Chef Gifts 2012

by Emily Bell

December 2012

More hours in the day. An “A” from the health department. Anxiety medication. There are some things you can get the chef in your life, and some you can’t. Here’s a list of (mostly) realistic ideas from some of our favorite culinary talent around the country. Prices vary so shop savvy.

What: Le Creuset Cast Iron Enamelware

Pricetag: $549.95
Whose Wish List: Chef John Besh of Besh Restaurant Group

What: Big Green Egg

Pricetag:$689 to $800
Whose Wish List: Chef RJ Cooper of Rogue 24 — Washington, DC
Why: Not the knock-off—the real deal.

What: Steam Injected Convection Oven

Pricetag: $2,141.35
Whose Wish List: Pastry Chef Mindy Segal of HotChocolate — Chicago, IL

What: Thermapen Instant Read Digital Thermometer

Pricetag: $94.98
Whose Wish List: Pastry Chef Shuna Lydon of Calliope – New York, NY

What: Carpigiani LB 100 B Ice Cream Maker

Pricetag: TKTK
Whose Wish List: Pastry Chef Shuna Lydon of Calliope – New York, NY

What: Masanobu Knives

Pricetag: $185 to $450
Whose Wish List: Chef Dan Kluger of ABC Kitchen – New York, NY

What: Pasta Chitarra

Pricetag: $40
Whose Wish List: Chef Dan Kluger of ABC Kitchen – New York, NY

What: Rare and Antique Cookbooks

Pricetag: Varies
Whose Wish List: Chef Jose Andres of ThinkFoodGroup – Washington, D.C.
Why: They are my way of learning about the history of cooking and the history of the world. One shop I return to again and again is Bauman Rare Books in Manhattan.

What: Soft Serve Ice Cream Machine

Pricetag: $1,000 to $2,000 per unit
Whose Wish List: Pastry Chef Christina Lee of Recette – New York, NY

What: 16-pound Bone-in Jamón Serrano Ham from Fermín

Pricetag: $275
Whose Wish List: Chef Jesse Schenker of Recette – New York, NY

What: How to Love Wine by Eric Asimov

Pricetag: $24.99
Whose Wish List: Chef Jesse Schenker of Recette – New York, NY

What: Hand-blown Glass Teapot from Anthropologie

Pricetag: Starting at $148
Whose Wish List: Chef Missy Robbins of A Voce Madison – New York, NY
Why: I just recently became a tea drinker so am trying to appreciate the culture.