Cooks always need one more gadget, one more tool, one more amazing pot or beautiful board. Start with these seven great (mostly local) ideas for the cooks on your shopping list.
Custom Knives
There is no tool more important in a cook’s arsenal than a really good knife. Or two. Give your favourite cook a blade that’s a cut above the rest — either a damascened Japanese knife from Vancouver’s Knifewear (knifewear.com) or one that’s custom made just for you by Leechtown Blacksmith north of Sooke.
A Stunning Salad Bowl
Give your greens a glow-up with these beautiful wooden bowls in maple, red alder, walnut or dogwood, made by Qualicum Beach artist Richard Porter. (He also makes pretty and practical salad servers to go with.) They’re available through Salish Sea Market in Bowser.
Pasta Tools
A hand-turned mattarello (in maple, beech or walnut) or a bronze pasta cutter with burled wood handle is an ideal gift for anyone whose idea of a perfect Sunday afternoon is to make tagliatelle from scratch. Find them through Nonna’s Wood Shop in Mission.
A Beautiful Board
If you have a good knife, you need a good cutting board, preferably an end-grain one. (End grain boards are firmer, more durable and more scratch resistant.) Check out the gorgeous ones made up Island by West Coast Boards — woodworker Ryan Hawkins crafts them from hardwoods such as maple, walnut and cherry in mesmerizing zig-zag and other patterns.
Better Beeswax
If you invest in good boards and bowls, you should also invest in a good product to preserve them. The choice for many pros is Clapham’s Beeswax Products from Salt Spring Island.
Wrap It Up
If you’re looking for a smart stocking stuffer, the bright, cheerful beeswax food wraps from Victoria’s own Nature Bee are fun, practical and good for the environment.
The Finishing Touch
Flaked sea salt from the waters around Vancouver Island is the perfect finishing salt; its crystals are hollow pyramids that last longer on the surface of food than finer salts, adding texture, crunch and a delicate saline note to any dish. Make like a chef and order the kilo-size bucket from Vancouver Island Sea Salt.
Looking for more ways to make your holiday season extra special? Along with the perfect gifts for cooks, we’ve got tips to help you enjoy a stress-free, fun-filled holiday.
If you want to keep things simple this season, A Simply Wonderful Christmastime is packed with easy tips for creating a relaxed, memorable holiday—without the chaos.
If you’re ready to take your holiday meals to the next level, check out Pasta, Perfected. It shows you how to make pasta from scratch, with a little help from the new kitchen tools above.