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 cast iron pan, and a list of things NOT to do with it!
My favorite holiday gift was a Fossil bag. It was my first big girl purse and i kept getting compliments. Soon, I started to dress nicer at work and in my personal life, to make my bag proud.
A Sunbeam hand mixer with a mixing stand/bowl that my friend gave to me during college as a precursor to the kitchen aid, “for until you can afford the official one”. Best present ever :)
The best gift was a food processor! So useful!
My mom gave me a Dutch oven a few years back after I (think I) mentioned one (okay, maybe I asked for it), even though I didn’t cook much back then. I hauled it to university after one break and now love using it for chicken noodle soup, pot roasts, and no-knead bread!
The best gift I eve received was a waffle maker for my new kitchen. It’s a simple device but it has revitalized Sunday breakfast!
one of the nicest gifts I ever received was a large picnic basket (super large) filled with all the accessories to make a grand picnic. It was very touching. Now all I want is a Kitchen Aid and some Le Creuset pieces!
Best gift? 130 people showing up to our wedding in Mexico when we were expecting only 60 :) Then having enough flexibility to feed everybody.
The best gift I’ve ever received was my great-aunt’s ring, which she gave me when I turned 21. She passed away last year. I wear it everyday and think of her.
The French Laundry Cookbook – awesome and inspiring. Man’s reach should exceed his grasp.