Gifts for the Home Chef

Chefs are givers. They plan, shop, prep, cook and serve meal after meal day after day with the sole purpose of giving it away. They love watching their friends, family and guests enjoy and savour their culinary creations.   

Every chef - from those dreaming of their own restaurant to professionals that serve hundreds of meals a day - is also a home chef. 

In the spirit of giving, serve them quality professional tools from their wish list. 

Here’s a list of 18 products chosen by the Home Chefs at ChefEquipment.com. 

1.

Browne | Sauce Cup, 2 oz, Stainless Steel

Get saucy! Going well beyond a request for “dressing on the side, please” these sauce cups can always serve up that little something.  From a selection of house-made butters to accompany their famous focaccia to a truffle aioli for hand cut fries these simply designed cups work well. 

Great for portion control and those little guests that always seem to need dip for everything. 

Easy to hold with the option of single or double handles, these stainless steel cups can hold hot and cold sauces and dips and go great with every decor. Even better, they are dishwasher safe. 

2.

Victorinox | Paring Knife, 3.25", Black 

Chefs pride themselves on using quality ingredients.  Ingredients that don’t arrive “ready to use”.  Nothing compares to using a paring knife for peeling, trimming and intricate prep work. 

Easy to use for small and large hands, allowing the chef to stay in complete control.  Truly a small chef knife worthy to prepare the ingredients for their signature dishes. 

3.

Mercer | Metro Edge Renegade Bib Apron

Show your chef you know who's in charge in the kitchen when you give them an apron designed for professionals.  A casual, trendy style will protect clothes and will hold essential chef tools - phone, paper/pen and thermometer.  And to be clear, the phone is necessary for photos not for texting that the food is ready.

Your chef quickly turns from chef to dinner companion when they can quickly remove their apron - but they might not want to take it off.  

4.

Chef'sChoice | EdgeCraft E315 Electric Knife Sharpener, 2 Stages

Keep your chef safe with this simple to use electric knife sharpener.  Yes, we said safe - sharp blades are safer to use than dull blades.  If your home chef loves their knives (and what chef doesn't) and is starting a collection, it's likely they have some knives with 15° edges including contemporary European, American and Asian style knives.

This budget friendly option can sharpen a knife in 1 minute or resharpen a knife in 10 seconds!  Giving them more time to keep chopping and preparing delicious food, hopefully for you! 

5.

Browne | Precision Tongs/Tweezers, 8"

If your chef embraces their inner Da Vinci when plating meals, they surely have at least one set of these specialty tongs on their list. 

An extension of their hands, tweezers can delicately and precisely place ingredients and accoutrements.  Getting the right amount of microgreens on top of the smoked trout crostini, the violet petals on the meticulously prepared petit four or the perfectly placed orange zest curl in their signature Old Fashioned.  Those details matter to them. It’s those precise details that make a good cocktail a great one. 

6.

Microplane | Premium Classic Series Zester Grater, 12", Soft Touch Handle

As razor sharp as your chef in the kitchen, these zesters (also called a rasp grater) are top of the line.  Able to zest all the flavour from citrus fruit peels, grate ginger, make fine light shreds of hard cheeses and even grate chocolate. 

Small pieces mean maximum distribution. Maximum distribution means best flavour.  The ultimate goal of all chefs. Other than the ooohs and aaaahs from their guests, of course. 

7.

SignatureWares | Sauce Pan, Stainless Steel

Quality pots and pans are always a smart choice for any kitchen - home or professional.  Our SignatureWares Sauce Pan in stainless steel is no exception.  Your chef will appreciate the excellent heat conductivity of the three ply base and that the pot can be used for all types of cooking including induction.

Strong riveted handle(s) provide a secure grip when your chef is moving their signature (pun intended) pot of Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili to serve their kid's entire soccer team.  Again.  And remember to add the matching lid. 

8.

SignatureWares | Set of 3 Fibrewood Boards, Natural or Slate 

To make gift buying easier (and more affordable) we have bundled these multifunctional boards into a set of three - one of each size.  You can choose the colour of each board. Mix an match as you (or your home chef) wish.  Eco-friendly, knife-friendly and easy to clean, these boards are also reversible.

For many chefs, presentation is just as important as the time, care and attention that went into creating their meals.  Sure, it seems like just a cutting board to you, but your chef only sees delicious possibilities. 

9.

Mercer | Millennia Offset Bread Knife, Wavy Edge, Black

If your chef also dabbles in the pastry arts making homemade bread or picks up an artisanal loaf at the market every week, they absolutely need a great bread knife.   

A bread knife with an offset handle means no more scraping knuckles on the cutting board when slicing.  The long, serrated blade (which means it has jagged teeth) effortlessly bites into the crust and delicately slices the soft interior.  

They can also use this knife for paper thin slices of juicy ripe fresh garden tomatoes and citrus fruits.  Really, any delicate foods that you don’t want to crush the centres. 

10.

Mercer | Knife Roll with 7 Pockets

Home chefs aren’t bound by their kitchen walls.  Give them a gift that will safely take their show on the road.  Enough pockets for your chef to gradually add to their arsenal of professional knives, attractively stored and always ready for a kitchen battle. It’s also a subtle way of saying, “These knives are mine! Hands off!” or to keep them out of the hands of those disinclined to acquiesce to your request to follow proper knife usage and care. 

Chop, wash (sanitize) and roll! 

11.

Swissmar | Borner VPower Mandoline Slicer

Give your home chef the sous chef they’ve always dreamed of – a mandoline.  From paper thin slices of pears, diced onion and julienned beets, a mandoline can help your chef plough through prep quickly. Portobello mushroom scalloped potatoes come together like magic with this simple classic kitchen tool. 

Easy to use and clean with the convenience of 10 different cuts from the same using, your chef will wonder how they’ve done without one for so long. 

12.

Cuisipro | Locking Tongs, Stainless Steel

Do not underestimate the power of tongs in the kitchen.  An extension of every chef's hand, tongs are indispensable no matter the cooking style.  These high quality, strong stainless steel tongs give your chef precision and control of all ingredients while keep a safe distance from the heat.  Attractive enough that you may see your chef using them for serving, too!

The push and pull locking mechanism is easy to use and keeps the footprint small when not in use, if space is an issue, or use the loop can be used for hanging (dare we say displaying?).  Don't be surprised if they never let go of this versatile tool!

13. 

iSi | Thermo Whip, Cold & Warm Applications, 1 Pint

Chef, pastry chef, cook, baker, barista or bartender, however your chef thinks of themselves this secret weapon can up their food game.  Simple to use with sweet and savoury applications, this dispenser can make whipped cream, airy sauces, espumas, foams and mousses in seconds. 

Pour the sauce into the container, charge it up with a cylinder of compressed gas and press the nozzle. The compressed gas mixes and aerates the liquid and forces it through the nozzle.  The final look is determined by which decorative nozzle.  It’s kitchen science (and theatre) your chef will love to show off.  

Remember the charging cartridges! 

14.

SignatureWares | Medium Density Cutting Board, 12" x 18"

Professional kitchens rely on quality cutting boards to protect their knives, countertops and food.  The medium density polypropylene reduces wear on knife blades reducing sharpening frequency - okay, maybe not as important in a home kitchen, but maybe your home gourmet chops 'til they drop.  The many available colours is for colour-coding to reduce cross-contamination in restaurant kitchens and there's no reason why your home chef can't adopt the same practice.

These medium density cutting boards have a uniquely textured surface, on both sides, to keep food securely in place, they are non-porous and are dishwasher safe. 

 

15. 

F. Dick | Red Spirit Ajax Chef/Butcher Knife, 8", Red

Your chef will want an audience to show off both their skills and this knife when they unwrap it this holiday season. An example of the perfect combination of form and function, the Ajax knife’s unique blade shape lends itself to most tasks in the kitchen. 

The qualities of a cleaver combined with a chef knife allow this knife blade to handle meat, poultry and fish, fruits, vegetables and even delicate herbs. 

16.

AMT | Induction Frying Pan or AMT | Frying Pan

Designed to handle the extraordinary stresses of professional kitchens, this pan can fry, simmer, sauté and poach whatever your chef throws its way.  Built under strict quality control, this pan is not your typical non-stick pan. Their Lotan® non-stick coating is so good, that it takes less water to rinse and clean after use – how many pans can say that?  

They even have a warranty on the flatness of the pan base.  Trust us, a flat base is important.  Ask your chef. 

17.

Zwilling | Pro Chef Knife, Straight Back, Black

A serious knife for serious kitchen work.  Durable and functional, this professional quality knife is forged from a single piece of stainless steel and ice-hardened to retain sharpness. 

Designed for the chef that uses both the rocking motion of Western style of cutting and the Asian chopping motion, this blade is versatile enough to go from slicing and dicing meat and fish to chopping herbs and cutting vegetables.  Washing and sanitizing in between, of course. 

18.

Wustof | Classic Chef Knife, Black

Yes, another knife.  Trust us, your chef wants more than one.  Wusthof's Classic Chef knife is sure to please even the most discerning gourmet.  Who wouldn't want a knife from Solingen, Germany - a place known for centuries, yes, I said centuries, as "The City of Blades." 

Forty steps.  That what goes into taking a piece of WÜSTOF steel into a quality knife. Crafted to last a lifetime, the full tang and handle are triple-riveted for strength; the full bolter and finger guard for safety and comfort.