gourmet!
My dad got me some quintessential albums. My collections tend to stick in a certain genre (Handsome Furs, Wolf Parade, Typhoon, Menomena) and some classics. But I needed the standards and some new standards. I rec’d Portishead “Live at The Roseland”, Billy Joel “Piano Man”, Led Zepplin “Houses Of the Holy”, Donald Fagen “The Nightfly”, David Bowie “Lets Dance”, and 3 others. My dad knows what’s up, and has always enjoyed music.
My best gift was a dog!
Oh man, I don’t know what it says about me that I can’t really nail down one “best” Christmas present – I would probably have to say the Wii video game console, which, at the time was very difficult to find. My boyfriend pulled some strings for me at work because he knew I wanted it badly, and managed to get me one!
My husband had a necklace made for me with charms that had my girls’ names and birthdates, plus their birthstones.
One year my parents got me the kitten I’d be hoping for.
My closest friend gave me a package containing arborio rice, a black truffle, truffle slicer and a quart of chicken stock. Basically a risotto kit.