Gifts for the Food Lover
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It’s hard not to love food. Considering most of us eat three square meals a day of it, and we spend the rest of our time craving it, it makes sense to want to make the best of all that food has to offer.
Home chefs and even amateur microwave aficionados will appreciate this list of gifts, which aim to please any food lover in your life. From essentials to splurges, we’ve come up with a variety of gift ideas for him and for her, for any occasion. Whether it’s a valentine’s day gift, birthday gift, anniversary gift, or otherwise, these gifts will get that food lover in your life running to the kitchen.
The Essentials
There are a few things that every home chef always needs. Extra virgin olive oil is a mainstay in every kitchen. A high-end bottle of extra virgin olive oil will be coveted by home chefs as a flavorful finishing oil on salads or breads. Likewise, balsamic vinegar adds distinct flavor to many recipes, and since most balsamic vinegars have added sugars and caramel color instead of the aged sweetness and color they are supposed to get in a cask over time, the home chef in your life will be awestruck by the taste of the real thing. Finally, salt and pepper are obvious essentials, but it matters how it ends up in the pan. Freshly ground spices maintain better flavor, so it is worth it to invest in a set of quality, long-lasting grinders from a trusted name brand. No food lover will regret getting any of these crucial items for their kitchen.
That novelty Item
We all have that one thing we have always wanted to buy but never did because it wasn’t strictly necessary. That’s what makes novelty items such great gifts, especially for foods that are tough to cook without them. My favorite example is the ice cream maker. Homemade ice cream is a fantastic treat, but is extremely annoying to make without an ice cream maker. Likewise, stovetop popcorn can be tricky because the kernels need to be constantly moving around to pop evenly, and sushi tends to be something you eat out rather than at home because it is difficult without the proper tools. Not anymore. The home chef in your life will thank you for the ability to make foods they wouldn’t ordinarily be able to without these sweet machines.
Pairs Well With . . .
Let’s not forget that novelty items are, well, novel. The home chef in your life may have always wanted an ice cream maker but would have no idea what to do with one once they got it. A good cookbook is all you need to get that new and unused machine off the shelf and use it. Here are a few companions to the novelty items we already suggested.
A Chef’s Companion
No kitchen is complete without a good sharp knife. It’s easy enough to say, but how many of us really have a knife that we can use tirelessly everyday? Many people buy lesser-quality knives and then replace them when they get dull. Or they don’t and they muddle through with dull (and dangerous) knives. Do everyone a favor and treat the cook in your life to a nice knife, one that can be resharpened over and over again back to its full glory. They will have a new life-long cooking companion and so will you.
A Countertop Jewel
A good cutting board is just as important to a home cook as a good knife. One of the biggest factors to choosing a cutting board is material, because some materials do a better job of staying clean and sturdy. Bamboo and walnut are both types of wood that repel bacteria and are therefore good choices for your home. Size is another important factor. While small may seem convenient, a crowded cutting board can be dangerous. A larger cutting board gives you the freedom to prep without clearing the board as you go. I recommend having several sizes so you can choose. Lastly, since safety is always first, non-slip cutting boards are a great way to go. Many have silicon on the ends to protect against sliding. We’ve listed several excellent choices for the home cook.
Something to Use again and Again
There has been a slow-moving shift in our kitchen towards reusable goods instead of disposable ones. We have been trying hard to reduce, reuse, and recycle in our family, which means no more plastic baggies or plastic wrap. While this may seem more of a burden, in the long run it is actually easier and saves money. It can be expensive up front to switch over, which is why reusable items make great gifts.
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