Gifts For Chefs.

December 8, 2010 3:08 AM

GiftFilter: Help me think of some great gifts for an outstanding amateur chef. I want it to be outstandingly awesome and useful but something that the recipient would never have gotten for themselves.
posted by the NATURAL to grab bag (33 answers total)

I absolutely love my Cuisipro rasp. The plastic cover clips onto the back to catch the gratings. It's fabulous.
posted by essexjan at 3:15 AM on December 8, 2010

thermapen
posted by Infernarl at 3:27 AM on December 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

It's not perhaps the grand gesture you were looking for, but these are two really interesting cookbooks that are very interesting for an amateur chef:

- The Flavour Thesaurus
- The Geometry of Pasta

Failing that, how about a first edition (US) of the Larousse Gastronomique. Every serious chef that cares about the modern history of cooking well should have one.
posted by MuffinMan at 3:31 AM on December 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

Every cook understands that a couple of really high quality knives make a huge difference, and I'm going to assume that your friend is already squared away in that area. Two things that have really improved my kitchen experience that complement the knives were upgrades: a really large, heavy duty cutting board and my knife sharpener to the Spyderco Sharpmaker.
posted by kovacs at 3:36 AM on December 8, 2010

Silpat. For some reason my wife thought these were crazy expensie and so never bought one for herself. Now she uses it all of the time.
posted by fixedgear at 3:49 AM on December 8, 2010 [3 favorites]

The Calphalon D1382PB Commercial Hard-Anodized 12-Inch Everyday Pan with Lid is exactly the article its name suggests it is - a pan you can use every single day. It's great on top of the stove for everything from frying to making soups and stews, and it easily goes directly into the oven for braising, roasting and baking, where its domed lid lets you cover a 4 pound medium roasting chicken easily. Its hard anodized finish welcomes metal utensils, and laughs off years of wear (being self-healing over time), while heating very fast and evenly; moreover, the hard anodized finish can't be beat for searing meats and then deglazing the pan with a little liquid, to make sauces and reductions. However, the hard anodized finish of the pan, while very easy to clean with a little Dormond cleaner (or BarKeeper's Friend), is not dishwasher safe; but good cooks generally select cookware for its cooking performance and general utility, and on these counts, the Everyday Pan can't be beat. Best $40 you can spend on a kitchen gift!
posted by paulsc at 3:52 AM on December 8, 2010

One of those really big thick wooden cutting boards, maybe they're called chopping blocks?
posted by Blake at 3:59 AM on December 8, 2010

Some random ideas here. It depends how well equipped they are, and what kind of cuisine they specialise in.


A hamper of exotic ingredients (you might need to make this up yourself, but it could be a fun job) -- things your friend might not have used before, if you think they would enjoy researching them and planning meals around them.

A blow torch is one of those gadgets that most people just don't own but that come in very handy for, well, creme brulee. Probably not much else :)

Cake stands can make a really nice gift if they bake.

Tickets to a local gastronomy fair, if that's an option (e.g. Good Food show, Taste of London).
posted by londonmark at 4:00 AM on December 8, 2010

Two microplane graters, one tiny for zest and nutmeg sort of things, one bigger for cheeses and the like. I thought graters were evil and annoying but these things make it all a breeze.

You can never have enough attractive platters or serving bowls, especially ones you can put in the dishwasher. But when I see something I like, I always think "oh well what's the use, I have plenty of big (boring) plates."

King Arthur Flour is chock full of amazing stuff. I love their silicone rolling mat for pie crust, it has an outline so you know when it's big enough, for all sorts of sizes! And it's huge so you don't need to worry about flour going everywhere. If your person isn't into baking so much, they have lots of other useful gadgets that are vetted by very caring, wonderful folks.
posted by Mizu at 4:22 AM on December 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

I've worked as a cook a few times in the past, where I learned a lot, but I may have learned even more by watching dozens upon dozens of Alton Brown's Good Eats. It teaches the fundamentals of cooking/baking/etc. better than any cooking show I've ever seen. It's on a different level (the sainted Julia Child excepted).

Also, a really good mixer can make a lot of difference.
posted by Kattullus at 4:23 AM on December 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

I always recommend a good spaetzle press.
posted by sundrop at 4:26 AM on December 8, 2010

Good knives are worth their weight in gold.

Also, a microplane, a pastry cutter if they bake, a sturdy silicone spatula, a silicone rolling mat, a pizza stone, a giant mixing bowl, a copper pot if they make jams/jellies, a garlic peeler, a really good blender or food processor.
posted by beerbajay at 5:36 AM on December 8, 2010

Ceramic knife! Many of us bought a full complement of knives before these became practical, but after using one this Thanksgiving, I'm convinced I need one!
posted by advicepig at 5:38 AM on December 8, 2010

The ThinkGeek Molecular Gastronomy Stater Set. It's currently on sale for $59.99.
posted by inturnaround at 5:39 AM on December 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

I don't even like ice cream that much, but what a great gift my ice cream machine was! The possibilities for fun experimentation and the childlike joy it gives to guests and friends are totally worthwhile. Mine is this Cuisinart.
posted by TheGoodBlood at 5:58 AM on December 8, 2010

I love the Flavor Bible. This book lists ingredients and their characteristics, and then lists everything that goes with the item. It also has quotes from famous chefs about how they use particular ingredients. I find this book invaluable for when I am cooking meals without using recipes, but it's also helpful when I think an existing recipe needs something extra. As a bonus, it's fun to quiz people on all the complements of fennel.
posted by smalls at 6:15 AM on December 8, 2010 [2 favorites]

Seconding microplane, thermapen, giant cutting board. Mandoline slicer? Stick blender?
posted by mgogol at 6:56 AM on December 8, 2010

A Benriner slicer. Get the smaller one, as the large one is a bit unwieldy. It's completely adjustable, comes with a julienne blade and a slicer blade, and is actually not that expensive.

Another suggestion is a meat thermometer with a remote probe. Set it, and it tells you when your roast has reached the requested temp.

Has your friend tried their hand at making cheese? For less than 25 bucks, you can get a kit that has everything you need to make mozzarella and ricotta. It's surprisingly easy, and kinda fun. Go to cheesemaking.com for details.
posted by Gilbert at 6:59 AM on December 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

If a knife, the Forschner Victorinox 8" chef's knife or 6" utility knife. Best knives money can buy, for about 25 bucks a pop.

I always love, as gifts to aspiring cooks, either a subscription to Cooks Illustrated, or a copy of How To Cook Everything by Mark Bittman.

For someone getting a little more serious, Harold McGee's"On Food And Cooking" is an invaluable resource.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 7:17 AM on December 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

To go off londonmark's suggestion--

[-a pound of vanilla beans (you can get good beans from the internet/ebay)
-whole cardamom pods
-whole nutmeg] maybe all 3 of these together

-saffron
-one very good steak from Lobel's or other fancy meat place
-a chunk of truffle (the fungus not the chocolate)
-aged balsamic vinegar (20+ yrs)
-really really good olive oil
-a quarter cow or pig share of some heritage breed animal (obviously there needs to be some consideration of freezer space etc)
-a seat at a butchering workshop (depending on where they live)

Other than the first suggestion, I think you could easily get to a price point where the item is enough of a splurge where the giftee normally wouldn't spend that much money on themselves. I'm an enthusiastic make stuff in the kitchen/read a lot about food on the internet person and not a chef at all, and even I own and use at least half the things suggested above bc they are affordable and useful and awesome.
posted by tangaroo at 7:29 AM on December 8, 2010 [2 favorites]

A gift card to Sur La Table, if there is one near where the giftee lives. I've found it to be the best store for supplies for real cooks.
posted by kdern at 7:34 AM on December 8, 2010

Oh, restaurant supply stores are the bomb. If there's one near you go there. Actually holding kitchen supplies is important. Buying knives, pans and such online risks disappointment.
posted by Kattullus at 7:37 AM on December 8, 2010

Thirding a Thermapen. I never would have bought it for myself ($100 for a thermometer??) but I received it as a gift, and I use it almost every day -- for cooking meat, for candymaking, for making coffee with my Aeropress, etc.
posted by pluckemin at 7:42 AM on December 8, 2010

A Blendtec or a Vitamix. Sort of preposterously expensive compared to mortal blenders, but so worth it.
posted by willpie at 7:46 AM on December 8, 2010

Things I have given that made my wife happy:

Emile Henry pie dish
Kitchenaid immersion blender

Also seconding the Silpat mat and Microplane.
posted by etc. at 8:09 AM on December 8, 2010

What is your budget?

I agree with the thermapen. It seems too expensive for a thermometer, but it is wonderful. I check temps on everything now! I also started measuring ingredients much more when I got a scale. This one is nice. It allows you to be very precise, especially in baking. Also, sometimes recipes give weights for items that are hard to otherwise measure. An enameled dutch oven is a colorful and useful piece; you can spend a lot or a little.
posted by TrarNoir at 9:21 AM on December 8, 2010

We love our 18" cast iron pan (with lid that's a skillet in and of itself). It's huge and it's heavy and we use it all the time. We never would've purchased one that big for ourselves.
posted by Morydd at 10:44 AM on December 8, 2010

Dough Whisk!
posted by pjaust at 12:25 PM on December 8, 2010

You didn't say what your budget was but if money is no object enamel over cast iron Dutch Oven (does not have to be Le Creuset). The most amazing thing for braising.
posted by fixedgear at 2:15 PM on December 8, 2010

A really good tagine.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 2:40 PM on December 8, 2010

I am an avid home cook and I was given two sets of these little silicone bowls and I use them daily.

They are great for laying out ingredients like on a cooking show and they are easy to clean.
posted by Saminal at 12:31 AM on December 9, 2010

Harold McGee's "On Food and Cooking" is probably the most quoted food reference today. This book is incredible.

Also Ruhlman's "Ratio" is really good for understanding the relationships between ingredients.
posted by alchemist at 12:38 AM on December 9, 2010

You didn't say what your budget was but if money is no object enamel over cast iron Dutch Oven (does not have to be Le Creuset). The most amazing thing for braising.

I bought my mom a Dutch Oven last Christmas, and discovered that one amazingly highly-reviewed model was Walmart's in-house brand, Tramontina, which is also cheap as hell.
posted by Greg Nog at 1:14 PM on January 3, 2011