Most cooks tend to have what they need, and the good ones, especially, trust technique over gadgets. Still, there are certain objects that remain both useful and genuinely novel—the sort of finds that quickly become indispensable. The best gifts for the cook fall into that category: things they don’t yet know they need, or pieces that elevate the everyday kitchen.
With that in mind, skip the obligatory tea towel or wooden spoon (they’re covered). Instead, consider these 10 picks—just right for the season of giving.
Above: A quirky candle produced by Cereria Introna in Italy, the Gruyère Candle is made of unscented natural wax that doesn’t compete with meal aromas at the table; $48 from Gohar.
Above: Copenhagen chef and Noma-alum Frederik Bille Brahe has recently published Apollo: State-of-the-art Cooking and a Party with Apartamento. The cookbook features 104 recipes in the signature style of Apollo, his restaurant housed within Kunsthal Charlottenborg. This cookbook is ideal for dinner party prep; €59 at Apartamento. (See our posts on Frederik Bille Brahe’s former kitchen Kitchen of the Week: A Family Kitchen in Copenhagen with Uncommon Style.
Above: We’re long proponents of a good olive oil as holiday gift, and this suits the cook most of all. The Levantes Charm Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil is certified organic and made by the Levantes Family on the island of Evia in Greece who collect Koroneiki olives by hand when still green to orange and almost ripe—pressing them within five to seven hours. $40 at Flora & Henri.
Above: Every cook and especially baker needs an accurate scale. This Mensura Kitchen Scale is an elevated version in all black with a protective cap that turns over to function as a weighing bowl; $60 at Canoe.
Above: Boxwood Nontron Pairing Knives come in three different sizes. These artisanal French knives are made of stainless steel with locally-grown and air-dried boxwood finished with traditional pyrography; $44 for the 9cm size, $48 for the 10cm size, and $52 for the 12.5cm size at Flora & Henri.
Above: Designed by Swedish artist Klas Ernflo for Apartamento, these Wine Bottle Buddies are carved out of beech wood and perfect for saving a half-used bottle of wine (or vinegar etc) for broths, stews, and risotto. Shown from left to right is the Buddy No.5 Long Bob, Buddy No.2 Top Hat, Buddy No.4 Top Knot; each are $40 from Old Faithful Shop.
Above: For the cook on the go, the Snow Peak Medium Chopping Board Set is a foldable birch cutting board with a high carbon stainless steel knife within; $$49.95.
Above: In a range of botanical fragrances, the Astier de Villatte Dishwashing Liquid is a major upgrade to the sensory experience of compulsory dishwashing. Shown in Cyprés but also available in Baies Roses (pink pepper), Bergamote, Poivre (black pepper), and sauge (sage); $45 each at Gardenheir.
Above: Cooks know well the value of good salt, and Jacobsen Salt Co., founded by Ben Jacobsen who harvests fresh saltwater from Netarts Bay in Tillamook, Oregon. The Starter Kit includes the flake sea salt, kosher sea salt, fine sea salt, disco di sale (compressed salt pods for pots of boiling water), black garlic salt, lemon zest salt, a guidebook, and salt cellar; $95 at Jacobsen Salt Co.
Above: A timeless little apron to transport any cook into the kitchens of Le Corbon Bleu, Le Laboureur French Cotton Drill Cafe Apron in white is $28 at Gardenheir. It’s machine washable (pair it with a good enzyme stain remover) in 12 ounce cotton drill.
For more ideas, explore our past gift guides for the cook here:
