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Gifts for Foodies


Ilaine

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I like the term "foodie" - a term which encompasses gourmets, gourmands, conscious eaters, those who eat for fun, and everybody in between.

Looking for stocking stuffers for sons and their girlfriends.

#1 son and girlfriend are moving in together.  Girlfriend has had her own apartment for years, son had his own apartment for a while and has been living with us.  They have the basics, although maybe not really good kitchen knives.

#1 son just realized he likes parmesan.  He never would eat parmigiano reggiano, I never knew why.  Turns out he assumed it tastes like the stuff in the little green cans, although I have never had a little green can in my house.  Think I will give girlfriend a Microplane grater, not sure what else.  Maybe tuck a block of well wrapped parmesan in his stocking.

But would like more suggestions.  What is a very good kitchen knife as a starter knife?  What other little gadgets do you think are nice and also useful?

#2 son loves freshly roasted Kona coffee.  His girlfriend is giving him a drip press for Christmas.  Are there any good coffee roasters around here?

Any local chocolate makers?

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I like the term "foodie" - a term which encompasses gourmets, gourmands, conscious eaters, those who eat for fun, and everybody in between.

Looking for stocking stuffers for sons and their girlfriends.

#1 son and girlfriend are moving in together.  Girlfriend has had her own apartment for years, son had his own apartment for a while and has been living with us.  They have the basics, although maybe not really good kitchen knives.

#1 son just realized he likes parmesan.  He never would eat parmigiano reggiano, I never knew why.  Turns out he assumed it tastes like the stuff in the little green cans, although I have never had a little green can in my house.  Think I will give girlfriend a Microplane grater, not sure what else.  Maybe tuck a block of well wrapped parmesan in his stocking.

But would like more suggestions.  What is a very good kitchen knife as a starter knife?  What other little gadgets do you think are nice and also useful?

#2 son loves freshly roasted Kona coffee.  His girlfriend is giving him a drip press for Christmas.  Are there any good coffee roasters around here?

Any local chocolate makers?

Artisan Confections in Clarendon for the chocolates.

People have strong opinions about coffees, and I'm not all that qualified to offer an expert opinion.  Vigilante would be one prominent local roaster.  They have a subscription option, which might be cool. They don't show Kona among the products, though.

For small things, what about a really good pepper grinder?  In addition to hand grinders, I have a Peugeot battery-operated one my husband got me for Christmas years ago after seeing one that friends had.  At first I was unsure what the benefit was over manual, but it's a pretty cool item, with a light on it as well.  The light goes out long before the batteries need to be replaced, but that's my first warning to check my stock of batteries.

An oil mister?  I've never managed to make good use of my Misto.  While I don't think it's perfectly designed (and it's overpriced), I like my Evo one better.

If neither one owns one, a kitchen scale is quite useful.  My Salter scale has lasted quite a long time. longer than whatever the one was I had before it.

Silicon oven mitts are another idea that comes to mind.  I don't need them much and they can be a bit unwieldy, but they cut down on burns.

If they don't have a stock of kitchen towels, that's a stocking stuffer kind of thing, especially if you know the colors of the kitchen.

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I am a knife nut. For starter knives, I like Kiwi knives, Thai brand from Importfood.com, & the brightly colored Komachi knives, recently purchased from Costco. You can use the inexpensive IKEA magnetic holders for these. Once you want better knives, my 2 favorite sources are Japanesechefsknives.com & Korin.com, they have a large selection, w/ good introductory brands being Hiromoto, Togiharu, & JCK. For nicer knives, I like Mag-Blok knife holders from Benchcrafted.com. Once you fall down this rabbit hole, you might not come back up...my kids know if they use certain knives, they have to wash & dry after use, & put them back, & they do that 95% of the time. When Tom moved out, he took a huge set of Kiwi knives- I knew he would look after knives, but his housemates probably wouldn't. He also took the battery powered s&p grinders I received from my wonderful MIL, much to his sister's dismay.

I'm also partial to gifts of wooden cutting boards, bowls, & utensils (& as a tiki fan, I have lots of Koa trays & bowls). Oh, who am I kidding?-I have TONS of random cooking gadgets & rarely discard anything, I try to rotate stuff. & kitchen towels (Pat, I should have read your post first), I just got a really cute one from WS, black cotton, 'Tres Sheep' (I love sheep, too).

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for a little stocking stuffer, I love love love my little silicone pastry brushes.  It's not something I would have thought to buy for myself, but a caterer friend gave me a pair and now I give them as gifts because I like mine so much.

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Like thistle, I'm partial to serving bowls, and have picked up several that I love at the Annual Ceramics Sale held by The Art League in Alexandria. That sale just happens to be taking place this weekend, starting tomorrow (Dec. 5) at noon. You can find pieces of all sorts (not just bowls) in all shapes, sizes, and colors, at a variety of prices.

While you're in the area, a visit to La Cuisine might provide some inspiration for kitchen gadgets and goodies. They have some nice olive oils, interesting dried beans, and all sorts of utensils/tools.

After a particularly painful and gruesome incident with my Microplane (those edges are pretty damn sharp), I've switched to one of their "Elite" series products. It has no exposed edges and a cover that also works as a measuring cup/catch.

I'm also a fan of Artisan Confections, but wanted to mention that Fleurir Chocolates has a small storefront in Old Town at 724 Jefferson St.

For coffee, M.E. Swing roasts and sells coffee at their Del Ray location on Monroe Ave.

I know you've mentioned elsewhere your 'Penzey's problem' :P, but a small selection of basics would make nice stocking stuffers. Maybe focusing on a theme (bbq, baking, Asian, Indian, etc.)

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I know you've mentioned elsewhere your 'Penzey's problem' :P, but a small selection of basics would make nice stocking stuffers. Maybe focusing on a theme (bbq, baking, Asian, Indian, etc.)

It also occurs to me that you could get spices to go with gadgets; say, whole nutmegs to go with a fine microplane or good peppercorns to go with an electric grinder.

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TJMaxx & HomeGoods are great for finding kitchen stuff you didn't think you needed, but that you covet anyway. I am going to stop going w/ a friend, she always suggests it after lunch, & we go in, she gets nothing, & I end up w/ all kinds of random stuff- 6 pale green Polish champagne flutes, anyone?

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I took a class at Artisan Chocolates a few years ago, & had one of the spookiest experiences of my life- driving home on the GW parkway, it wasn't that late, maybe 9:30, but there was no one else on the road, no lights, I thought everyone else had been annihilated.

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When my daughter left her dorm after her freshman year at UNC and moved off-campus, I bought her a knife roll, a Furi knife and a sharpener, a paring knife, a serrated knife and a selection of basic cooking tools that fit into the slots of the knife roll. I also gave her a few old Calphalon pots that I had retired in favor of All-Clads. She has since developed a real interest in cooking, and every year at Christmas, I've been gifting her with cookbooks and a piece of All-Clad or a small appliance--KitchenAid food processor, blender. So, gradually, she is acquiring a batterie de cuisine that should last her for many years. Last year, I found an 8 quart Staub enamel cast iron Dutch oven at a garage sale for her, like new for $50. I bought us a new espresso machine for Christmas last year, and gave her the old one, which still worked fairly well, but was beat up and leaked out of the milk steaming vent--which she thought was the best thing I could have given her.

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Coffee roasters:

Qualia in Petworth; the freshest beans anywhere
Vigilante sold at Glen's Garden market, Blind Dog, and a bunch of others that I can't quite remember

Ceremony sold in many places, including Filter, though the bag doesn't say Ceremony and the beans are very expensive there

Zeke's at various farmers markets

there are more depending on your definition of "local"

it's been a long time since I've seen anyone offer Kona beans, though

a good quality bean grinder is essential, though that is beyond the scope of "stocking stuffer"

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Coffee roasters:

Qualia in Petworth; the freshest beans anywhere

Vigilante sold at Glen's Garden market, Blind Dog, and a bunch of others that I can't quite remember

Ceremony sold in many places, including Filter, though the bag doesn't say Ceremony and the beans are very expensive there

Zeke's at various farmers markets

there are more depending on your definition of "local"

it's been a long time since I've seen anyone offer Kona beans, though

a good quality bean grinder is essential, though that is beyond the scope of "stocking stuffer"

If you want even more "local" I am loving the beans from Karlaca coffee . The beans are Colombian but the company is based out of DC and is something of a start up at this point.

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My step-mom used to ask me for a food I liked that Pooch didn't cook and then the gift to us was recipe, tools, ingredients for that item - for example Creme Bruele :  Torch, ramakins, high quality vanilla...

Each year at thanksgiving I ask our friends what the newest kitchen gadget / tool they got that they can't live without.  Epicurean washable cutting boards, ball bearing whisk, stackable cooling racks, jelly roll pan/wire rack combo for making bacon...

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If you want even more "local" I am loving the beans from Karlaca coffee . The beans are Colombian but the company is based out of DC and is something of a start up at this point. 

ooh, thanks for the tip! I will definitely be trying that.  But I have to point out that for freshness, you can't beat Qualia.  Walk in around 11 am any day and you'll have a choice of beans that were roasted that very morning, about fifteen feet away from the shelf on which they're displayed.  For me, the single most important factor in brewing a good cup of coffee at home is the freshness of the beans (and after that, how they're roasted, and third, variety).  I drive to Petworth every five or six days just to buy beans from Qualia.

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I like the term "foodie" - a term which encompasses gourmets, gourmands, conscious eaters, those who eat for fun, and everybody in between.

Looking for stocking stuffers for sons and their girlfriends.

#1 son and girlfriend are moving in together.  Girlfriend has had her own apartment for years, son had his own apartment for a while and has been living with us.  They have the basics, although maybe not really good kitchen knives.

#1 son just realized he likes parmesan.  He never would eat parmigiano reggiano, I never knew why.  Turns out he assumed it tastes like the stuff in the little green cans, although I have never had a little green can in my house.  Think I will give girlfriend a Microplane grater, not sure what else.  Maybe tuck a block of well wrapped parmesan in his stocking.

But would like more suggestions.  What is a very good kitchen knife as a starter knife?  What other little gadgets do you think are nice and also useful?

#2 son loves freshly roasted Kona coffee.  His girlfriend is giving him a drip press for Christmas.  Are there any good coffee roasters around here?

Any local chocolate makers?

Son #1 Ok, so here are my ideas: I love my small Global sanotoku knife, but it's more than stocking stuffer price.  But I love it.  For stocking stuffers, I love the microplane idea.  Also whoever said silicone baster, that is a good one.  I bought a small pairing knife with a cover in Australia and it's so handy when you are camping or having a picnic, etc.  I probably could live without my Adam's steak seasoning, but life wouldn't be as nice.  I scoffed at my husband when he bought me a melon baller, but I use it way more than I ever would have thought for things other than melon balling.  I also have a really thin cookie spatula I really like.  And I use my frosting spatula.  Homegoods is a great place for this sort of thing.  I was just recently at Bed Bath and Beyond in Pentagon City then wandered to Sur La Table and World Market and it was like foodie stocking heaven.  But if you are in Old Town between La Cuisine, Alexandria Tea and Spice and Sur La Table you should be pretty good to go, as well.  La Cuisine has these suede pot holders and mitts that are super awesome, it's one of my favorite things in my kitchen. You could also grab some real vanilla, etc.  Someone also got me some part wooden part plastic spoon that are pretty enough to serve with on a casual evening, but sturdy enough to cook with that I really like.  If you live in Alexandria, I know they have a Fresh Market up on 7/Braddock that is a good place for foodie stocking stuffers too.

Son #2 Agreed to go to Artisan Confections (Santa, please tell my Husband to do this, as well).  I actually LOVE their bags of discs of chocolate they are prefect to just eat one or two in the afternoon.  Not that anything there isn't tasty.  Sorry I don't drink coffee often, so I am not good on that.  

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ooh, thanks for the tip! I will definitely be trying that.  But I have to point out that for freshness, you can't beat Qualia.  Walk in around 11 am any day and you'll have a choice of beans that were roasted that very morning, about fifteen feet away from the shelf on which they're displayed.  For me, the single most important factor in brewing a good cup of coffee at home is the freshness of the beans (and after that, how they're roasted, and third, variety).  I drive to Petworth every five or six days just to buy beans from Qualia.

Karlaca roasts their beans in DC. I'm sure if you emailed them you could get the freshest batch they've roasted. I love their beans. No bitterness, mild acidity. I've only made them as a pour over/chemex and a cold brew (both quick and soak methods) but been very happy with the results.

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I need help. Are wine clubs a good thing? Trying to think of a Christmas gift for my son and I'm not sure if this is something worthwhile. Are the wines you get good wines? How do you pick a good club?

We are members of certain wineries we like, and they ship us wine (Hahn (disclosure the owners are friends), Mountfair, Paradise Springs (white wines only).  We have bought a couple 3 month subscriptions through various sites for discounted wine clubs (Groupon, etc.).  We did the Wall street Journal one and liked it, I can't remember the others.  There is a website that reviews wine clubs that might help too?  http://best-wine-clubs.wineclubreviews.net/overall

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We are members of certain wineries we like, and they ship us wine (Hahn (disclosure the owners are friends), Mountfair, Paradise Springs (white wines only).  We have bought a couple 3 month subscriptions through various sites for discounted wine clubs (Groupon, etc.).  We did the Wall street Journal one and liked it, I can't remember the others.  There is a website that reviews wine clubs that might help too?  http://best-wine-clubs.wineclubreviews.net/overall

Thank you, I'll check it out. I got an email from the Michael Mina Wine Club. Are you familiar with it?

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I need help. Are wine clubs a good thing? Trying to think of a Christmas gift for my son and I'm not sure if this is something worthwhile. Are the wines you get good wines? How do you pick a good club?

We are members of several wine clubs. We've been debating joining the Enoteca Pitti wine club for awhile now but haven't as yet pulled the trigger. It is EXPENSIVE but intriguing if you are into esoteric Italian bottles.

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Just to add to this, despite it being post-Christmas.  Calvert-Woodley sells kona coffee beans, around $18.99 per pound.

Wonder how fresh they are? I had kona coffee on the Big Island years ago that I still remember but Konas I've had in the states haven't been the same. One prominent local roaster convinced me of the answer to this puzzle. Freshness matters. :-)

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