For the household chef or the person who loves to try new recipes for fun, wow them this holiday season with gifts fit for a professional. We consulted some of the best names in the cooking world to learn what they’d recommend, per their representatives, in addition to what they’d ask for as gifts this holiday season.
For the Beginner Chef, according to Troy Guard.
Chef/Owner of TAG Restaurant Group, Troy Guard has worked in kitchens across the globe and has since gone on to build his own restaurant empire with concepts ranging from a formal steakhouse to a Mexican restaurant to a fast-casual rice bowl spot.
Kamado Smoker
“A Kamado Smoker is the best of the best, and if you’re testing the waters in cooking you should be armed with one of these guys.”
Shop Now: $1,199
Oak Cutting Board
“I am obsessed with the Oak Cutting Boards from John Boos. There are tons of different wood blends but the quality is consistent across the board. Any chef starting off needs to have a solid station at home or in their kitchen – and this cutting board makes all the difference.”
Shop Now: $244
Wusthof 3-Stage PEtec Electric Knife Sharpener
“A good steel for sharpening knives is EQUALLY as important as a good set of knives. I recommend the Wusthof 3-stage PEtec Electric Knife Sharpener”
Shop Now: $180
Sur La Table Mixing Bowls
“Proper mixing bowls from Sur La Table is another necessity for the beginner chef. I’d go for the Stainless Steal Non-Skid set or the Copper Plated Mixing Set. I’m always happy to get a new set of bowls and somehow there never seems to be enough in the kitchen.”
Shop Now: $50
Breville|PolyScience The Smoking Gun Pro Smoke Infuser, Commercial
“This is currently sitting on my wishlist: the Breville Smoking Gun. It’s so easy to work and really adds a punch of flavor. You can use it on meats, proteins, salads, fruit, vegetables, etc. It’s perfect for beginner chefs because of how easy it is to use, but really it’ll leave you looking like top-chef material.”
Shop Now: $119
For the Baker, according to Jared Sexton
Executive Pastry Chef at Bluebird London NYC, Sexton has also worked at Narcissa at the Standard Hotel in the East Village and Dominique Ansel Bakery in Soho. He also served as the Executive Pastry Chef of Chefs Club by Food & Wine New York City.
Bamix Hand Blender
“A tool I can no longer live without is a Bamix hand blender. It’s perfect for making ganache, emulsifying sauces or whipping foam.”
Shop Now: $199
For the Grill Master, according to Adam Gurtler
The Food Network regular and Dog Haus Wurtmacher (sausage maker in German) conceptualizes and crafts all of Dog Haus propriety sausage blends
Weber Smokey Mountain 31.4-in H x 14-in W 286-sq in Black Charcoal Vertical Smoker
“Grilling on the barbecue is my favorite. This Weber smoker is a great beginner model that produces great results due to the steamy environment provided by the water or beer. You still get the experience of tending the smoker which is a joy akin to shooting 18 holes on the links for us BBQ heads.”
Shop Now: $199
Traeger TFB42LZBC Grills Lil Tex Elite 22 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
“Technology is our friend for grilling, too. After you get sick of tending to the smoker for hours, guessing about when and how much wood to add, if it’s wet enough, and so on, you’ll want to graduate to a foolproof pellet smoker. Traeger is the industry leader, but there are many copycats. This pellet smoker is especially useful for the long overnight smoking jobs like pork butts and briskets. The wood pellets are added automatically so you just have to accept the praise of being a perfect pro pit master.”
Shop Now: $700
MEATER+165ft Long Range Smart Wireless Meat Thermometer for The Oven Grill Kitchen BBQ Smoker Rotisserie with Bluetooth and WiFi Digital Connectivity
“The MEATER digital probe has absolutely changed my life for the better. While smoking something outside or roasting indoors, I can be on my couch binging shows while I monitor both the internal temperature of whatever I’m cooking and the environment temperature. So if all’s well, I don’t need to do anything. If the temperature suddenly spikes or drops, I spring into action. You can also add more probes and monitor them all on the same app.”
Shop Now: $99
For the (Aspirationally) Michelin Starred Chef, according to Gunner Gíslason
Chubo Knives
“You can’t go far without a great knife, and I highly recommend Chubo Knives. They are extremely sharp which will allow you to have knife skills of even the most trained chef. ”
Shop Now: $75
Best Gifts For Pasta Lovers, According To Marc Vetri
All-Clad Stainless Steel Dutch Oven
“I love kitchen appliances that can be used in multiple ways to create totally different dishes. The Stainless Dutch Oven from All-Clad is great for braising, stewing, and slow cooking.”
Shop Now: $263
“Every good cook needs a good set of knives, especially when tackling pasta.”
Shop Now: $800
