Holiday Gift Guide For Food Lovers
Get great ideas for food lovers with our holiday food gift and gadget guide from Cooking Channel star chefs and staff.
Photo By: Geoff George
Photo By: Martin Klimek ©Martin Klimek
Photo By: Matt Armedariz ©2012, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
Photo By: Capture One PRO
Photo By: Jonathan Wenk
Kelsey Nixon
State-Shaped Cutting Boards
Fruit Memo Pads
M-Cups Measuring Cups
Heirloom Recipe Boxes
Written Recipe Cards
Chuck Hughes
Chef's Knife
Mandoline
Roger Mooking
Loaded iTouch
Roger's Fave Holiday Fare
Jeffrey Saad
Soda Siphon
Individual Baking Dishes
Ceramic Mortal and Pestle
5.5 Quart Oven Round
David Rocco
Vintage Vespa
Dinner with Sofia Loren
Wake 'n' Bacon Alarm Clock
Stand Mixer with Glass Bowl
Bacon of the Month Club
Twirl Whisk
Pasta Attachments Set
Stacked Dessert Tower
Multipot with Mesh Inserts
Ravi Instant Wine Chiller
My Sweet Mexico Cookbook
Lobsters!
Babushkups Nesting Glasses
Professional Meat Grinder
Noma: Time and Place in Nordic Cuisine
WHAT'S ON THEIR LIST?
We asked Cooking Channel stars and staff what they wanted in their stockings this year. Here are their top picks, large and small.
Click to the next slide to see their Wish List.
Chuck Hughes
Chuck has been pretty busy this year. While juggling his successful Montreal restaurant, Garde Manger, he went down to Mexico to shoot the new Cooking Channel series Chuck's Week Off.
See what he wants under his tree this year.
Perlini Carbonating System
"We use one of these at the restaurant and it is terrific. I could use another one at home to make my own sodas, with as little or as much sugar as I like."
– Chuck Hughes
A Trip to Mexico City
"When we were filming Chuck's Week Off in Mexico, one of the places that truly rocked was the Condesa District in Mexico City. It feels like Paris and the food is amazing. I want to go back for theaguachile at Broka Bistrot."
– Chuck Hughes
Anything Homemade
"I'm a huge fan of homemade food gifts. I mean, who isn't? Candied pecans, homemade ketchup and sucre a la creme (maple syrup fudge) are a few of my favorites. They are easy to make and delicious. Of course, you can also go all out with homemade chocolate truffles."
– Chuck Hughes
Lee Anne Wong
Host of Cooking Channel's Unique Eats, Lee Anne is always looking for innovative add-ons to her kitchen gadget arsenal. But this year, she's got her heart set on something a little more old-school.
Berkel Meat Slicer
"I really want a hand-cranked meat slicer like they have in all the fancy restaurant kitchens in New York. Because it's hand-powered, it doesn't burn the meat like electric slicers can. Red, please!"
– Lee Anne Wong
Jeffrey Saad
Host of United Tastes of America, Jeffrey thinks "the best gifts are those you really want but wouldn't buy for yourself." So what's on Jeffrey's holiday list?
A Wine Tour of Spain
"I am working toward a master's in wine training. Part of the journey is traveling to vineyards around the world — I would love for Spain to be my next trip! Just like with food, when you get to the source of where something comes from, you have a much deeper connection to the final product. I will never forget standing on the hot rocks in the vineyards of the Rhone Valley in Southern France. I can smell those rocks every time I drink a glass of Rhone wine.
– Jeffrey Saad
An Ice Cream Maker with a Built-in Compressor
"I failed miserably at my first attempt to make salted caramel ice cream — it wouldn't freeze because I used too much salt. I had to wait 36 hours for the canister to re-freeze until I could attempt it again. No one should have to wait that long for ice cream — ever."
– Jeffrey Saad
Whynter ICM-15LS 1.6 Quart Ice Cream Maker
Serve with: Alton Brown's Eggnog Ice Cream
A Trip to the Moroccan Spice Markets
"I want to spend a whole day smelling and tasting spices. Standing in those markets must be like standing in a gigantic spice grinder, after the blade just finishes spinning. Then I would take those spices and spend another few days cooking with a local chef.
– Jeffrey Saad
Kelsey Nixon
Kelsey, host of Kelsey's Essentials, is all about clever twists on kitchen and household staples. Chances are, you'll be adding some of her great gift ideas to your holiday wish list.
Kitchen Calendar
"A food-themed calendar for the upcoming year looks great on the kitchen wall, especially one with bright colors like this fruit calendar from Rifle Paper Co. I also love Anthropologie's kitchen tools calendar."
– Kelsey Nixon
Soda Stream
"Finally, an inexpensive way to make your own sodas at home. I love artisanal-flavored syrups for DIY sodas, and Soda Stream makes it easy."
– Kelsey Nixon
Slate Cheeseboard
"I love the idea of labeling the cheeses that you include on the cheese board at your next party. Not only is this a great gift to receive, but it's a great gift to give as well, especially if you load it up with stinky cheeses. Here are two I have my eye on."
– Kelsey Nixon
Roger Mooking
Host of Everyday Exotic, Roger likes to keep things interesting when in the kitchen. Do you expect his holiday wish list to be any different?
TDK 3-Speaker Boom Box
"Music is essential in my kitchen, and I have space for this guy right on my kitchen counter. It complements my gift suggestion last year, a gazillion-GB iPod — this is part 2. Plus, I can carry it outside when it's barbecue season in the summer, and scare my neighbors away with loud music. Hehe. I like loud music."
– Roger Mooking
Roti Tawa
This flat piece of steel (or aluminum, but steel is better) goes on the stovetop. It is used for cooking roti, a flatbread eaten across much of South Asia, but can also be used for making toast, pancakes, French toast egg crepes and more. Use it like a griddle. A 12" diameter one is preferred."
– Roger Mooking
An Outdoor Wood-Fired Oven
"Imagine the ultimate outdoor barbecue party with this wood-fired oven in your backyard. Can you say 'heaven?' Aww, yeah."
– Roger Mooking
Staff Wish List:All-Clad Kitchen Gear
"These All-Clad measuring cups and spoons make me feel like a pro in the kitchen. They’re very slick and much better than the plastic Ikea ones I’ve been using for years."
– Kirsten Vala Fong, Cooking Channel Staff
Nadia G.’s Guitar Spatulas
"Rockin' out in the kitchen means using a couple of these guitar spatulas. Don't believe me? Ask the rock 'n' roll kitchen queen herself."
– Mark Levine, Cooking Channel Staff
"Rest in Grease" Spoon Tray
"Why didn't I think of this first?"
– Alison Sickelka, Cooking Channel Staff
Ebelskivers!
"They're fun, cute and completely delicious. These sweet or savory Danish puffed pancakes make great snacks and desserts for holiday celebrations."
– Kirsten Vala Fong, Cooking Channel Staff
A Momofuku Fried Chicken Dinner
"I’m from the South, so I have an inherent love of crispy chicken. I know that Momofuku’s Southern- and Korean-style preparations will be unlike anything I’ve had before."
– Kate Gold, Cooking Channel Staff
Gold Leaf Wood Trays
"I love the beautiful gold-leaf accent on these tropical-looking DVF pieces. It’s delicate enough to look fancy, but not at all cheesy. The tray would complement my other serving pieces, but I wouldn’t mind getting one of the serving bowls, too."
– Michelle Buffardi, Cooking Channel Staff
A RoboStir
"Although my serious foodie friends might mock and scoff, I secretly want the RoboStir for Christmas. With my new puppy bounding around my tiny kitchen, my hands are literally full, so I'm all about hands-free cooking."
– Kevin Bender, Cooking Channel Staff
Bourbon-Coffee-Bacon Caramel Corn
"Doesn’t the name say it all? Sounds like the ultimate snack to me."
– Frank Samperi, Cooking Channel Staff
Colorful Cooking Mitts
"These colorful dots and diamonds would brighten up any kitchen.
– Danielle Trencher, Cooking Channel Staff
More Gift Ideas:Custom Beef Jerky
Make your own customized beef jerky with Slantskack. Start with high-quality, grass-fed beef, then choose from the tantalizing options of marinades, rubs and glazes. Or go with the Chef’s Choice, a delicious combo of ginger, onion and brown sugar.
Kitchen Conversion Tea Towel
Whimsy & Spice has silkscreened their popular kitchen conversions print onto American flour-sack towels using water-based inks. Absorbent, soft and lint-free, these towels are quite versatile in the kitchen, and very cute.
Cooking Classes
Julia Child didn't emerge a kitchen guru overnight. An evening or weekend cooking class — usually offered at local schools and colleges — will elevate any cooking enthusiast's skills, whether perfecting basic technique, exploring a new cuisine or taking it to the next level.
