Gift for a great cook

[Pilsy]

Hi, MM!  I love the awesome pinned gift guide but didn't see a thread about gifts for cooks.  If I missed it, please point me in the right direction.  Otherwise, any advice? 


My H's mom's boyfriend of many years is in his 70s and a wonderful cook.  He enjoys it and cooks all their meals; he also loves baking and is best known for his pies.  His garden is incredible, so he often uses his own vegetables in various dishes. 

Last year, we gave him a personalized pie plate from Etsy.  I'd love to do Penzey's spices this year, but he gave us a small gift box of those last year.  Is it weird to give him something he has given us before?  (I would give him a bigger box with a different variety, but still...)  

Other ideas?  He's a man of few words and not easily entertained, so there aren't many gadgets I picture him appreciating.  It would have to be useful and not at all gimmicky.  He does like the finer things in life, but he values frugality over luxury, so his splurges are few and far between.  I'm not comfortable giving them wine, as I don't believe he really drinks and my MIL drinks one specific wine that's a fun add-on gift but not enough to be the main event.  

They are frequent international travelers and love doing challenging puzzles, too.  I'm not opposed to a joint gift for him and my H's mom.  Budget for him alone would be $40 or less, but combined, we can do more like $150.  


Thanks for any ideas!  

[pumpkin]

My 1st idea was a Penzey spice set, they are awesome, and he would fully appreciate it given that he already knows about them. Otherwise, what about some good balsamic vinegar and some flavored oils.

Not cooking related, but if they are travelers, what about one of those scratch off travel maps so they can track where they've been?

[mbcdefg]

How about some really good-quality baking chocolate, extracts, coffee beans, honey, maple syrup?

Nuts (example, pine nuts are expensive so I don't buy them often)

Digital scale

Cheese board

Fancy knife

Mortar and pestle set

Digital measuring cup

Speciality baking pan (madeleines, mini loaves, tea cakes, doughnuts)

Flavored salts or sugars

[Pilsy]

Thank you both. These are perfect, practical ideas.

pumpkin, glad to hear you don't think Penzey's is a bad idea. I'm especially inspired now that I've learned the political leanings of the owner.

And I'll ask my H about the map. Personally, I love the idea.

[stretchad]

I like giving food/cooking gifts... Dean and DeLuca has some great ideas. Do they like fish? You can ship fish from pike place fish market to them... Like cheese? What about artisan cheeses? (fromagination in Madison, WI is my Go-to

[followyourarrow]

Would they enjoy a cooking class? Pasta making, pastry, something like that.

[shamrockshake]

I love to cook and bake and I love getting really nice versions of things- nice vanilla extract or beans, valhrona chocolate (I'm sure I butchered that spelling). These are things I would never buy myself

[Pilsy]

Nov 27, 2016 14:26:09 GMT -5 followyourarrow said:

Would they enjoy a cooking class? Pasta making, pastry, something like that.

This hadn't even crossed my mind!  I'll see what's available near them - thanks!  

And great ideas shamrockshake and stretchad.  None of the places you mentioned were on my radar.  I need to get out more.

[spinnaker5]

www.food52.com has great stuff. 

[compassrose]

Get him a thermapen! It's a super accurate cooking thermometer: www.thermoworks.com/Thermapen-Mk4?gclid=Cj0KEQiAperBBRDfuMf72sr56fIBEiQAPFXszSgmXTeHa6wERGiy3FpDeF69W3UY9oa5ciQiZd59m-oaAgU68P8HAQ
They are on sale til tomorrow.

[imojoebunny]

I ask for this spice gift subscription with recipes because I like to try new things, but hate spending $$$ on spices I won't use again for a long time.

rawspicebar.com/product/subscription-spice-box/

[orangello]

A set of microplane graters - they're excellent and last forever. Very useful! Also, what about some Silpat baking sheets, a couple nice cookie/sheet pans, and a new cookbook?

Also, I think the cooking class idea is a great one - I love giving experience gifts!

[vanillacourage]

A few months of this?

www.trytheworld.com/pages/the-gift

[ellipses84]

I'd probably get him a nice pot, pan or specialty cookware item from Le Creuset.

www.lecreuset.com/gifts/our-favorites-under-50/

If he does canning for his garden, I'd see if there are any supplies you could get for that. Or gardening supplies.

[mich1]

How about a subscription to Cook's Illustrated?