Top 10 Gifts for the Cook who Has Everything

You may think your favorite chef/food blogger/foodie has everything an advanced cook needs in the kitchen, but they don’t. How do I know? Because I just do.
I don’t have everything I want or need in the kitchen, and I know I’m can’t be the only one. And what I do have, I probably need more of, so, there’s that.
These top 10 cooking gifts have Amazon affiliate links that will give you an in with your chef buddies (check out my disclosure page for all the legalese).
Even more important: it means they’ll always feel obligated to cook for you. You win!

Kitchen Towel Set

My top 10 list begins with something practical, yet underrated.
A chef can never, and I mean NEVER, have too many kitchen towels. They don’t need anything frilly, nor one that’s covered in inspiring messages. A simple, cotton linen towel is great for them to sling over their shoulders while they’re putting in work over the stove. Even better are multiple towels, because they’re bound to get them dirty.
If you have a food blogger friend *ahem* towels with texture (like this one) are great because they can also use them in styling a
shoot…if you have a food blogger friend…who’s adorable…and called Marta…(just kidding).

Le Creuset Signature French (Dutch) Oven

If there was a French princess of the kitchen, she would be a Le Creuset French (Dutch) Oven, and she would be flaming orange.
“Le Creu” is the standard in dutch ovens. They’re enameled cast iron, which means they’re heavy as hell, and they cost a pretty penny, which (in their case) means they’re worth it and will last a lifetime.
Flame is their signature color, and any chef who knows anything will be bowled over with joy to receive one. One because it’s such a great piece of cookware, and two, because they’ll know you dug deep in your pockets to buy it for them.

Digital Kitchen Food Scale

To be quite honest, I couldn’t live without my digital scale.
As a die-hard baker, measuring by weight, not by volume, is critical. A chef is always on the lookout for a great scale that measures in grams, pounds, and ounces. Any other measurements are icing on the cake, but those three are essential.
Gift them some batteries along with the scale, just to really butter them up- no culinary pun intended.

Coffee Mug & Warmer Set

This is another gift that’s great for a chef/food blogger. When I have deadlines to meet, I’m literally running from the kitchen to my office to upload images, and write and edit my blog posts. Since my main diet consists of coffee, I usually have a cup handy. The problem is, I hardly ever drink a mug sitting near a microwave or stove. This fancy little warmer sits on my desk, so I can reach for a shot of go-juice and not break my literary stride- I just know that Nobel Prize in Literature is looming.

TRI-HONE Knife Sharpening System

Rounding out the first half of my top 10 gift list is an unsung hero.
A chef’s most important possession (besides their family, of course) is their knife(ves). Mine I treat a little bit too much like idols. I’m working on that, though. Because I love them so much, I literally get upset whenever they’re dull. Like, I stress out if my knife doesn’t slice through a tomato without even touching it. It’s a neurosis that’s been with me ever since culinary school.
That said, my whetstone is my beloved au pair. This three-sided version (with its coarse, medium, and fine grits) are all your chef will need to keep their knives in tip-top shape.

Urban Accents BODACIOUS BBQ
Gourmet Grilling Spices & Meat Rub Collection

I know most chefs are like me in that they like to try new products. Sometimes we use them to inspire us, others are great because it’s something different that we don’t have to create.
This mid-west company’s story is as inspiring as their products. Corporate American guy strikes out to pursue his culinary dream and finds success.
Let your chef sample the best Urban Accents has to offer by sending them a gift package of spices and glazes.

KitchenAid 7-Quart Pro Line Stand Mixer

A few years ago I freaked out my Facebook crew when I announced, “The Queen Mother is almost dead.”
Since my mother lived with me and was very ill, everyone assumed I (callously) was referring to her being on her death-bed. Well, one, I’d never break the news to people in that way; two,I wouldn’t put it in those terms.
I was, in fact, referring to my 6 qt KitchenAid stand mixer, which at the time, was the best mixer I had. At some point, my chef friends and I began referring to our KitchenAids by their royal counterparts. The 4 qt was “the Duchess of York”, the 5 qt was “Princess Di” (yes, I’m old), and the 6 qt was “the Queen Mother”.

The 7 qt needs a new title- I’ll call her “the Angel Gabriel”…even though he’s a dude. But, is he? Do angels have genders?  No matter he/she has to be a top 10 consideration.

Pasolivo Citrus Olive Oil Collection

Olive oils- especially quality olive oils- are another thing that chefs can never get enough of.
Pasolivo is a small company based in Paso Robles, CA. They have olive oil that you can drink straight- if you’re into that kind of thing, I totally am.
This citrus collection is great for the upcoming BBQ season. Suggest marinating their poultry or fish in the lime olive oil, drizzling the tangerine over a bed of greens, or incorporating the lemon into a pound cake. All  these suggestions are great ways for your chef to become inspired.

8 Qt Stainless Steel Chafing Dish Set

I’m still waiting for my set of stainless steel chafing dishes. Granted, I’ve never let anyone know I wanted them, but telepathy and passive-aggression should’ve made it obvious, right?
Chefs love showing off their goods, and if I’m right in my assumption, they’ll be overjoyed at the chance to set up their own buffet-style feast with this set.
It’s a definite upgrade from my crappy aluminum jobs from the big warehouse store, I’ll tell you that much.

Personalized Eat, Drink, BBQ Cutting Board

The last of my top 10 gifts is decorative and practical.
I was first introduced to cuttingboard.com when I competed (and won 3rd prize, thank you very much) in their Cut the Cheese Contest. One of my prizes was a personalized cutting board. They sent me directions for how to use and care for it, but that bad boy ended up on my office wall as artwork because it’s so doggone pretty.
Your chef may not want to display it, but they sure will be glad to have a such a thoughtful gift. If they run their own restaurant, get it engraved with their logo. If they’re a food blogger, place their blog’s name on it. Their own name with something like, “Greatest Chef Ever,” is also a fabulous way to get in good with them.

If they already have these Top 10 gifts, then look no further…

Personalized Taste & See Cooks Cookbook

A personalized Taste&See Cooks cookbook, written by yours truly, is always a good idea.

Tell me, what’s the best meal your chef friend has cooked for you, and are they worthy of any of these Top 10 gifts?

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