Holiday Gift Guide for the Home Culinarian in 2022

Holiday gift shopping can be tough, especially when you have an aspiring home chef, entertainer or gourmet in your life.  How do you know what they already have, or would love and use in the kitchen?  I mean, you may be Santa, but your elves are probably on permanent vacation.  There are so many days when I wish I had a staff of elves.  Anyway…

As an avid home cook myself, I compiled this list categorized by price (because let’s face it, we all have different gift budgets).  There’s also some creative stocking stuffers and gifts to get kids in the kitchen.

Whether you’re shopping for friends, family or, ahem…yourself, these gifts will inspire your home cook to create all kinds of goodness in the kitchen.

Stocking Stuffers

• Castle Key Bottle Opener,
  Key bottle openers are a great conversation piece and lovely to look at.  Plus, you can keep it in your purse for wine or beer emergencies.
• Zesty Measuring Spoons,
  There’s no need for measuring spoons to be boring. These colorful measuring spoons make cooking and baking a little more fun.
• OXO Nonstick Tongs
  I generally love OXO products for their sturdiness and ergonomics.  The nylon tips on these tongs will protect your non-stick cookware and provide a strong grip on whatever you’re picking up or turning.
• Taste No. 5 Umami Paste
  If umami means “deliciousness”, I want to squirt this umami paste into everything.  I can imagine putting this in soups, gravies, sauces and…well, the list goes on.
• Compact Chopsticks
  I can’t stand those cheap wooden, splinter-laden chopsticks that you get with takeout.  Carry your own chopsticks that fit in your purse or pocket. Also good for anal-retentive germaphobe types.

Gifts Under $25

• Joseph Joseph® Chop2Pot™ Plus Folding Cutting Boards
  I’m constantly chopping vegetables on a cutting board, then scooping them up with my knife and carrying them across the kitchen to put in whatever I’m cooking.  While my dog is a great vacuum cleaner, avoid the mess with these chop and scoop boards.
• Cook Like a Rock Star: 125 Recipes, Lessons, and Culinary Secrets by Anne Burrell
  I find Anne Burrell’s instructional style really easy to follow, and she’s full of helpful tips to improve your cooking.  This would be great for novice to intermediate home cooks.
• OXO Cookie Scoops
  Didn’t I mention that I love OXO products?  Here’s another one.  This cookie scoop comes in two sizes and is easy to squeeze and release the batter.  Normally, you would use an ice cream scoop to scoop out cookie batter, but here, you could use this cookie scoop for ice cream.  Those crazy OXO people.
• Imprinted Palette Egg Caddy
  How gorgeous is this?  It might be the prettiest deviled egg holder I’ve ever seen.  Conversation piece + fun.
• Fat Daddio’s Square Springform Pan, 9″ x 3″
  Yes, a square springform pan.  I’ve never seen one before, and how cool would it be to make square cheesecakes?  It would be cool, trust me.

Gifts $25 to $50

• Cuisinart DLC-4CHB Food Processor, Mini Prep Plus
  This is one of my most use kitchen electrics.  I have a full-sized food processor as well, but this mini one can do most jobs and it’s way easier to get out and to clean up.  Chop nuts and make pesto in seconds.
• Prinsenhof Pie Dish
  Ahhh.  Isn’t that pretty?  It’d almost be a shame putting a pie in it and covering it all up.
• Olive Wood Salt Keeper
  Keeping salt close at hand is key in home cooking.  I currently keep mine in a Tupperware container because I’m ghetto.  But how sophisticated and lovely is this salt keeper?  Just grab a pinch and go.
• Tear-Off Cocktail Napkins
  These cocktail napkins are crazy.  They come in a roll, and you can rip them off individually when entertaining.  They’re machine washable for up to eight uses, or toss them if your guests ruin them when things get too wild.
• The Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook: 2,000 Recipes from 20 Years of America’s Most Trusted Cooking Magazine
  The new Cook’s Illustrated cookbook came out this year, and it’s been getting great reviews.  I tend to like cookbooks with LOTS of recipes, and this one has 2,000.  I think that’s enough.

Gifts $50 to $100

• Cooking Classes
  Sur La Table has cooking classes in 18 states, but there is also most likely a cooking class or school near where you live.  Generally, they are under $100 (although not always)
  
  A cooking class is the perfect gift for someone who doesn’t like a lot of stuff around them and prefers experiences, rather than presents.  Not to mention, they’re fun.  And (bonus!) they usually they serve wine.
• Carrol Boyes Woman/Man Salad Servers
  I traveled to South Africa in 2006 and fell in love with functional art pieces by Carrol Boyes.  I started collecting them because I couldn’t resist the idea that functional items could be incredibly beautiful and interesting.  They are of incredible quality and make amazing gifts for any occasion.
• Olivier Roellinger Pepper Mill By Peugeot
  A well-made pepper mill can be a gift that lasts a lifetime.  I would be happy to leave this on my counter or table.
• Teas from Around the World
  Sometimes it’s fun to experiment with new flavors, and trying new teas can inspire your cooking.  Plus, it’s pretty.
• Picot Platter
  Food typically  looks best on white dishes and platters. I love the shape of this platter, and the delicate detail around the edge.

Gifts $100 to $200

• Marble Pastry Board
  In making doughs for pies or pastries, it can be hard to keep the dough and butter cold.  Using a marble board will help keep everything cool.  Plus, it’ll look gorgeous on your counter.
• All-Clad® Stainless Steel Multi-Cooker, 12 qt.
  A good stockpot is a must for every kitchen.  I not only use mine for stocks, but also for soups and boiling pasta.  This one is great because it comes with colander and steaming inserts, which makes it versatile enough to replace multiple kitchen tools.
• Carrol Boyes Recipe Stand
  My cookbook stand is one of my favorite wedding gifts we received.  Until they start designing cookbooks to stay open themselves, why not display yours on this gorgeous stainless steel one by Carrol Boyes?
• Retired Wine Barrel Lazy Susan
  How cool are these reclaimed wine barrel lazy Susans?  They show the wear and tear of their age, look gorgeous and serve a purpose.

Gifts $200 and over

• Le Creuset Signature Round Dutch Oven, 5 1/2 Quart
  I often sing the praises of Le Creuset, and I could have filled this list with all Le Creuset products.  Their durability, design and performance is second to none.  That said, this is my most used piece of kitchen equipment by far, and I recommend it to anyone looking for cookware.
• Mauviel® M’Heritage 250 Copper 5-Piece Cookware Set
  Copper cookware costs a pretty penny, but it is classic and lasts forever.  These are certainly a showpiece for any kitchen.
• Vitamix Professional Series 200 Blender
  This is not just another blender.  The Vitamix is the Rolls Royce of blenders.  It’s often used in professional kitchens and will out-perform any other blender out there.
• Kitchenaid® Custom Metallic Series® Copper Stand Mixer
  Most cooks have a Kitchenaid Stand Mixer, but this one is limited edition in a gorgeous shimmery copper.  Plus, the glass bowl is neat.
• Weber® Performer Grill
  Weber grills have long been a staple in backyards all over the country.  But this one comes in a sweet green color and on its own cart, handy for prep and storing grill tools.

Gifts for the Mini Culinarian

• Opinel Le Petit Chef
  Get the kids in the kitchen with their own tools!  I’m a firm believer that if you making cooking fun, kids will not only learn to cook, but they will be more likely to try new foods.
• Williams-Sonoma Cooking Together Cookbook
  This would make a great first cookbook for any kid.  It contains recipes that are easy enough to make for a budding chef.
• Personalized Kids Apron
  A personalized apron will keep that little bugger clean, and cute.
• Ninjabread Men Cookie Cutters
  Yes, you read that right.  Ninjabread cookie cutters.  I mean, how could I resist including these?  Kick your gingerbread men up a notch.
• Kids Cooking Classes
  Cooking classes are not just for adults anymore.  Check your local area for kids cooking classes, or find your local Young Chefs Academy to get kids excited about cooking.