goatminds.com » Blog Archive » Top 5 Christmas Gifts for the Foodie

So, you know someone who finds cooking actually fun, not a chore? Someone who might have mad knife skills AND all their fingers? Someone who, when you say salt, thinks of the Sea and not a girl with an umbrella? Or maybe just someone who aspires to these things? Well, forget the dorky chefs hat! Here are a few ideas that anyone who takes cooking seriously will love:

1. SPICE UP THEIR LIFE…AND YOURS
penzeys.com

If you’re lucky enough to have a Penzey’s retail outlet near you, going in and not only seeing the abundance but smelling all that goodness is a real treat. If you’re not near a store, fear not. Their website offers everything the stores do, just without the aromas. What cook can ever have enough herbs and spices? This place is a treasure trove of seasonings, flavorings and yummyings, including REAL Vietnamese cinnamon. And if nothing else, sign your budding gourmet up for one of their catalogs.

This one is a bit of a tough call because for the serious “chef”, knives are a personal thing, something that becomes a part of them. But for someone with just a budding love for cooking, you’re probably safe, if you get a decent quality knife. Or, you can always opt for a gift card from a cutlery shop and they can choose the knife that fits.

Julia Child. Jacques Pepin. What else can you say? If you want to be the best you can be, learn from the best. This is a wonderful cookbook, featuring not only terrific recipes, but also offering insights and hints to make cooking easier and more fun. And if you get the DVD, too, they’ll have hours of entertainment. These two are FUN!

I don’t actually have this program, but believe it is going on my list this year. To be able to organize your recipes in one place, all with easy access would be a joy most of us put off for far too long.

Now I admit this is a splurge. But if your cook/chef/foodie is serious about their food, it is also a good investment. There are other, less expensive Dutch ovens out there, some that are quite good (I’ll mention Lodge brand, the standard for cast iron skilletry, although their enameled ware has gotten positive to somewhat mixed reviews), but Le Creuset appears to be in a class by itself. Note: I feel the 5.5 quart size is the smallest I’d go.

Now go forth, tuck your napkin under your chin and bon apetit!

About: RayW:
RayW is a graphic designer, hobbyist photographer and garden-variety guy. He hails from the midwest of America in the beautiful state of Michigan, but has ventured out on occasion to more exotic locales. While he knows computers well enough to do what he has to, Mr. W still finds the peculiarities of the interweb daunting. This has not stopped him from creating his print work using the machine, examples of which can be seen on his online portfolio.