Chefs and gourmet cooks can be challenging to buy for at Christmas time. They often have everything they would normally use already at their fingertips. However, that doesn’t equate to them having everything they “wish” they could have in their kitchens. Looking at the situation from that point of view, it becomes much easier to find just the right Christmas gift for any gourmet cook or chef. Below are some great ideas.
Instructions
1. Buy him a voice recognition shopping list machine. That way, your chef will never forget to purchase the supplies he wants or needs. Whether it is portable and can fit in the pocket or wall-mounted in the kitchen, it is sure to be a welcome gift. The cost ranges from $19.99 (portable) to $149.99 for wall mounted versions that print off the shopping list.
2. Send your favorite chef on a Chef’s Holiday at Yosemite (see Resources below). This annual event offers gourmet cooks exposure to some of the greatest chefs in the world. While you can control the cost somewhat by picking and choosing certain sessions and arranging for accommodations privately, this isn’t an inexpensive gift. It runs well into hundreds of dollars.
3. Purchase a portable wine cooler. From tabletop models that start at $99 to full-scale models that run into the thousands of dollars, wine coolers have become one of the hottest gift items for chefs. Since most gourmet cooks use a lot of wine in cooking as well as for serving first-class meals, this is a gift that is sure to please any chef.
4. Get a personalized chef’s cap. These items which now come in colors as well as white can have names embroidered or ironed on. The cost is minimal at $16.95 at Eat Gourmet (see Resources below).
5. Give the chef a subscription to the Olive Oil of the Month Club. This is a gift that keeps on giving in 3, 6, 9, or 12 month subscriptions beginning at $75 and going up to just under $300. The olive oils received aren’t anything run of the mill, either, but hard to find gourmet oils from all over the world. This is sure to be a gift that the gourmet cook in your life will enjoy all year long.
6. Gift your chef with a subscription to Bon Appetit (see Resources below), the premiere magazine for chefs. For $15 a year, you will give a gift that any cook would love to have.
7. Make him some homemade marinades, using your own family recipes. Or purchase some gourmet varieties from local cooking boutiques. Chefs love trying new marinades and will enjoy the experimentation. The cost remains low if you make your own, but you can control the ultimate price any way you choose to go.
8. Register him in a cooking school. There is always some new form of cooking to be learned, whether it is a new style or a new culture. Chefs love learning new things and will appreciate the chance to expand their repertoire. Just make certain it is in an area that he or she is interested. The cost here will vary depending upon the school, the length of the class, and its location. However, this gift won’t be cheap. It can run into hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
9. Give the gift of flavor with infused salts like balsamic, lemon twist, merlot-infused, or porcini.
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