What Can I Buy The Foodie On My Christmas List? Here’s My 2015 Update

So someone on your Christmas list likes to cook;  lucky you!  Shopping for a "foodie" is easy because there are always a wealth of gift ideas that they will appreciate.

As the resident "foodie" in our office, I often get asked for gift ideas around this time of year.  Usually, I compile these ideas into an annual list;  These are items that I would personally give another "foodie" and these are items that I would love to receive as a "foodie".  (Although I should point out that I already own all of these items in some form or fashion - just in case you were looking to include me on your gift list this year!)

Here are my suggestions - in no particular order:

• A Knife Sharpener:  A sharp knife is a safe knife.  It also makes cutting and prep work a whole lot easier.  Chances are your "foodie" already has a good knife set (if not, there's a good idea, too).  But, they probably don't have a good knife sharpener.  People often ask me what the best sharpener is and I tell them "the one that gets used".  At home, I have a couple of different varieties of these - from the interchangeable files that you use with an angle vice to the ceramic-stone ones you slide the knife blade through.  Each of them have their place.  Personally, I'm not a fan of electric or automatic sharpeners - but - to each their own.
• A Dutch Oven:  Many people confuse Dutch Ovens with stock pots.  There is a big difference.  Dutch Ovens are perfect for searing and crusting meats on the stove top and for slow braising in the oven.  A Dutch Oven is the pot you want to build a stew or maybe chili in.  Buy a good one - something heavy.  Le Creuset is pricey, but you'll buy it once and own it forever.
• Bamboo Utensils:  Bamboo has become more common in the kitchen and there is a good reason for it - it's durable. Bamboo is similar to wood  in that it doesn't scratch your cookware but it's better because it holds up better. Throw it in the dishwasher - it'll hold up unlike wood which will eventually break down, splinter, and fall apart.  They're also light-weight and have many uses in the kitchen.  Look for bamboo spoons, spatulas, and stirrers.
• Silicone Cooking Utensils:  Much like bamboo, silicone is new to the party but has definitely earned it's place in everyone kitchen.  If you haven't made the switch to silicone spoons, spatulas, and scrapers - what are you waiting for?  They hold up to high heat and don't melt like the plastic ones, which means that you can go from the mixing bowl to the pan and back without worrying.
• Silicone Baking Mats - preferably Silpat:  If you've never baked with Silpat (a brand of silicone baking mats) - you need to start.  Nothing sticks to this stuff.  From baking cookies to making sticky items like Peanut Brittle, Silpats allow you the ease of making sure that your food doesn't stick to the baking pan.  It also makes clean up a breeze!  While you could buy any brand of silicone baking mats, I do recommend that you look for and buy the Silpat brand from DeMarle. They're a little spendy ($20-30 a sheet), but you get what you pay for.
• KitchenAid Stand Mixers:  Many people skip KitchenAid stand mixers because of the cost and the space they require.  If you do any amount of cooking - you need one.  Trust me.  I put off buying one for too many years and now I wonder why I didn't buy one sooner.  While you can find cheaper KitchenAid mixers (in the $200-300 range), follow my advice and spring for their top of the line.  You (or that person on your list) deserves the professional "bowl-lift" style (the kind with the handle that lifts the bowl into place, rather than  the head tilting). The bowl-lift style also takes up less space because you can store it and use it underneath a cupboard; you don't need the head-room to allow for the top of the mixer to tilt.   Also, buy as big a bowl capacity as you can get.  A 6 or 8-quart will do nicely and allow you to mix multiple batches of cookies all at once.  Be prepared to spend in the $600-700 range - but again, you'll buy it once and own it forever.
• Chemex Coffee Makers:  While they've been known in the food world for many years, it seems like Chemex coffee makers have just suddenly started to appear in the big-box stores.  Many coffee enthusiasts insist on a Chemex for it's high-quality brew.

These suggestions should give you a starting point in your hunt for a Christmas gift a "foodie" will love.  But don't think you need to stick to the list.  By all means, explore kitchen and food stores and come up with some ideas on your own.  Or - give a gift certificate;  they may seem trite, but they're always appreciated!