Rachel’s Kitchen Gift Guide 2019 – 11 of the best
What can you get for someone in your life who loves cooking?
2019, here’s my shortlist.
- Alison Roman, Nothing Fancy
This cookbook is full of inspirational recipes for having people over. My favourite part is her reference to casually cooking up some lamb chops ‘for the table’ as an additional little something. Her style is flawless and the recipes are wonderful.
https://www.waterstones.com/book/nothing-fancy/alison-roman/9781743795378
- An amazing Chef’s knife.
Everyone should have one, and the best ones will last a lifetime.
If you come to a class, I am selling these Wusthof 20cm Chef’s knives for just £95. These or 20cm Chef’s knives by Global or Henckels are similarly priced, incredibly well made and are a gift for life.
- A good-sized chopping board.
Make it as big as you have surface space for, and make sure it can fit in your sink. The rest is up to you.
It should be sturdy and made of wood or polyethylene, essentially something that will be kind to your knives. Like a cosy armchair, a large chopping board makes everything more comfortable.
- A digital thermometer for nervous meat cooks.
How do you know when the chicken is ready? Stick the probe into the thickest part and google the temperature that you’re looking for. Then you’ll know. The same goes for all meats, and takes away the worry of undercooking/overcooking the turkey too.
Superfast Thermapen Thermometer
- Great panetonne
It says Christmas to me. And you can make this Bread and Butter pudding with any leftovers, so buy the biggest one you can find.
https://www.souschef.co.uk/collections/panettone
- A Rachel’s Kitchen voucher – they’re the best!
Join a group class or book in a private class with a bespoke menu. The choice is yours, but the lucky recipient will leave with new skills under their belt, increased confidence in the kitchen, plenty of tips and tricks to take away, and the best bit? If you book a private class for 1 person, it’s the same price for you to join in too!
- A pestle and mortar.
I use mine for grinding spices, making spice pastes, mincing lots of garlic. It’s not an essential for those with the most limited cupboard space, and they are generally heavy, but when I need a pestle and mortar, I’m glad it’s there.
https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-honed-grey-marble-pestle-and-mortar/p2123430
- Bee Wilson, The Way We Eat Now.
Everything Bee Wilson writes is informative and written in such an accessible way that it’s like having a conversation with a friend, although the topics are big ones. This is about how we eat and access food, and how to fix the mess we’re in.
https://wordery.com/the-way-we-eat-now-bee-wilson-9780008240769
- Peugeot pepper mill.
The Peugeot mechanisms are built to last, and the best have an adjustable grind, so you can have coarser or finer pepper depending on what you need. Smart, right?!
https://www.nisbets.co.uk/peugeot-bistro-white-pepper-mill-4in/gn545
- An Anna Jones cookbook.
I’m not sure which cookbook to recommend because I have a few and I love them all. All vegetarian, with a focus on flavour, plenty of vegetables, and some healthier baking thrown in too.
- Nordic Ware bundt cake tin
Full disclaimer: This is actually on MY list! But for those who love to bake, the amazing shapes of these bundt tins are hard to resist. They’re also solid, great quality cake tins that will last a lifetime.
https://www.nordicware.com/bakeware/classic-sized-bundts
See you next year!
Rachel
