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.
Last year my boyfriend got me a gift certificate for a massage. That was pretty nice.
My best gift was my dog Rowdy! He’s such a sweet angel beast!
When we lived in the Midwest, Chris and I would often forego xmas gifts for each other so we could pony up the dollaz to fly home for the holidays. Getting to spend Christmas in (not-at-all-snowy!!) California, surrounded by family, was a pretty good way to go! :)
Thanks for the giveaway… I will always remember the Xmas I was about seven years old when my Mom gave me a green Schwinn Sting Ray bicycle with a silver-white seat. It was delivered the day before Christmas, and I remember her making sure that I was the one who answered the door when it arrived. I have great childhood memories riding that bicycle everywhere with my friends, back before the days of “helicopter parenting”: during the summers I would leave our house, riding the bike, in the morning, and not return until dusk…no worries, just absolute childhood freedom !
I received a 5 qt Dutch oven. It’s not made by any big name, but it’s useful and I love it!
My favorite holiday gift was a foodsaver because it’s saved us a lot of money and is incredibly easy to use.
The best Holiday gift I recieved is my new Husband, we just got married! Why? Because he loves me unconditionally!
My fave gift was a photo picture frame, preloaded with family photos
I received a food processor last year and its amazing, first because it was a gift that i can use to keep giving in return when i cook and second because it make my life so much easier by it doing the work for me
I live in Ohio, where it’s absolutely icy and dangerous on the roads in the winter. The best Christmas gift I ever received was a set of new tires for my car. The reason why is how I was surprised with them. I visited my then-bf, and he asked to use my car, which I thought was strange, since he had his own, but, I just shrugged and gave him the keys. Perhaps an hour or two after he came back, he asked me to take a ride with him. I am apparently oblivious, as I didn’t notice that my car was no longer in the parking lot. We drove around to a tire store, where there were sparkly new tires on my little car! He had walked back home from the tire place after dropping off my car, and it was COLD outside!