Gift Ideas

Joy takes over me when December arrives. Christmas is coming, dates I adore: thinking about family meals, those meals that sometimes end up as dinners, and also seeing the children's excitement when they wake up and run to look beside the tree.

This euphoria I live spills over into everything I do, and I can't stop thinking about which gifts will be most suitable for each of my loved ones… because I hadn't said it, but I love giving gifts! I adore thinking of something that will be useful, or that will surprise, or that they will find beautiful… Choosing the ideal gift for each person and each moment. And I must admit it too… it makes me happy to see I've nailed it!

I believe we can all get it right with the gift we're going to give. The most important thing is to think about what the recipient will like. Once you have the profile clear, the only thing missing is ideas. And I think I can help with that, so today I want to talk about store products that can be ideal to give as gifts.

Gift ideas

I'll start with ideas for those who want to give a treat. What could be a treat? Without a doubt, something one wouldn't buy for themselves, but I would recommend choosing pieces that you'll get a lot of use from once you have them. I must encourage you to consider gifting a fondue (from the famous Emile Henry Savoyarde to the Le Creuset cast iron). Giving a crepe maker is another great idea, since many people don't own one and you end up using it a lot. Or I encourage you to think about my little gem: a Chemex, a coffee maker that gives you a clear, pure coffee like no other! (besides being a unique piece of art).

Give a treat: Emile Henry Savoyarde fondue, Le Creuset cast iron crepe maker and Chemex coffee maker

If you're thinking of gifting someone who likes baking, I'd choose to give a pretty mold, a tarte tatin pan or cookie cutters, which come presented in a lovely box. If the budget allows, consider giving a Kitchen Aid! It's every baker's dream.

For baking lovers: Le Creuset ceramic mold, cookie cutters and Kitchen Aid stand mixer

Then there are gifts for people who spend quite a lot of time in the kitchen, and who will appreciate utensils that can become an ally. Without a doubt the Spirelli 2.0. is a hit gift among cooking enthusiasts; as well as a mandoline (it's a hurdle to buy one for yourself, but if you often cook large quantities, you'll definitely get a lot of use out of it).

This section can't miss a good knife: often it receives little attention, when in fact it's the utensil used most in the kitchen. Having a good knife is essential, and it's also a wonderful gift: the vast majority come presented in a pretty box, making them an ideal present. There are many types and categories of knives, so you might want to read the posts where I talked about Kitchen Knives, or you can directly visit the Knives section (if you want to quickly pick something truly different, check out the Kai Japanese knives).

For home cooks: Spirelli 2.0., Kobra mandoline and Kai Japanese knives

Now let's think about gifting kitchen tools that help us cook day to day. The first, without doubt, is an iron casserole, the indulgence of every fan of slow-simmering, long cooking and traditional flavors. Because of its price, it's sometimes hard to buy for oneself, but owning one becomes a dream come true. With them you not only get better flavors thanks to their cooking properties, but you cook happier because you can use it, and it's a lifetime investment, since cast iron cocottes can easily be passed down to our children.

The second utensil I think is very suitable to gift is a wok: we all have frying pans, pots and griddles, but a wok is something often left for later, and that's a shame. Cooking vegetables, meats and fish in a wok is a delight — quick, tasty cooking that will surely make you use it more than you might initially think.

I continue my list of gift ideas, and I think many will agree that gifting a pot may not be the most attractive present for many… I think it's only recommended for people who have a very old or poor-condition cookware set. But gifting a pressure cooker... that's another story! Many would like to have one: you save time and improve the properties and taste of foods, but they have a high cost, so taking advantage of gift-giving is a great excuse to get one. Also now, we have several with significant offers, which I think makes them a very good opportunity.

For lovers of slow-simmering: Le Creuset iron casserole, Le Creuset wok and WMF pressure cooker

Finally I can name a few more products that are also often chosen as gifts. It's up to you to see if they fit the person you need to surprise:

- A teapot is a very recurring gift. Some are really beautiful, you can see them here. You can also pair it with some of the world's best teas, the Kusmi Tea teas we carry in the Pantry section, and it will become a unique gift.

- A tajine, a utensil designed for lovers of slow cooking, who will enjoy its special cooking properties: it keeps foods juicier because the steam from cooking condenses back onto the food.

- Some beautiful and delicious mini cocottes: choose them all in the same color, or each in a different color, and it will be a delightful gift.

- The Set of Le Creuset cups, with a beautiful presentation.

- The jam jar, or the olive jar, real treats.

- The thermal bread box, another indulgence that only those who try it truly appreciate — enjoying warm bread, toast and croissants on the table for a long time! Besides, the bread box is pretty.

Le Creuset teapot, Le Creuset tajine, ceramic mini cocottes, Le Creuset coffee cups, jam jar and Mastrad thermal bread box

- A classic: a cookbook! There are wonderful books, some timeless, others real new discoveries worth exploring. I invite you to take a look.

- If you're just looking for a little something, the Walkers cookie tin, the beautiful Jules Destrooper boxes, the Quarteto Set of special jams, the Kusmi Tea tea sets, or a delicious panettone can be very good options.

Gifts for him

Without dismissing the previous options for guys who are attracted to the world of cooking, I'd now like to take the liberty of talking about gifts that can be ideal for them. I think there are several products they will really like, and I can't miss the chance to say so. First, a Opinel mushroom knife. It's so perfect! I think it's an exquisite gift for those who enjoy going to the woods in autumn or who have that adventurous spirit.

Then there are barbecues. We have both traditional charcoal and gas ones, all of them magnificent! You just have to decide which suits him best.

And the other recurring and very practical gifts are corkscrews and wine cooler sleeves. Regarding corkscrews, Screwpull-Le Creuset is the best in the world (and that's no exaggeration), and any you choose from the brand has been designed for excellent cork extraction. Perhaps, as a gift, it's worth considering those that include a vacuum pump to extend the wine's life; but whether you include it or not, a corkscrew is a very good option.

Gifts for children

Some time ago I wrote a post talking about possible gifts for children. If you're looking for one, I invite you to read it.