What gift for the man who has everything??
November 2, 2011 9:16 PM Subscribe
Gift Ideas for local Celeb..
My husband has befriended a local (and somewhat national) celeb chef and I need suggestions for a Holiday gift. This person has several very popular restaurants in our Southern city....does a lot of local charity work...just an all around good guy. My husband has befriended him, helps him at these events, they 'hang' several ties a month and we really like him and his wife. I need suggestions for a Holiday gift for the couple. Want it to be meaningful... but not scream "suck up". We genuinely like these folks, they like us too...I'd like to give/ do something for them that would be appropriate for the Holidays. They are financially set....I need a creative idea. A donation to a charity is an option....Want to see if the hive can come up with any other ideas?
My husband has befriended a local (and somewhat national) celeb chef and I need suggestions for a Holiday gift. This person has several very popular restaurants in our Southern city....does a lot of local charity work...just an all around good guy. My husband has befriended him, helps him at these events, they 'hang' several ties a month and we really like him and his wife. I need suggestions for a Holiday gift for the couple. Want it to be meaningful... but not scream "suck up". We genuinely like these folks, they like us too...I'd like to give/ do something for them that would be appropriate for the Holidays. They are financially set....I need a creative idea. A donation to a charity is an option....Want to see if the hive can come up with any other ideas?
Well, is there some reason the gift-giving is different because is a local celebrity? Id this somehow changes your intention behind the gift-giving could you explain how? Otherwise, why not just treat him like any other friend? If you want gift ideas maybe tell a little more about his personality and interests. all we have to go on for this is his job and the fact that he is a local celebrity, so it will be hard to come up with ideas.
posted by bearette at 9:39 PM on November 2, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by bearette at 9:39 PM on November 2, 2011 [3 favorites]
Craft beer? An interesting small-batch whiskey (Templeton Rye Small Batch is the best sipping rye I've had, and I've had a lot of rye)?
If you frequent his restaurants, maybe eat at one each week over the course of December, and bring a case of cold beer for his kitchen staff during close? I've been told by cooks I've befriended that THAT is the best way to "tip out" the kitchen. You'll want to get something light and in the can - pilsner/lager, not IPA or stout - so that it's refreshing for guys who have worked the line all night, and portable without breakage as they move around scrubbing and polishing to close up shop.
posted by GamblingBlues at 10:20 PM on November 2, 2011
If you frequent his restaurants, maybe eat at one each week over the course of December, and bring a case of cold beer for his kitchen staff during close? I've been told by cooks I've befriended that THAT is the best way to "tip out" the kitchen. You'll want to get something light and in the can - pilsner/lager, not IPA or stout - so that it's refreshing for guys who have worked the line all night, and portable without breakage as they move around scrubbing and polishing to close up shop.
posted by GamblingBlues at 10:20 PM on November 2, 2011
I really LOVE Hepp's Salts. Salt flavored with truffle (white or black) alderwood smoke, applewood smoke ,chipotle, Thai spices.... I could go on.
Maybe your chef is already onto this loveliness - your husband can judge. I feel like it's one of those things we chefs mean to try/use but don't always get to because there is so much else going on in our culinary lives.
But, uh, I'm a Salt Whore. I have salt from all over the world. Yes, there are differences. Hepp's smoked salts are my favorite, but I like the alderwood best because it is the most elegant in smell, flavor, and texture. Hepp's has taken my salt obsession to a whole new level.
This maybe a token gift added to something bigger, but you will not disappoint.
----
Things I would want that are expensive but AMAZING....
- Lobsters ordered from these guys are just awesome and delivered overnight from Maine. Let me explain to you how lobsters in tanks taste nothing like lobsters fresh from the sea. DITTO if you order the real Steamer Clams.
Even in NYC and vacationing all over the Eastern Seaboard, the BEST lobster I ever had was overnighted from Maine. I can endorse this particular shipper via experience and research. Other shippers lie about the provenance of their product (I work in seafood, I know) so I'm pretty careful.
- A Grade Foie Gras from France to play with.
This one is hard, I've got a guy. I can't share. But if you have a guy...
- Heritage Pig -or- Boar -or- Hybrid. From the farmer, direct.
I'll have to get back to you here. I have a source, forget the name. Sorry.
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All this said....
Gifts that require effort on the part of the recipient sometime suck. (But not the Foie. That's always appreciated...)
-----
If you invited your friends over, got them tipsy, and served up your favorite comfort food, they will love you.
(Please feed me and don't make me work - thanks! Please stop being intimidated by my profession - double thanks! One of my old roommates once made me "Tuna Peas" which I loved as a child, but by a different name. Don't you know? That is one of my most favorite meals, ever! Macaroni and cheese + tuna + frozen peas. Tuna Peas.)
You can't go wrong with a good bottle of wine and something like Hepp's Salts. Ditto if your main gift is entertaining HomeStyle and gift them the wine + token gift.
That's what I might do.
----
I also have a great source for inexpensive but gorgeous hand-blown vases, which is my go-to gift now that I no longer live in NYC. Vases are good if they are pretty enough because they are ALWAYS useful. But you really really really have to know the recipient's style and space to choose well.
----
That's all I got.
-
posted by jbenben at 10:24 PM on November 2, 2011 [4 favorites]
Maybe your chef is already onto this loveliness - your husband can judge. I feel like it's one of those things we chefs mean to try/use but don't always get to because there is so much else going on in our culinary lives.
But, uh, I'm a Salt Whore. I have salt from all over the world. Yes, there are differences. Hepp's smoked salts are my favorite, but I like the alderwood best because it is the most elegant in smell, flavor, and texture. Hepp's has taken my salt obsession to a whole new level.
This maybe a token gift added to something bigger, but you will not disappoint.
----
Things I would want that are expensive but AMAZING....
- Lobsters ordered from these guys are just awesome and delivered overnight from Maine. Let me explain to you how lobsters in tanks taste nothing like lobsters fresh from the sea. DITTO if you order the real Steamer Clams.
Even in NYC and vacationing all over the Eastern Seaboard, the BEST lobster I ever had was overnighted from Maine. I can endorse this particular shipper via experience and research. Other shippers lie about the provenance of their product (I work in seafood, I know) so I'm pretty careful.
- A Grade Foie Gras from France to play with.
This one is hard, I've got a guy. I can't share. But if you have a guy...
- Heritage Pig -or- Boar -or- Hybrid. From the farmer, direct.
I'll have to get back to you here. I have a source, forget the name. Sorry.
-----
All this said....
Gifts that require effort on the part of the recipient sometime suck. (But not the Foie. That's always appreciated...)
-----
If you invited your friends over, got them tipsy, and served up your favorite comfort food, they will love you.
(Please feed me and don't make me work - thanks! Please stop being intimidated by my profession - double thanks! One of my old roommates once made me "Tuna Peas" which I loved as a child, but by a different name. Don't you know? That is one of my most favorite meals, ever! Macaroni and cheese + tuna + frozen peas. Tuna Peas.)
You can't go wrong with a good bottle of wine and something like Hepp's Salts. Ditto if your main gift is entertaining HomeStyle and gift them the wine + token gift.
That's what I might do.
----
I also have a great source for inexpensive but gorgeous hand-blown vases, which is my go-to gift now that I no longer live in NYC. Vases are good if they are pretty enough because they are ALWAYS useful. But you really really really have to know the recipient's style and space to choose well.
----
That's all I got.
-
posted by jbenben at 10:24 PM on November 2, 2011 [4 favorites]
Do what you would normally do. Cut celeb part out of it.
posted by Ironmouth at 10:24 PM on November 2, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Ironmouth at 10:24 PM on November 2, 2011 [3 favorites]
Very good bottle of wine. Always appreciated.
posted by Ideefixe at 10:33 PM on November 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Ideefixe at 10:33 PM on November 2, 2011 [1 favorite]
I didn't read the "celeb" thing as pejorative.
I thought it just meant, "exposed to a lot, living food 24/7, no other interests to speak of because chefs at that level absolutely live, breath, and eat food" - so what might someone like this LOVE to get as a gift?
posted by jbenben at 11:26 PM on November 2, 2011 [2 favorites]
I thought it just meant, "exposed to a lot, living food 24/7, no other interests to speak of because chefs at that level absolutely live, breath, and eat food" - so what might someone like this LOVE to get as a gift?
posted by jbenben at 11:26 PM on November 2, 2011 [2 favorites]
I would try to avoid giving food to a foodie unless I was really confident. I might go the donation route. Or, I might give them something that reflects what I know about--so, if you have special interests or hobbies or talents, especially if you have chatted about that, give them something that reflects you more than your guess about what they might like.
posted by bluedaisy at 11:29 PM on November 2, 2011
posted by bluedaisy at 11:29 PM on November 2, 2011
Can either of you bake or craft things? If they're financially set, then its likely anything you buy them they could have bought for themselves. The exceptions being, something too indulgent to buy for yourself or a 'hidden gem' that requires special knowledge or effort to obtain.
posted by missmagenta at 2:17 AM on November 3, 2011
posted by missmagenta at 2:17 AM on November 3, 2011
Why are you even thinking the phrase "suck up" for people that you consider your friends?
posted by dgeiser13 at 7:55 AM on November 3, 2011
posted by dgeiser13 at 7:55 AM on November 3, 2011
How about a nice teapot and some tea? Or just an assortment of loose leaf tea.
posted by backwards guitar at 8:06 AM on November 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by backwards guitar at 8:06 AM on November 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
I have 3 chefs in my family and the last thing I'd buy any of them is anything for the kitchen as a present. If they want it or need it they already have it.
That said, in my family they all love it when people make them food, seriously, everyone is always so intimidated to cook for them and they all love trying new foods. My brothers favourite present ever (and he's won cooking awards in Australia) was a beautifully moist German Apple Cake a friend of my mums made his family. He begged the recipe off of her.
Do you have something you are great at making, a secret family cookie recipe something like that. Heck for most Chefs just eating something homemade they didn't have to cook is a great treat. Best thing is if you can make something he loves, then don't give him the recipe, it will drive him crazy.
If he has any hobbies outside of food that might be a good way to go, it would show him that you really are friends and know that he also likes whatever it is golfing fishing or whatever.
But honestly the chefs I know, a plate full of nice home made cookies or Christmas treats of some sort and a donation to a charity would be the perfect present. Chefs of all people get that making food for people = love.
posted by wwax at 10:03 AM on November 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
That said, in my family they all love it when people make them food, seriously, everyone is always so intimidated to cook for them and they all love trying new foods. My brothers favourite present ever (and he's won cooking awards in Australia) was a beautifully moist German Apple Cake a friend of my mums made his family. He begged the recipe off of her.
Do you have something you are great at making, a secret family cookie recipe something like that. Heck for most Chefs just eating something homemade they didn't have to cook is a great treat. Best thing is if you can make something he loves, then don't give him the recipe, it will drive him crazy.
If he has any hobbies outside of food that might be a good way to go, it would show him that you really are friends and know that he also likes whatever it is golfing fishing or whatever.
But honestly the chefs I know, a plate full of nice home made cookies or Christmas treats of some sort and a donation to a charity would be the perfect present. Chefs of all people get that making food for people = love.
posted by wwax at 10:03 AM on November 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
Really nice pot holders (homemade even?) or tea towels? Everyone I know who cooks a lot just rips through their nice pot holders and towels.
And a very fancy bottle of small batch olive oil is nice, even if they can get it for free probably.
posted by small_ruminant at 10:14 AM on November 3, 2011
And a very fancy bottle of small batch olive oil is nice, even if they can get it for free probably.
posted by small_ruminant at 10:14 AM on November 3, 2011
I was just browsing Amazon's suggestions for gifts and a book called The Oxford's Companion to Beer caught my eye. Seems like a nice gift for my husband's boss, one of those "he already has everything" king of people. Maybe it works for you too.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 11:55 PM on November 3, 2011
posted by CrazyLemonade at 11:55 PM on November 3, 2011
Er, kind of people, not king of people, I meant to write.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 11:56 PM on November 3, 2011
posted by CrazyLemonade at 11:56 PM on November 3, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Gilbert at 9:27 PM on November 2, 2011 [2 favorites]