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spyturtle008
Dec 17, 2006 02:30 PM
I'm getting the chef on my list an Alaskan Ulu for Christmas:
Was in Anchorage recently for a conference, and visited the factory. They're handmade, and kind of unique. This is a young chef, though, and so doesn't have every tool and gadget known to mankind. I tend to agree with those post-ers who've said to look outside the food realm for gift ideas.
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re: spyturtle008
I don't know any chefs, but I wandered into a gift shop in Little Tokyo here in Los Angeles and found lots of interesting items. They sets of nicely decorated plates, tea sets, etc. I think a chef might like something that would help with the presentation of their food. Prices ranged from inexpensive to "up there." They had some pretty wild looking Japanese knives for food work. I recently gave something from the store to a friend and she seemed to love it.
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I agree that you could go with something not food-related.
But if you want to stick with the theme, you should get him something completely non essential (but fun) - an unusual regional product, a gift certificate to a good restaurant, a pair of Batali clogs (only if he's got a sense of humour).
You could also go with a book - not a cookbook, but a food history/narrative book like that new one where all the chefs say how hey learned to cook.
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re: piccola
amkirkland
Dec 17, 2006 08:58 PM
I just want to mention that I used that for a date way before stranger than fiction... of course I'm single now...
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RShea78
Dec 17, 2006 08:54 AM
I have said a Maglite makes one of the best presents when it comes to something highly universal. (No relationship with the company, I promise!)
By accident I let that one slip and the person ended up with 3 Maglites. At first it didn't quit hit and was he was about ready to ask for exchanges- till he discovered he could use 2 more!
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It doesn't have to be grand, if it has the right whimsy. I once went to the local farmer's market and bought all the different varieties of avocados I could find and chatted up the growers for opinions. I then had friends over for an avocado "taste off".
So, for your friend it could be a simple as the chance to side by side test 4 or 5 different types of caviar or smoked salmon or bacon or whatever.
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SanseiDesigns
Dec 16, 2006 07:00 AM
If the relationship is personal - how about a spa day where the chef gets pampered?
If professional - a rare aged balsamic (the ones I get from Firenze are US$50 for 6oz, and worth every drop); a VSOP or XO Cognac (cook or drink!), if he drinks; a nice, compact digital camera for recording the incredible dishes (I know chefs who like to carry one to capture the one-off creations).
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formerlyfingers
Dec 15, 2006 03:54 AM
a gift certificate for a cookbook store, or just get him the ultimate...the El Bulli cookbook and related paraphernalia
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Pei
Dec 15, 2006 01:41 AM
All of these are great ideas, and made me think: the common vein is that these gifts are all nice things that are used up relatively quickly.
As someone who likes to cook a lot, these are the gifts I'd like to get too. I don't need someone to buy me a tool because if I need it I probably went out and bought it already. But a pack of expensive chocolates or a bottle of good wine are things I use up again and again and constantly need to spend money on. Hence, a great gift!
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re: rgs123
amkirkland
Dec 14, 2006 02:00 PM
Oh, that's it!!! Perfecto, that would totally be on the top of my list for my parents if I weren't just a little embarassed by that.
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My bf is a chef and he loves to get wine as a gift--especially when I try to find something rare and fun that I think he'll like. He likes the thought that goes into picking out wine for a gift.
And fun food related gifts. Last year for his bday I bought him a case of his favorite italian imported stewed tomatoes. Sometime I want to get him a little olive tree. You can order them in pots online.
I also really love the French Laundry cookbook. It's really a beautiful book--it's fun just to flip through just to look at the pictures.
Or if it's a close friend, chefs love to be cooked for. My cooking teacher in college told us that she is always so flattered to have someone cook for her even if it's just hot dogs because usually people are to intimidated to make her dinner. So people hardly ever cooked for her. It was always such a treat to have someone make her dinner for a change.
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Just because he's a chef doesn't mean it has to be a food-related gift, does it? That's so limiting.
If you're close to him personally, you know his tastes.
If this is a professional relationship, why not something a bit more removed from his work? I mean, a food-related gift smacks of coals to Newcastle, doesn't it?
Buy him a really nice fountain pen, or something like that. Make sure you have a gift receipt for it, though, just in case ..............
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Anything delicious-like a foie gras pate, a small jar of beluga caviar,several packages of smoked salmon; some delicious chocolates; a very good bottle of wine (scotch, gin, vodka=whatever he/she drinks); some delcious high quality nuts- marconi almonds from Napa Style; Bazini mixed nuts; California Pistachios;
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