We all have someone in our lives who became a little to obsessed with perfecting sourdough over the past ~5 yearsâto the point that this trope has almost become clichĂŠd. Theyâre the same person who regularly preaches cast iron supremacy, gets too excited when ramps are in season, and who, in all honesty, should probably be humbled by the simple joy of boxed mac and cheese. đ¤ˇââď¸
Overly ambitious home chefs: We know them, we love them, and we cannot figure out how to contribute meaningfully to their existing collection of upscale kitchen items. That is, until now. â
Gifts
Re: Cast iron supremacy. ($50-$125)
Your recipient already has a cast iron skillet, because of course they do. But do they have everything they need to properly care for it? Field Companyâs Cast Iron Care Kit ($50âon sale) includes their famous Seasoning Oil (IYKYK), a chain mail scrubber, and a lovely natural fiber brush.
Got some extra $$ to spend? The full Cast Iron Tools Set by Field Company ($125âon sale) is the ultimate cast-iron-owner gift. It comes with the full Care Kit, plus two chefâs tools (slotted turner and griddle turner) and a leather cast iron handle cover.
The gift of growing their very own greens. ($295)
Because, for these chefs, store-bought is notâas my idol Ina Garten would sayââjust fine.â Leathâs The Fieldhouse ($295) gives you everything you need to grow fresh pea shoots, micro arugula, broccoli, and more all year longâeven in their tiny NYC apartment. It comes with the Fieldhouse âgrow systemâ and LED light, a germination lid that also serves as a cutting board (brilliant), a glass spray bottle (fancy), and a 6-pack of seeds and soil.
Spices they wonât scoff at. ($40-$220)
Any good chef knows: good spices are key to any great dish. While weâre sure they have all the basics already, weâd venture to bet that they donât have an incredibly high-quality Black Urfa Chili or Biryani Masala on hand. Some fresh new spices will actively encourage your adventurous chef friend to get even more adventurous with flavorâmaking you not just a great gift giver, but also a muse.
Weâd recommend The Chefâs Collection by Burlap & Barrel ($56 for 6-set - $220 for 24-set) and the Masala Essentials Set by Diaspora Co ($40 for 3-set). Both of these brands are so thoughtful about sourcing the best-of-the-best spices.
Wanna get extra personal? Find recipes that include some of the spices, make a little recipe book cover page + table of contents on Canva, and get a personalized recipe book printed just for them (FedEx makes this super easy! I just did it âĄĚ).
now THAT is a killer lineup
A beautiful olive oil + dip dish set. ($120)
Brightland x MacKenzie Childs Holiday Hosting Gift Set ($120). This is a seriously iconic limited-edition set from Brightland. It features Brightlandâs signature Alive Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Rosette Garlic Flavored Olive Oil, packaged in exclusive MacKenzie-Childs designs, plus a gorgeous olive oil dipping dish, and two golden stainless-steel spouts for your oil bottles.
Literal (gourmet) beans. ($65)
No seriously. The people want beans. If your home chef has ever cooked with beans, they probably know about Rancho Gordoâand if they donât already have a monthly bean subscription, the brandâs Deluxe Gift Box ($65) is a great entry point. This set comes with the aptly-named cookbook, The Bean Book, a tote bag, and four iconic Rancho Gordo beans: Cranberry, Garbanzo, Domingo Rojo, and Alubia Blanca.
Upgrade their dumpling game. ($13)
We love this gorgeous dipping bowl set ($13) by the soup dumpling brand, Mila. Itâs one of those products that considers every detail, down to the little groove for your chopsticks. Made with transparent Tritan, itâs even dishwasher safe! Even though this is made by a dumpling brand, we think it encourages the most ambitious of home chefs to consider making their own.
Get the full essentials bundle ($88), including dumplings, three sauces, and the bowl for a full inspo set.
Everything to make their very own tortillas. ($110)
A Tortilla Starter Kit ($110). This kit features everything your home chef needs to start making their very own tortillasâa massive upgrade to any Taco Tuesday. It includes the famous, made in Oaxaca Masienda Tortilla Press, two bags of Heirloom Corn Masa Harina (one blue corn, one white corn), and a pair of our custom reusable tortilla press liners which are printed with a tortilla sizing ruler.
If they make their own pizza⌠($18-$36)
⌠they need Pizza Scissors ($18âon sale). If you have a friend with an Ooni (youâll know if you do. They are never quiet about this fact.), this is a great item. We had this in our last gift guide, and oh boy, do they deserve another spot.
Pair this with some beautiful oil for the ultimate pizza night gift. Algae Cooking Clubâs Shiitake Mushroom Oil ($18) isnât your typical garlic oil or chili oilâitâs totally unique, perfectly packaged for drizzling, and adds so much umami flavor to any âza.
Cutting boards that actually last. ($40-$122)
A set of Epicurean cutting boards ($40-$122). Every aspiring chef needs some solid cutting boards that 1) arenât plastic (bye-bye, micropastics!) and 2) donât slip around. These are made with a mixture of wood fiber and resin, making them lightweight and durable (dishwasher-safe and heat-resistant)âthey last forever, and wonât chip or crack.
love love love !