Holiday Gift Ideas for the Amateur Chef
Help them deliver the best holiday meal possible
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Caraway Cookware Set ($395)
After more than a dozen fried egg and caramelized veggie experiments, we determined that the ceramic coating on these aluminum pans features both the most effortless nonstick cooking experience and heat distribution we’ve ever utilized.
Thermapen Mk4 Thermometer ($99)
Using a meat thermometer that can deliver accurate readings in seconds takes all of the guesswork out of cooking your meat and ensures an ideal and safe internal temperature every time. We’ve been using the Mk4 for years and it’s one of the best.
Primus Campfire Prep Set ($80)
Kitchen utensils are the last thing you want to be fumbling around for in the dark when camp cooking. This set houses wooden tongs, a spatula, a mini grater, a spoon, and a wood-handled stainless-steel knife in a convenient folding fabric case.
Patagonia Provisions Organic Spices Packets ($5 each)
We tried the chimichurri, aji molido, and taco seasoning blends with tofu to test their ability to dress up the blandest protein. All three proved to be meal-makers, toeing the line between bold and refined.
Iittala Saparvena Pot ($315)
Tom Saparvena was inspired by his blacksmith grandfather to create this pot in 1959. More than 60 years later, the award-winning cast-iron vessel remains unchanged. The removable wooden handle makes for easy carrying and ingeniously picks up the lid, too.
Dewar’s 18-Year Whisky ($70 and up)
Dewar’s aged this scotch in American oak, then blended it and casked it for 18 years. The result is complex and smooth with only a touch of smoke, making it extremely drinkable.
Messermeister Oliva Elite 8-Inch Stealth Chef’s Knife ($180)
The best gift you can give a serious chef is a proper chef’s knife. The Oliva Elite is agile, thanks to its remarkably lightweight and thin profile, and doesn’t skimp on durability with its premium stainless-carbon alloy blade and Mediterranean olive wood handle.
Heirloomed Wooden Feast Board ($140)
Yes, fine cheeses and cured meats do the heavy lifting in the perfect spread—but if you throw them on a plastic cutting board you’re selling yourself short. Made from reclaimed wood, this plank is completely unique.
The Wild Salmon Co. Sampler Box ($95)
We found every bite of the sockeye, lox, cod, and halibut in this catch on par with the finest we’d eaten. We indulged guilt-free knowing it was ethically sourced by a fishing family in Bristol Bay, Alaska, one of the most well-managed fisheries in the country.
Whiskey and Clay Whiskey Cup ($18)
Brown-liquor enthusiasts often accumulate myriad glasses over the years, begging the question, how many does a person need? This beautifully textured, hand-thrown clay cup proves the answer is always one more.
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