What To Buy…the Wanna-be Chef

Buying gifts for people that like to cook can always be a bit tricky. You never want to buy them something they will never use, but you don’t want to purchase something trendy or useless, either. Here is a list of products that we here in the J&R office have actually used and recommend for those people in your life that enjoy spending time in the kitchen!

I received the Henckels J A Twin Signature 7-Piece Block Set as a gift a few years ago and can’t even believe I used “lesser” knives for so many years! First of all, they are a perfect starter set for someone that’s just learning how important good knives can be. The blades are extremely sharp, so no need for sharpening out of the box. As someone that is always terrified I’m going to take off part of a finger when chopping vegetables, the chef’s knife is very sturdy and doesn’t feel like it’s going to randomly slice in the wrong direction.

The set comes with (1) 2.5-inch Peeling Knife, (1) 4-inch Paring Knife, (1) 5-inch Serrated Utility Knife, (1) 8-inch Chef’s Knife, (1) 9-inch Sharpening Steel, (1) pair of Kitchen Shears, and (1) 10-slot Hardwood Storage Block. They might be a little pricey, but remember, these knives will last years if taken care of properly.

Another great gift suggestion is the Waring WMK300A Professional Belgian Waffle Maker. No need for out of the box, freezer burned waffles with this great appliance. It has a nice design, and doesn’t take up as much counter space as you might expect. Cooking your waffles is super easy. Just pour, close and spin. When you hear the beep, spin the handle back and open it up. In case you add too much batter to the maker, there is also a removable tray to catch any overflow. As for the results, the waffles come out light & fluffy on the inside, yet crisp on the outside, with deep pockets for fresh fruit and plenty of syrup. When you are done, just wipe the unit clean with a paper towel and some water and voila, that’s it!

You seriously can’t go wrong with anything made by Le Creuset. The Le Creuset 2 3/4 Quart Round French Oven is absolutely amazing. It’s perfect for making casseroles, soup or cassoulet. Since it’s made of cast iron, you are guaranteed even cooking, and the double enamel coating will ensure that it never stains or retains food scents. Again, this is a bit pricey, but this is a product you will keep and use for the next 20 years, at least. Well worth the investment.

If your wanna-be chef cooks a lot of meat dishes, you can’t miss with the Polder THM360 Dual ProbeThermometer. Just insert the probe into the meat, choose the type of protein (chicken, beef, veal, etc.), how you want it done (well, medium, rare, etc.) and the thermometer will do the rest. Ten minutes before the dish is ready, it will beep to alert you it’s almost done. This is a must have, especially around holidays or big cooking events.

Check out our other holiday gift guides:
What to Buy the Traveler
What to Buy the Vinyl Enthusiast
What to Buy the Blu-ray Addict

More to come!

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