Some gift ideas for the cook on your list

It’s that time of year again when you need to find the perfect gifts for everyone on your list.
Now that you have checked it twice, and found out who was naughty and who was nice, the shopping must get done.
If you have someone that hopefully made it to the “nice” list, and loves being in the kitchen, I have some great culinary ideas for you:
•Citrus juice sprayer
This small gadget is perfect for the stocking. It’s a small spray pump that gets inserted directly into your favourite whole citrus fruit and allows you to spray juice directly from inside it.
•Culinary torch
Whether it’s for crème brulee, adding a bit more browning to a piece of meat, igniting a flambé, or just lighting candles, this little device is awesome.
It’s a small, refillable torch that is kept in the kitchen for all these jobs and more.
•Oven gloves
I prefer these over oven mitts because grasping hot objects always is easier when you have the dexterity of your fingers available.
•Sousvide
Recent innovations have made this one of the most popular cooking devices for the home chef.
Basically, it is a hot water cooker where your food is sealed in bags and cooked to an exact temperature.
•Memory foam or gel floor mat
People who do a lot of cooking also do a lot of standing, and typically kitchen floors are hard surfaces.
Having a memory foam or gel floor mat offers great comfort.
•Cut-resistant gloves
These are great for someone who is just learning how to use a knife, or someone who is not very steady with their hands.
They are lightweight and washable, too.
•Enamel-coated cast iron pot
Cast iron holds heat extremely well so these are perfect for any home chef.
The enamel coating makes them easy to clean, and they come in a variety of colours and sizes.
•Electric Belgian waffle iron
Authentic Belgian waffles have deeper pockets and are yeast-risen, and having the perfect waffle iron is the key to cooking them properly.
I own two of these for special occasions when we have a large crowd for breakfast or brunch.
•Panini press
Who doesn’t love a grilled sandwich? In my opinion, bread is a blank canvas for culinary creations.
Having a good quality, non-stick press is a perfect gift for any sandwich chef.
•Ice cream maker
Making your own ice cream and frozen yogurts is another great way for home chefs to unleash their culinary skills onto a blank canvas.
There are many kinds of ice cream makers out there, but I prefer the higher-end electric ones that do most of the work for you.
•Tagine
These oven ceramic cookers are great for moist slow cooking. Because of their unique sloped pointed design, they easily distribute evaporated juices back onto the food for incredibly moist results.
They also come in a variety of colours and sizes.
•Sil Pat baking mat
These silicone mats that are inserted into baking sheets are non-stick and make for easy clean-up after cooking.
•Milk frother
This is a great little device for people that would like to create fancy coffees but don’t have an expensive coffee machine at home.
There are many varieties on the market, from a small handheld device to ones that plug in and heat the milk, too.
I hope this gets you started in the right direction to completing your shopping task with ease.
Remember, everyone has a kitchen and everyone cooks to a certain degree.
I wish you a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays.
Send your food/cooking questions to dez@chefdez.com or P.O. Box 2674, Abbotsford, B.C., V2T 6R4.
Chef Dez is a chef, writer, and host. Visit him at www.chefdez.com