By Sono Motoyama
From Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A gift for people who are culinarily obsessed should respect their special interest while upping their game. It ought to be useful, yes, but maybe a tad more expensive than they might normally spend for an item themselves.
The Gray Kunz sauce spoon is named after the legendary chef, best known for his work at New York’s (now closed) Lespinasse. The implement he designed has been called “the Rolls-Royce of spoons” and has even been featured on the FX series “The Bear.” Pittsburgh private chef Emily Larsen says it’s ideal for stirring, portioning, and saucing, with its relatively wide and deep bowl. Some chefs use it to flip meat or fish in a pan or form quenelles. At $14, it’s more than you would usually shell out for a single spoon, “which is what makes it a great gift,” Larsen says. (jbprince.com) $14
The Gray Kunz sauce spoon is named after the legendary chef, best known for his work at New York's (now closed) Lespinasse. The implement he designed has been called "the Rolls-Royce of spoons" and has even been featured on the FX series "The Bear." Handout/JB Prince/TNS
This is what I’m putting on my list for Santa this year. I’ve heard for years about the heirloom quality of Rancho Gordo beans, but I can’t quite bring myself to pay a premium for, well, dried beans. The company has a variety of gift boxes, but the Rancho Gordo Deluxe Gift Box comes with its highly praised new book, “The Bean Book.” (ranchogordo.com) $64.95
If you know someone in a part of the country sadly deprived of a Primanti Bros. or Prantl’s Bakery, the food-delivery company Goldbelly can fix that. The Primanti Bros. Pastrami Sandwich Pack comes with the fixings to feed four people—including bread, meat, cheese, hot sauce, two tomatoes, french fries, and coleslaw. Shipping sandwiches across the country frankly strikes me as a dubious idea, except for the desperately homesick. A better idea might be to send a Prantl’s burnt almond torte ($86), which serves up to 10 people. It arrives frozen, with instructions on how to revive it. Of course, if you and your giftee both live in Pittsburgh, you can pick up and deliver these items fresh yourself, no assembly or defrosting required. (goldbelly.com) $100.
Charles Viancin airtight lids are made of silicone and available in different diameters and styles. They are practical, economical, and attractive. Plop, for example, this 11-inch daisy atop your bowl, and you'll keep your food fresh in the refrigerator while saving on plastic wrap. The lids can also be used to cover pots on the stove, in the microwave, and to shield food from insects at picnics. (charlesviancin.com) $22
If the chef on your list is struggling with a dull-edged box grater they bought at a discount store, up their game with a Microplane Classic Zester and Grater. The thin shape and sharp edges are excellent for zesting citrus, grating cheese, or sprinkling a lovely dusting of chocolate shavings over a dessert. Penn Fixture & Supply also has a variety of other Microplane tools, as well as a multitude of items a chef’s heart might desire (knives, spatulas, sieves, inexpensive sheet pans in every size). If you’re preparing a holiday meal, you might want to equip your own kitchen here, too.(microplane.com) $18
I don’t speak a lick of Polish, but I’m willing to bet the ranch that Ceramika Artystyczna’s name means “artistic ceramics.” And indeed, its hard-working stoneware is also attractive, going easily from oven to table. Festooned in brightly colored, hand-painted folkloric designs, the company’s bakeware is safe for microwaves, ovens, dishwashers, and freezers. The Crimson Bells Collection medium round baker with handles is an 8 1/4 -inch baking dish. (ceramikaartystyczna.com) $38
Copyright 2024 PG Publishing Co. Visit at post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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