Each year my Christmas shopping list – and probably yours – includes at least one person who loves to cook. And don’t ask me why, but for some peculiar reason cooks are usually gadget lovers and culinary stores work hard to feed those gadget appetites. So to help your holiday shopping along, I’ve compiled a baker’s dozen of gourmet tools any chef would love to find under the breadbox or tucked in a Christmas stocking. The selections are reasonably priced and, if you shop soon, many of the Web sites noted are offering holiday deals – like free shipping or Internet-only (lower) prices.
Treat your epicurean to one of these handy-dandy gizmos:
1. Silicone Basting Brush – A wonderful stocking stuffer! Color-coded in red, green and yellow to distinguish their uses, the silicone bristles detach for thorough cleaning. Dishwasher safe. ($16) Williams-Sonoma, www.williams-sonoma.com ($16)
2. Garlic Card – A Swedish chef “frustrated by chopping, razor-sharp graters and hard-to-clean presses” invented this small plastic card embossed (like a credit card) with a pattern that grates garlic to a flavor-releasing puree. ($6) The Kitchen Table, 1373 Locust, Walnut Creek, 937-8888
3. Wine Master Deluxe – This compact device stores 10,000 wine and spirits reviews, including prices and ratings. Allows you to search by vintage, variety, winery, etc., and bookmark your favorites. ($50) Sur La Table, www.surlatable.com
4. AeroLatte – A frother with its own stand that froths steamed milk in 10 seconds. Lattes, anyone?!? ($32) Dean and Deluca, www.deananddeluca.com
5. Microplane Ribbon Grater – Made of stainless steel blade with clear polycarbonate frame, it is designed like a carpenter’s rasp. Ideal for grating cheese, chocolate, potatoes and onions into ribbons. ($15) Chef’s Catalog, www.chefscatalog.com
6. Voice Alert Thermometer – This digital thermometer “precisely monitors temperatures and counts down cooking times,” and alerts you with a voice or beep. Preset alerts range from rare to well-done or your own preferences. ($30) Williams-Sonoma, www.williams-sonoma.com
7. Ice Cream Ball – With only five ingredients and 20 minutes of rolling or tossing the ball, you can create a pint of ice cream in your favorite flavor. The rolling works off calories in advance! Comes in three colors, recipes included. ($30) Red Envelope, www.redenvelope.com
8. KitchenAid Large Silicone Grabber – Flexible non-slip silicone design for handling hot pots. Heat-resistant to 500 degrees. Ergonomic handle of durable ABS plastic. ($8)
9. Wusthof Ceramic Knife Sharpener – The New York Times calls this sharpener “impressive… its two ceramic disks did give a sharp edge” to knives. ($20) Chef’s Catalog, www.chefscatalog.com
10. Perfect Timers – Just place these timers right in the pot with your eggs or pasta and they’ll let you know when food is ready. Tempered plastic. Egg or Pasta. ($5) Sur La Table, www.surlatable.com
11. Batter Ladles Set of four stainless steel ladles with flat bottoms, so you can fill them with sauce or batter, then set them on a counter between uses. ($16) Chef’s Catalog, www.chefscatalog.com
12. Folding Chopping Board – An ingeniously simple tool. Slice and dice, then squeeze the handle to fold the polypropylene board and funnel your ingredients into a pan. ($12) MoMA, www.momastore,org
13. OXO Mandoline – Gourmet magazine selected this as the No. 1 mandoline in 2005. Stainless steel blades, flared legs for stability; folds flat for storing. ($70 + free ship) Sur La Table, www.surlatable.com
If the gadgets don’t strike your fancy, consider giving a great cookbook or gourmet basket.
Cookbooks. No cook can ever have too many. These are among my new favorites:
* “The Va de Vi Cookbook”: Local chef Kelly Degala shares over 70 of its recipes from the menu. Includes wine discussion by Brendan Eliason. Available at the restaurant for purchase, phone or fax 979-0100 ($29.95)
* “Molto Italiano: 327 Simple Italian Recipes to Cook at Home”: In his fourth book, Mario Batali shares his passion for traditional Italian cuisine. Cooks will enjoy the 300-plus recipes and Mario’s cultural insights and cooking tips. ($35) Autographed copies at Sur La Table, www.surlatable.com
* “Julia & Julie”: Powell spent a year cooking every recipe in Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” and chronicling the journey. Both home cooks and devotees of Bridget Jones’ diary-style dishing will enjoy the smartly humored writing. ($15.80 + free ship) www.amazon.com
* “Martha Stewart’s Baking Cookbook”: Released six years after Stewart’s “Hors D’Oeuvres Handbook” reinvented canapÈs. With 300-plus recipes, it’s a beautiful book as well as instructive. ($26.40 + free ship) www.amazon.com
Food Baskets. When time and/or distance are issues, send something indulgent to out-of-town epicureans. Satisfy a culinary interest or help them entertain holiday guests. These sites offer the best of everything:
* Dean and Deluca, www.deananddeluca.com
* Wine Country Gift Baskets, www.winecountrygiftbaskets.com
* Cherry Moon Farms, www.cherrymoonfarms.com
* Secret Spoon, www.secretspoon.com
And, when shopping is done and you are nestled all snug in your bed, may visions of desserts, wines and appetizers dance in your head!
–Jacqui Love Marshall lives in Danville with her vintage-car-loving husband, two pugs and binders of recipes.
