Holiday Gift Guide Advice
by Mike Kimel
Holiday Gift Guide Advice
Megan McArdle just put out what she calls the “Holiday Gift Guide 2011: Kitchen Edition. Not surprisingly, it doesn’t contain the sort of things that I (or I think, most Americans) would likely buy. A Chinois, a KitchenAid KICA0WH Ice Cream Maker Attachment (which apparently is only useful if you know the giftee already has a KitchenAid stand mixer), and of course, a $1,500 Thermomix. To be honest, I had no idea what most of the stuff on the list actually is. We have a fairly large kitchen in our house, but I imagine if we owned half the stuff on McArdle’s list we’d need to get rid of the microwave, the fridge, and the oven to get around, creating more space for all these specialized kitchen tools. While Megan McArdle’s kitchen gift guide may be intriguing for cooking enthusiasts or professional chefs, it’s essential to consider the practicality and relevance of such items for the average person, as there are different kind of gifts depending on who you’re giving a gift to, for example if you’re giving a gift to your girlfriend or wife following the jewellery gifts for her could be the best choice for you.
Here are a few perspectives and potential alternatives to consider:
- Everyday Essentials:
- Instead of highly specialized tools, consider gifting practical, everyday kitchen essentials. Quality knives, durable cookware, and versatile utensils are often appreciated by home cooks.
- Experience Gifts:
- Consider giving the gift of experiences, such as cooking classes or gourmet food tours. This allows the recipient to enjoy learning new culinary skills or exploring unique flavors without cluttering their kitchen with gadgets.
- Personalized Gifts:
- Opt for personalized items like engraved cutting boards, custom aprons, or monogrammed kitchen towels. These add a personal touch to the kitchen and can be both meaningful and functional.
- Subscription Services:
- Explore subscription services that deliver high-quality ingredients, unique spices, or curated kitchen gadgets to the recipient’s doorstep. This way, they can enjoy new culinary experiences without accumulating unnecessary tools.
- Upgrade Existing Appliances:
- Instead of introducing entirely new gadgets, consider upgrading existing kitchen appliances. For example, if the recipient loves making smoothies, a high-quality blender could be a thoughtful and practical gift.
- Cookbooks by Favorite Chefs:
- Choose cookbooks from renowned chefs or those featuring cuisines the recipient is interested in exploring. This provides inspiration for new recipes and enhances their culinary skills. Moreover, they may also visit https://makeadish.net/ for more healthy and delicious recipes!
Remember, the best gifts are those that align with the recipient’s interests and lifestyle. While specialized kitchen tools can be exciting for some, it’s crucial to gauge whether they fit into the daily life of the person you’re gifting. Practicality and personalization often make for the most thoughtful presents.
As an economist, I would suggest seeking out more practical advice.
Don’t forget to get the kid the Bear Gryllis survival knife.
On a more practical note, a large iron skillet is our high tech kitchen untensil of choice. Still the greatest invention ever.
The list is useless without a Sous Vide setup on it. I love to cook, and refuse to use a microwave. Stove and oven can do it all, except I do have a deep fryer. Oh and a crock pot is key for any kitchen.
Sous Vide
http://www.sousvidesupreme.com/Department.aspx?DeptID=1&AdID=157
Iron skillet do rock. Start dish on stove top, then pop in the oven to finish it.
i knew there was a good reason i didnt click on that mcardle link when i saw it yesterday…
Srsly, a chinois? Oh, Megan, what ARE you cooking? NancyO
I like to cook too, but I like to do it in the woods, with no electricity and only a camping stove, grill and open campfire for heat sources. Baking is very ticky, but you can do some pretty gourmet things under those conditions. Last spring my appetizer was crab served in pitted avacado halves, my main course was marinated ahi tuna steaks grilled medium rare with fingerling potatoes fried in a bit of olive oil, then mashed with fresh lemons and steamed brocoli. For desert we did bananas foster. Other than a cutting board, a knife, a couple of spoons and some pots and 2 cast iron skillets, no other utensils were needed. Of course all 10 of my buddies were wearing camo.
terrie,
I’m starting to sense a theme here. Megan McArdle said nothing about ghillie suits. General JC was against them. You and your buddies wore camo instead. I’m guessing the moral of the story is that if that I want to do any cooking, there’s no benefit to wearing a ghillie suit.
I think you are right. Understand that I do a camping trip with some buddies in April every year and in Wisconsin, April weather is generally not that great. A lot of my pals have warm clothing designed for hunting which happens to be camo. I think the issue is warmth and water proofing and I must confess I have no idea how a ghillie suit would stack up.
With a proper Dutch oven a very high quality pineapple upside down cake is one of my favorite camping desserts. Less sophisticated but still yummy is the old stand by cobbler.
I have a nice dutch oven with legs perfect for camp cooking and a cast iron grill for anyone who is within driving distance and wants them. I’m in Thomasville GA. If you’re interested, leave a note here and we can get in touch. The dutch oven is not very old, but it was in the attic of this house when I bought it. The house itself is about 100 years old and is a nice example of Southern houses of the period. FYI. NancyO
PS. I’ll bet my PUD cake is better’n yours. Uh huh, betcha. NO