Christmas Gift Ideas for Foodies

What kitchen gadget or food find do you have or use that you cannot live without and would be a perfect gift for a foodie and costs under $50? (How's that for a run-on sentence!)

Christmas is coming, people ... start throwing out suggestions!

A gift basket full of nifty gourmet items. We do that every year for my in-laws, who live in Wyoming. We send them all kinds of nifty stuff that they can't get in Wyoming.

LOL, you know this was a topic of conversation at my families dinner on Friday.......

I have declaired if I can't eat it or wear it, I don't need it.

That being said, Highlands coffee beans, fun cheeses, sweet treats from local confectioniers (ie. Dundee), just to throw out a few fun ideas.

I've already gotten my brother's wish list from California...
Smoked fish from Shuckmans, Wisenburger (sp) corn muffin mix, country ham biscuit size slices (and bacon), local honey and blackberry jam, goat cheese from Indiana and a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle. And my home made Christmas cookies and bourbon balls.

Okay - I have a friend (hard to buy for), who is a foodie and a cook, but doesn't like foodstuffs or gift card as gifts. I'm at a loss - any suggestions?

Okay - I have a friend (hard to buy for), who is a foodie and a cook, but doesn't like foodstuffs or gift card as gifts. I'm at a loss - any suggestions?

Not to sound like a smart-a@@, but how can one be a foodie, and not like getting food as a gift???????? That's beyond my grasp.

[Robin Garr]

If they don't have these already, a stick blender and a digital kitchen scale are both kitchen toys, er, tools that I didn't realize were essential until I got them for myself. If your friends don't have these, either would be a no-brainer in your general price range.

Okay - I have a friend (hard to buy for), who is a foodie and a cook, but doesn't like foodstuffs or gift card as gifts. I'm at a loss - any suggestions?

Depending on what you want to spend, maybe a nice serving platter or bowl, if the friend entertains. I can never have too many pretty bowls and platters. Or a particularly nice pot/pan, something like that. If you can get a good deal on ebay, even better. Maybe a pretty pitcher of some variety? Does your friend collect anything?

I like the scale idea too, especially for a baker. And even though digital is nice, even a standard scale works beautifully, and in fact it's what I use. I've got two, one for smaller stuff and a larger one for the bakery. I couldn't live without my scales.

Keep 'em comin', folks! I'm planning on printing this list and taking it with me over the weekend!!!!

Every cook everywhere wants a new pan as a gift, no matter how many they already have. How about a new omelet pan or a new everyday anodized aluminum saute pan?

Or how about this?

What about......
- A REALLY nice bottle of balsamic vinegar
- Saffron
- Kitchen shears - My favorite tool (someone had to give them to me for me to understand their usefulness)
- A new cutting board (it's nice to have multiples when others are dirty)
- A monogrammed apron
- Anything grill related like cedar planks, apple wood chips, extra long tongs or a new grill brush (we go through them quickly)
- A spice grinder & spices
- The Williams-Sonoma catalogue has this neat little "filled pancake pan" for $39.95. You could get them the pancake mix to complete the gift. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/srch/ind ... ancake+pan

I like the idea of a gadget basket, but what MUST be included is a "Y" peeler, I noticed that a lot of people do not use one, and they make peeling a breeze.

Also, yes, the digital scale Myweigh.com is a must!

Campbell's gourmet cottage has some nice platters!

Check out these web sites:

http://ori.msnbc.msn.com/id/15938965/
http://gardenofeatingblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/green-gifts-for-foodies.html
http://nymag.com/guides/holidays/gifts/2008/52175/
http://www.slashfood.com/2006/12/12/slashfood-ate-8-great-gifts-for-foodies/

Sorry, Heather, my "Y" peeler has been sitting in the drawer unused since the first time I tried it. I now have two digital scales and don't use either (but then I'm not a baker and I think it would be required for baking precision). However, I did thank my friends who gave them to me profusely. I do go with Robin's suggestion about the stick blender, but then I have had one for at least ten years if not longer. "Don't most foodies have them by now?" asks she who has yet to get a food processor. Personally, I think kitchen gadgets just take up space until they make their way to the space above the refrigerator.

My favorite "foodie" gifts that I have received have been a bamboo cutting board and balsamic vinegars. In my opinion, one can never have too many balsamic vinegars.

Leann, Gayle, et al ...

Can you be specific on which balsamic vinegars you like?
I'm clueless (and have many friends that will verify that!)

The last one that I got that I really liked is called Rubio Aceto Balsamico di Modena. I couldn't find it for sale online with a Google search. I got it as a gift from Nancy Inman. Since she also posts here, maybe she will come on with details as to where you can purchase/order it.