Culinary Escapade

photo credit: Alex Ling

Now that everyone is stuffed full of turkey, we can now turn our attention to the yuletide season. Do you have a foodie friend that you just don’t know that to give them for Christmas? Have no fear, yours truly has scoured the internet on your behalf for suitable items for wrapping and for the Xmas stocking.

This is part one of the series, all about gadgets, dinner/cookware and appliances. There are two other parts, the next installment will be actually food items and the third one will be all about books.

Fred M-Cups Measuring Matroyshkas

These are not only decorative, but also space saving measuring cups. The M-Cups hold 6 dry-measure cups nesting neatly into each other just like the Matroyshka dolls of Russian folklore. They make for an original and practical gift. You can purchase the M-Cups here.

Koziol Design Rollmops Tube Squeezer

Do you get annoyed by the fact that you cannot get those last drops of tomato or anchovy paste out of the tube? I know it annoys me to end. Designed by German designer Koziol, these tube tools are great stocking stuffers and add splashes of color to your kitchen. Come to think of it you can use it for your toothpaste tube as well. Get it here.

SuckUk Ceramic Noodle Cup

This is a cool gift for a fan of ramen noodles. Not only is this high on the cool retro meter, it is a reusable ceramic cup. My stereotype of the noodle slurping gaming geek is coming out. I am getting myself one. You can order it here.

Table Grill by Eva Solo

This one is a little on the more expensive side at $340. However, it is pretty cool for summer. Think of it as a fondue pot, except it is summer and you are grilling instead. I love communal eating experiences. If you feel like splurging on someone special, this may be a gift to consider. You can get it here.

Brooklyn Brew Shop Kits

Do you know a beer lover? Sure anyone can go to the corner store and get beer, but how many can boast having brewed it themselves? It is designed with small New York appartments in mind, so it is good for those with a cramped kitchen. The kits come with :

• 1 Gallon Glass Jug
• 3 Piece Chambered Airlock
• Drilled Rubber Stopper with Blow-Off Attachment
• Tubing Clamp
• Racking Cane
• 4′ Clear Plastic Tubing
• 12″ Laboratory Thermometer
• Sanitizer
• Thorough instructions for those whodon’t know what most of the things listed above are for yet.

This is a great gift for the DIY person and if they are a food blogger, it makes for great blog fodder. Mmmm I think I just might do that. You can see their full offerings here.

Gourmet Sous Chef Outdoor Oven & Smoker

Also not cheap, but definitely something to consider for the meat lover in your life. It can smoke up to 38 pounds of meat and is fully insulated. Available here.

Cherry Chomper

Everyone who has ever had to make cherry pie or olive tapenade knows what a tedious task pitting is. This may be a mess free solution to the problem. The best part is that it is kid-friendly so you can have your children help make that cherry pie. Get it here.

Handpresso

This one is one of my favorites. The idea of being able to make a cup of espresso anywhere without needing a clunky espresso machine is great. It pumps to 16 bars of pressure and apparently makes cafe-quality espresso, cappuccino, Americano, and latte. You can purchase it here.

Waring Pro Pro Drink Mixer

For milkshake lovers, this is an ideal gift. Now they can mix their own milkshakes at home the same way they do in their favorite ice cream shop. It can also be used to froth eggs for fluffy omelets or blend pancake batter. Buy it here.

Trudeau Pot Clips

This one is a good stocking stuffer. You can never have too many of these. They eliminate the need for a spoon rest and worse yet, dirty counters. They are practical, dishwasher safe and have high-heat resistant silicone (up to 600ºF/260°C) which remains cool to the touch. Order them here

Stay tuned for part deux in a few days.
Edit: Part 2 is now up. See it here.