Gifts For The Foodie

Posted On 12.12.2007
If there’s one person that’s generally easy to buy for at Christmas, it’s the foodie, a person with a passion for cooking or someone who is totally adventuresome in the food they’ll try.

If they cook, the sky’s the limit. Who wouldn’t want a new mandolin slicer just like the Barefoot Contessa uses? Or the legendary Italian Chef Mario Batali’s latest cookbook. For a book with a behind-the-scenes look at professional cooking or unique ethnic cuisine, edgy, irreverent author/chef, Tony Bourdain, has the ticket.

And with so many local and online kitchenware stores featuring a vast array of cooking utensils and paraphernalia there’s always something new. Like Jamie Oliver’s new Flavour Shaker, a modern answer to the pestle and mortar – apparently it does even more. It’s a gift item that’s seeing a lot of promotion this season.

Lepa at Vancouver’s Puddifoot retail outlet says the Revol line of high quality French porcelain baking, casserole and serving dishes is a wonderful gift and very popular for the discriminating cook and host. Also moving off the shelves are utensils and pans with a high tech heat-resistant silicone coating.

Lots to choose from, but any amateur chef would be very excited about finding a high quality knife, professional sharper or sauté pan under the tree.

Now, what do the real chefs want for Christmas? Well, Chef Laura Kirk of the five-star Truffles Restaurant in Toronto’s Four Seasons Hotel, makes no bones about it, she loves cookbooks and gadgets and has a substantial collection of both. She admits, though, she can’t resist a new unusual peeler and, recently, purchased an unusual egg topper. "I’m always on the lookout for a new gadget," she says. And like all professional chefs, Laura appreciates a new knife, even though she has a full selection of personal chef’s tools. There’s always room for one more.

Then there are the ingredients for the discriminating home cook: superb olive oils, balsamic vinegars, organic herbs and spices, gourmet sun-dried tomatoes and chutneys all make great stocking stuffers or holiday gifts for the wannabe chef who appreciates quality.