2014 Holiday Gift Guide

 Looking For That Unique Gift For Your Favorite Cook?

It’s that time of year again when you urgently try to find the perfect gift for that someone special who loves to cook but they have every gadget imaginable. Well, The Reluctant Gourmet is hear to help you find something new and different this year if there is really such a thing.

Here are a few of my favorite things this year that I wouldn’t mind showing up under my tree or in my stocking. Let me know what’s on your lists this year in the comments section below.

On My 2014 List

Top Shelf Living – Slate Cheese Board Set

I purchased one of these slate cheese stones at Amazon to give to my wife this year. We serve a lot of cheese and nuts and crackers at dinner parties and thought this would be a great addition to our serving boards and plates. It arrived wrapped in bubble wrap and is quite heavy. You have to be careful because the edges are sharp.

It says it is “food safe slate”, whatever that means. It comes with soapstone chalk and is made and designed in the USA. Hurrah!!.

The retail price is quite high but I purchased it at Amazon for over 35% off. I don’t know why you couldn’t go to a place that sells stone and marble and pick up a piece for much less. Maybe it is the “soapstone” chalk that brings up the price. Here’s what one reviewer said about the slate cheese board at Amazon,

“This cheese board is great for serving any type of appetizer at parties. I love the rustic look and the unfinished edges, plus it comes with a piece of chalk so you can actually write on the slate if you were serving different types of cheeses and wanted to differentiate them. It is very sturdy and cleans up well with warm water and a little dish soap. I can’t wait to use it more!”

Learn more about it at Slate Cheese Board Set

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Olive Themed Ceramic Olive Server

I also purchased a very cool olive server at Amazon but they are now sold out. I did find this one to share with you that looks just as good, maybe even better than the one I bought for my wife. It looks very Tuscan and is a great way to serve olive to your friends with a second chamber for the pits.

Learn more about this Ceramic Olive Server

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Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler

Popular this year is this 5-in-1 griller from Cuisinart. You can use it as a “contact grill, panini press, full grill, full griddle, and half grill/half griddle” according to the marketing blurb. Was not sure what the difference between a contact grill and a full grill was until I read the rest of the marketing material but I guess 5-in-1 sounds better than 4-in-1.

Turns out if you cook a burger with both the bottom and top grills like you do with a panini press, it’s called a contact grill. If you open it up so both the bottom and top grills are lying flat, it’s called full grill. Flip the plates over to flat without ridges and you have a full griddle.  Looks very versitle to me and I’ve own many Cuisinart products over the years and they hold up well.

One reviewer on Amazon said, “I have used the panini side of the plates for making sandwiches and the griddle side for pancakes, and both work well.”

I wonder how you do all this grilling inside. Where does all the smoke go? I guess you have to use it near an exhaust fan.

Learn more about this 5-in-1 Griddler

 

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Chicago Cutlery Forged 18-Piece Knife Block Set – Stainless Steel

I own a couple of Chicago Cutlery knives that I picked up at a Sears store years and years ago. They looked so inviting and were so cheap, I couldn’t resist. I still have them and they still hold an edge. I do like my expensive, fancy German named knives but if I were on a budget, I would not hesitate to buy a knife from Chicago Cutlery.

Here you can buy an entire knife set with a 3. 1/4″ parer, 3″ peeler, 5″ utility knife, 7 3/4″ chef’s knife, 8″ slicer, 7 3/4″ bread knife, 5″ partoku knife, 7″ santoku knife, 8″ stainless sharpening steel and a partridge in a pear tree. Just kidding about the partridge but it also comes with 8 – 4 1/4″ steak knives plus a block to hold all the knives.

It is on sale for 56% off so if you want to learn more about this deal go to Amazon Chicago Cutlery Knife Set here.