Looking for gift ideas for that person in your life who loves to cook? Here are 10 unique ideas that are pretty much guaranteed to appeal to their inner chef.
If you have a person in your life who loves to cook, it can be tough to figure out what they might like – because if they’re anything like me, they probably already have just about everything you could think of.
Recently I had the chance to cook dinner with the guy who, more than anyone else, helped me identify (1) my knack for identifying flavors and (2) my love of science in the kitchen.
We decided we were going to make Bolognese. The conversation went something like this:
Me: I think you’ll have everything I need already at your place
John: I doubt it.
Me: Duck fat.
John: I have that.
That’s pretty much how it goes with chefs, foodies, home-cooks, and chef-y people. We already have enough gadgets and a lot of ingredients – probably too many. Do I have a fat separator? Of course I do. Don’t ask me if I have an immersion blender – just ask “Where is your immersion blender?” A microplane zester? Sous vide cooker? Duck fat?
I have that.
And if you – or your foodie friend you’re thinking about – doesn’t have the things I’ve listed above, forget this list and start with some of those things.
All that said, here are some gift ideas for that person in your life who loves to cook. And I’m willing to bet that there will be at least one thing on this list they don’t have.
Without further ado, here goes:
#12: Flatiron Pepper Co. Starter Pack
A lot of things on this list are weird and/or fun and/or exotic ingredients. These things are great for people who love to cook because it helps us flex a part of our brain that might have atrophied a bit, especially if we’re in a rut.
I got these chili flakes as a gift a few years ago, and they were super fun. Say goodbye to boring old hot pepper flakes, these are great on pizza, or as an ingredient to a number of different pasta dishes.
#11: JBL Flip 6 (or any other JBL portable speaker)
I think a lot of people who love to cook might agree that one of the best things about cooking is listening to music while you’re in the kitchen.
Anthony Bourdain loved rock and roll; Jeremiah Tower was infamous for blasting opera like it was punk rock (and if you haven’t seen The Last Magnficient, you really should); Julia Child wasn’t a fan of music at dinner parties, but she loved to listen to music while she cooked.
One time a few years ago I went to a friend’s house to cook dinner, and shockingly, he had no music in the kitchen. Horrified, I plopped my iPhone into a tin pot and cranked it to max volume. This actually worked okay – but it wasn’t great.
Since then, I’ve always taken my Portable JBL Flip 6 with me everywhere I go; it’s literally part of my knife roll. And it’s been great – catering, backyard BBQs, visiting friends… this little guy puts out an amazing amount of high quality sound and brings energy to any cooking experience
#10: Black Garlic
This is another super fun exotic ingredient. Black garlic is made by cooking it low and slow over an extended period of time; this processes not only turns it black but removes almost all of it’s astringency – leaving behind only it’s savory sweetness. The result is a jammy, easily spreadable end product that is outstanding smeared on a cracker with a nice brie, or added to any recipe to bring an elevated umami depth of flavor.
#9: On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee
Harold McGee’s On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen, is considered a seminal work – so much so that it’s often required reading for first year culinary students. While no one in their right mind (*ahem*) would actually sit down and read this book cover-to-cover, it’s an invaluable reference that any serious cook should have at the ready.
#8: Dave’s Insanity Gourmet Hot Sauce Pack
I first got introduced to this stuff in college – it is, as the name suggests, insanely hot. This stuff is so hot that it actually comes with a warning about heart attacks and stuff.
The original insanity sauce is a mere 200,000 Scoville Units – about 100 times hotter than a jalapeño pepper, but some of the pepper specific ones are 750,000 – 1,000,000 Scoville Units.
Aside from being just a fun thing, these are actually great to cook with. Miraculously, somehow, they don’t just taste like pure capsaicin – they actually have sort of a nice flavor. And they’re great to use in things like curry or chili – or anything else you want to kick up the heat in without adding a lot of extra ingredients.
Be warned: 2 -4 drops is literally all that’s needed (maybe ¼ teaspoon) for an entire batch of something – say 6 or 8 servings.
#7: The Flavor Bible
Another seminal work that’s often required reading in culinary school, The Flavor Bible is another indispensable kitchen companion. Not only does it break down exactly why things go together, it also provides inspiration for unique flavor pairings that you might not think work together – but totally do.
Bacon-chili-chocolate chip cookies anyone?
#6: Black Diamond Spot Headlamp
I’ve had almost every generation of this headlamp since the mid-90s, back when it was like 60 lumens – which at the time was considered bright. These days, this headlamp packs a blinding 400 lumens, which can be dimmed down to 5 lumens, a red LED, and focus beam as well as a broader flood.
I use this thing to grill in the dark, take the garbage out, provide extra light for meticulous tasks, look through the darkest corners of my cabinets for that one thing I never use… the uses are limitless. It’s one of those things you don’t think you need, but once you have it you can’t imagine life without it.
#5: All Tree Grid-Leaf Notebook
Adam Savage of Mythbuster’s fame is famous for saying that the only difference between science and screwing around is writing it down.
He’s totally right – and truer words have never been spoken, especially in the kitchen. In an era where everything is kept on a smartphone, it can be difficult to understand why it’s important to write things down by hand. But in the kitchen, it’s still the way things are done: partly because it’s annoying when your phone screen turns off, partly because tap-tapping away is still not as efficient as scribbling down some loose notes in the moment, and partly because having a non-digital copy of your cooking is a way to ensure they don’t get lost.
I prefer the graph (grid paper) version because you can also sketch illustrations, processes and flow charts more easily.
#4 Pink Peppercorns
The last “exotically fun food item” on this list, Pink Peppercorns aren’t actually peppercorns – they’re a nut from the cashew family (so, watch out if you cook for people with nut allergies).
But they taste almost exactly like black or green pepper – except they have a spicy, fruity floral note to them that’s exceptionally delicious.
Pair these in Steak Au Poivre with Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, and you’ve got yourself a real treat.
#3: EcoZen Apron
There are a million aprons out their on the market, some of which cost upwards of $100 – but none of them have the ONE feature that makes this apron stand out head-and-shoulders above the rest. This feature is the horizontal stretchy piece of webbing that connects the two shoulder straps.
This is far superior to the traditional “crossback” design which can get easily flipped around and tangled up. Additionally, rather than tying this one in the back, it clips together with clips, so it never comes untied.
The one featured above is the lightweight cotton version; these tend to last a couple of years even with daily use – but for the price, it’s well worth it. I also purchased the waxed canvas shop-apron version, which I’ve had for maybe 5 years… it’s heavy, but it’s still kicking.
#2: Magnetic Knife Strip
Once I got one of these I never looked back. Say goodbye to knife blocks that take up valuable counter space… or worse, chucking your knives in a drawer – which is both dangerous, and terrible for their edges.
I prefer the ones that mount on the wall where you actually have to do a little drilling, because they’re more secure that way, but if you don’t want to do that they make ones that adhere using adhesive or other magnets.
I own the one above – it’s inexpensive and servicable.
#1: Kershaw Leek
At one time, this tool was standard issue for the students at the Cordon Bleu in Pasadena, CA because it’s accessibility makes it perfect for opening just about anything. It can clip on to a chef’s coat, an apron, or a pocket in multiple directions (the pocket clip is reversable). Plus, it has “assisted opening” – i.e., it’s almost like a switchblade in that you don’t need two hands to open it.
This is especially convenient if your other hand is doing something, or is covered in chicken juice, or whatever. I literally keep mine in my pocket at all times, and I pretty much feel naked without it.
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