This Gift Guide for Cooks and Foodies has been carefully curated with unique, beautiful and fun items. Many things on this list will likely be new for those who you think have everything.
Gifts for cooking lovers are sometimes hard to find when you're shopping for someone who you think has everything.
Every year I update and edit my gift guide with new unique and fun items that I think our cooking and foodie friends will absolutely love.
*The photo credits for all of the below images goes to the sites they're linked to.*
2022 Gift Guide: 26 Gifts for Foodies and Cooks
1. FoodQ: 100 Questions, Answers, and Recipes to Raise Your Cooking Smarts -- $22
"From grilling to sous vide, handmade pasta to canned fish, and deconstructing everything from salt and olive oil to organic produce and natural wine, this book is a one-stop shop for foodies and home cooks, from novices to the most-adventurous culinarians. You don't know what you don't know."
2. Teak Spurtle Set and Holder -- $25
A Spurtle is a Scottish wooden kitchen tool that's a blend of a spoon and a spatula. It dates back to the fifteenth century, and is used to stir porridge, soups, stews and broths. It can stir, scoop, smash, and serve.
3. Comal-- $40
A comal is a smooth, griddle-like pan that's typically used in Mexico, Central and parts of South America to cook tortilla and arepas. It can also be used to toast spices and nuts.
4. Old Havana Measuring Cups, Set of 3 ( ¼, ½, and 1 cup) -- $45Made in Portugal with a rich crackle glaze, these measuring cups are beautifully detailed works of functional art.
5. Instant Accu Slim Sous Vide, Immersion Circulator -- $100
This will turn out perfectly cooked food every single time you use it. (And this is one of my favorite sous vide recipes.)
6. Japanese Seasoning Container -- $28
The lid on this awesome container is made from Japanese Cypress (Hinoki), which allows salt to "breathe." It's super easy to refill and access, and the lid protects the salt from kitchen splatters.
7. Long Handle Wooden Tasting Spoons (Set of 4) -- $79
These tasting spoons are beautifully crafted and come in an assortment of woods. They are made with ethically sourced, sustainable, and all-natural materials.
8. Dan Dan Sauce and Sichuan Pickle Bundle -- $35
I have these in my fridge right now and they are two of the best tasting things ever! I love them and the family owned small business, Chinese Laundry, that's behind them. It's the perfect unique foodie gift, and fantastic if you just want to spice up your meals.
9. BeldiNest Hand Carved 6 Piece Olive Wood Nesting Bowls Set -- $88
For prep in the kitchen or serving at the table, these gorgeous bowls are handmade in Tunisia. Check them out holding a beautiful salad.
11. Cavarola Pasta Board from Artisanal Pasta Tools -- $75
A gorgeous heirloom piece, hand carved, with 600 individual hand cuts, these boards are made for creating rectangular pasta shapes imprinted with elaborate crosshatching. They're available in three finishes and come with the rolling pin.
11. Le Creuset Pepper Mill-- $46
You can customize the size of the grind in this beautiful ceramic pepper grinder. It’s super functional for cooking, and beautiful on the dinner table. And for a bonus, fill it with Kampot pepper.
12. Giving Hope Produce Wine Basket from Melissa's -- $98
When you buy this beautiful basket of exotic and tropical fruits with Pinot Noir, you'll also be donating to a wonderful cause. One Hope Wines will donate half of their profits to aid in pet adoption.
A combination of the next two items makes for one amazing cooking gift!
13. Moroccan Tagine -- $75
A tagine is a casserole dish used in North African cooking, most commonly in Morocco. Tagines are great for slow-cooking stews, and other "one-pot" comfort foods! ("Tagine" refers to the dish prepared in this vessel, as well.)
14. Cooking at the Kasbah by Kitty Morse -- $28
I've owned this book for years, and it's the perfect counterpart to the Moroccan Tagine above. The recipes are absolutely delicious.
15. Bamboo Sticky Rice Serving Basket -- $28
This hand woven old fashioned Thai basket is designed to endure daily use. “A faint hint of a charred scent is innate to the fabricated cane sedge and that fragrance enriches the rice grains."
16. Black Garlic Fermenter -- $109
Black garlic is rich and creamy, and the flavor is reminiscent of balsamic vinegar. You can make it yourself in this awesome machine. (For a bonus, print this popular recipe to go along with the gift.)
17. Black Garlic -- $15
And if you don't want to make your own black garlic . . .
18. Los Poblanos Farm Foods Gift Sets from Food52 -- $60 to $176
This is described as an “edible tour of New Mexico’s best local flavors.” Delivered to your door each set includes a spread of farm-fresh favorites, all harvested in New Mexico and packaged in jars you’ll love. My favorite is the Farm Food Favorites Gift Set (pictured below).
19. Himalayan Salt Mortar and Pestle -- $27
This is unlike most mortar and pestles -- a hint of the flavor of Himalayan Pink Salt will be imparted to the spices and herbs you're grinding. I love using a mortar and pestle for salsas like this one.
20. Boska Cheese Scraper -- $44
It looks like a sculpture, and produces luscious, aromatic shavings of cheese (and chocolate!).
21. Chili Crunch from Momofuku -- $13
I always have this in the pantry and often bring a jar of it, instead of wine, as a gift for a dinner party host. There are dozens of chili crunch brands available and this one is my favorite. It's a spicy-crunchy chili oil that's perfect for adding a kick of heat and texture to dishes.
22. Reversible Kneading and Cutting Board -- $124
I've had mine for over 20 years (gasp!) and it's one of the best purchases I've ever made! This board doesn't move because its lip "locks" it in place. And flour and bits of dough don't escape at the back because of the "back board." You can keep one side for bread making and the other for chopping.
23. Big Potter’s Nesting Set from East Fork — $269
I discovered East Fork in 2021 and it was "The Mug" that first captured my eye in a little store in upstate New York. You can read all about this Certified B Corporation and their beautiful pottery here.
24. Flour Shaker Rolling Pin -- $24
The hollow ceramic design incorporates a flour shaker and ruler to make rolling out dough quick and simple.
25. World Central Kitchen – DONATE
I love the idea of dedicating a donation to someone. “World Central Kitchen is a non-profit organization addressing food insecurity during and after natural disasters and humanitarian crises, while also operating long-term programs aimed at improving livelihoods by strengthening local food ecosystems. Founded in 2010 by Chef Jose Andres following the devastating earthquake in Haiti, World Central Kitchen has since served more than 8 million meals to those affected by disasters."
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*Please note that prices and availability may change over time.
Eha
Have just reposted yours on a busy Friday afternoon - me . . . I am dreaming of half the wondrous things you have found sitting in my kitchen . . . oh well 🙂 ! hugs . . .
2pots2cook
Everything is sooo beautiful Valentina! 🙂
Chef Mimi
Great ideas! Thanks.
valentina
Thanks, Mimi! 🙂 ~Valentina
valentina
Thanks, Davorka. 🙂 ~Valentina
David Scott Allen
Always the best list out there on the Internet! Food IQ is one of my favorite books, and I have found many recipes in there that I’ve enjoyed immensely. I have coveted the cavarola pasta board for years! Mark simply will not take the hint…
valentina
Hi David. You are so kind! I'm so happy you like this list. As you can see I try to change it up, but items like the Cavarola pasta board will likely always remain because it's so unique (and fun if you make pasta)! Happy holiday season to you and Mark. 🙂 ~Valentina
Luci
Such a wonderful gift guide. I'd be ecstatic receiving any one of these!!
valentina
Hi Luci! Thanks so much. Enjoy and hope you and your family have a delightful holiday season. 🙂 ~Valentina