One of the most fun gifts to both give and receive can be ingredients and tools for the kitchen. Whether your foodie friend is a skilled chef or someone who enjoys cooking and developing their skills, culinary gifts can be a great option any time of year! Even if their kitchen is well-stocked with all the great spices, dishes and tools, there’s always a fun new find that they will appreciate.
Best Gifts for the Chef in Your Life
Next, we’ll share some of the best culinary gifts for people who love to cook. Whether a fun ingredient or a handy tool, these unique cooking gifts are sure to please this season.
Extra Virgin Olive Oils
Extra virgin olive oil is a versatile ingredient that chefs and cooks can use in so many ways. From sautés to marinades to baking and much more, olive oil that is of high quality can dramatically elevate the flavor and health components of a dish. When gifting, extra virgin olive oils can be a great option that your foodie friend will get a lot of use out of.
Fustini’s Oils & Vinegars makes it easy to pick up a sampler or other gift set for the chef in your life. SELECT extra virgin olive oils can be a great gift as these oils are of the first harvest of olive oil, meaning high quality. Gift sets like the SELECT with 18-Year Traditional balsamic highlight these SELECT oils with a nice pairing of a fan-favorite balsamic. The Picual Gift Set is also an excellent and elegant option that features a SELECT oil from the Aguilar orchard and mill.
You can find gift sets of both olive oils and vinegars by shopping our versatile selection, making this a perfect gift idea for someone who likes to cook!
Balsamic Vinegars
Pairing extra virgin olive oils with balsamic vinegars also makes an ideal gift for the chef in your life. Choose from many flavor-infused options or make it easy with a versatile gift set. The Taste of Michigan gift set features three fruity and fun balsamic vinegars made with fruit purées from right here in Michigan. For an elegant gift instead of a bottle of wine, opt for a bottle of Riserva balsamic vinegar. This thick, rich and flavor-packed balsamic is great as a delicious treat on yogurt, ice cream, crostinis, and more. And, as it’s packed in an elegant gift box with an application card, this set is a quick and easy gift.
Pantry Items
From salts to jams to seasonings and more, the pantry hosts a chef’s go-to items. While cooking, they’ll often reach for those much-needed spices and other ingredients that can transform their dishes. Check out some of these favorite pantry items:
Bourbon Maple Syrup -Mix up normal maple syrup and gift this Bourbon Maple Syrup made by our friends at Iron Fish Distillery. This specialty syrup begins from sap produced from the forests in Northern Michigan and is then cooked down and placed in bourbon barrels. The result is a flavor-packed syrup with notes of maple, oak and bourbon whiskey. This syrup can be enjoyed in many ways, including on ice cream, yogurt, pancakes or even cocktails!
Salts - Help your foodie friend finish off their dish with just a pinch of added flavor. Spice blends or salts can make a perfect gift add-on when you need a little something to bring your gift together. Salts like the Pyramid Flake Salt are large flakes, making them a perfect finishing salt. Shop all salts.
Spice Blends - Amplify flavors in a dish with the easy addition of spice blends. The versatile Tuscan Spice blend is great for a variety of dishes. Others like the Parmesan Spice, Grilling Rub and Garlic Rub are great options as well!
Sriracha - Turn the heat up with the Farm-Style Sriracha from Harwood Gold.
These easy pantry items--and many more--can be the perfect add-on for a perfect gift set!
Dishes
When the chef in your life creates those beautiful and colorful recipes, they need a spot to serve them well. Gifting a set of dishes or a useful serving dish can be a great idea. Help them replace those plates or bowls that have cracked and chipped over time. Add to their assortment of colorful and fun serving dishes that bring another pop of color to the table.
Choose small plates like these hand-crafted tapas plates or these beautiful salad dressing jugs, complete with a mini whisk. Take a more natural tone with these smooth olive wood bowls. For easy dipping, these simple white trays will do the trick! Whatever you choose, an extra dish or a full set can help your foodie friend continue to cook and share their cuisine with others.
Cutting Boards
Most often, any recipe will include some sort of chopping, slicing, dicing and cutting. Which makes a durable cutting board one of the best gifts you can get for the chef in your life. Even if they have a stash of them already, they’re sure to benefit from a uniquely designed one, a themed board for the season, or another one they can use when the rest are used.
While many cooks may prefer a certain kind of cutting board, there are a variety to choose from. From smooth wood boards to sturdy and durable plastic boards, you can be sure to find one they’ll love and get a lot of use out of. If you need help picking out the perfect cutting board, check out this blog article that shares helpful info on the different kinds of cutting boards available.
Gravity Pour Spots
A much-needed accessory for all those olive oil and vinegar bottles, these Gravity Pour Spouts are easy to add on to an existing gift.
Whisks, Brushes, & Tongs
From spatulas to brushes to whisks and more, many chefs and home cooks go through a wide range of kitchen tools and utensils. And, when they’re used often, some of their tools may be due for a replacement or upgrade. Gift them durable and versatile kitchen tools that they’re sure to be grateful for.
For many home cooks, a finished meal also means many knives, spatulas, brushes and more in the sink to be washed. Add to their arsenal of culinary tools by getting them some mini brushes or whisks. Basting brushes like these are great for greasing muffin pans and evenly coating your dishes. The silicone head is even dishwasher-safe! And small whisks like these help quickly whip up a dressing or sauce.
Mini whisks can be valuable for quickly whipping up a topping or sauce. Spatulas come in a variety of materials, shapes and durabilities, making them a much-needed item in a chef’s drawers. As you spend time with the chef in your life, notice what tools and utensils they use most often and which ones they might benefit from. With practical and durable kitchen tools, you’ll be sure to bring a smile to their face this season.
These Bamboo Tongs can also be an easy add-on for an existing gift set. Perfect for salads and pastas, these tongs are sturdy and versatile.
Charcuterie Boards
Empower your foodie friend to display those cheese, crackers, meats, and more beautifully with a Michigan-made charcuterie board. These elegant boards are made from either Resin or Ash Wood and are food-grade. Pick one up for a great gift - and get one for yourself, as well. Shop charcuterie boards.
Surprise the Chef in Your Life With the Best Culinary Gifts
Practical and versatile culinary gifts can be a fun surprise for the chef in your life this season. Whether you opt for ingredients like extra virgin olive oils or balsamic vinegars or choose practical resources for them to use like kitchen tools or dishes, culinary gifts like these can be a quick and easy gifting solution that is sure to please. Shop your local Fustini’s store or online to get your gifting done today.