Gifts for Cooks Who Have Nearly Everything
Plus restaurant guides galore
For many years while my husband’s Aunt Helen was alive, we got stressed out thinking about what to buy her, her husband and daughter for Christmas. They were a family that had all the material things they wanted, but loved the “oooh” and “aaah” moments after wrapping paper and bows were removed and the Christmas gifts were revealed. Even though they lived in coastal California where the weather was moderate in December, they enjoyed lighting a fire and casting the wrapping paper into the fire for an extra colorful blaze. The fire likely released various harmful particulates that we inhaled. We survived.
The stress of selecting annual gifts for his side of the family was balanced by my side of the family. We didn’t have an active holiday gift exchange program. My parents had long ago told us that they didn’t need us to buy them luxurious things. They just wanted us to come home to spend time with them.
Given that, I got into the habit of gifting my parents and siblings small things, such as kitchen tools that I like, special ingredients that I think may delight them, or homemade food gifts. I do the same for friends.
That’s what I had in mind when I made my 2022 gift list. I’m treating y’all like family and friends.
A detailed description of each of the 18 gift ideas are at my website. If you’d like to skip the extended explanations (they offer backstory and bonus tips) and get to just a list, here it is:
To Open and Scrape with Ease
The sturdy E-Z-DUZ-IT can opener will be always be ready to serve.
Fearlessly tackle difficult lids with Kuhn Rikon strain-free gripper jar opener.
To get at every bit of peanut butter or hoisin sauce, reach for an OXO jar spatula.
To Grate, Stir and Wash Efficiently
The OXO two-fold grater stays sharp and keeps a low profile in a drawer.
This Thai-made teak spatula is thin, light and feels good in the hand.
Wash rice without losing a grain with an Asian rice washing bowl.
To Measure and Brew Like a Boss
Like a good friend and sous chef, the OXO scale is reliable and rarely lies.
The swirly pattern in the Hario pour over coffee maker indeed yields great coffee.
For Seasoning with Confidence
Hands down, Burlap and Barrel, Diaspora Co, and Curio are sourcing some of the highest quality spices from Asia and beyond.
Mala Market’s 10-year-old Baoning black vinegar, Zhongba 1-year-old soy sauce, and roasted rapeseed oil add elegance to many Chinese dishes.
For artisan-made pure nuoc mam, you can’t go wrong with Son or Red Boat.
For Pressing, Steaming or Drying
Metal chef presses apply just enough weight on a steak or veggies for lovely sear.
A handy sub for cutting paper to line Chinese steamers are silicone mesh liners.
It seems flimsy but the retractable drying rack is a fab assistant for washing dishes.
We all have so much these days so it’s the little things that others gift us to express that they thoughtfully consider our interests and lifestyles that matter. A modest gift can be extra valuable. Once again, for extra info on each item mentioned, head to the expanded version of Useful Gifts for Cooks Who Have Nearly Everything on Viet World Kitchen.
Please note that Amazon affiliate links allow me to earn a small referral fee at no extra cost to you. It keeps the fish sauce flowing in my kitchen. Thanks for your support.
Dim Sum in Millbrae
There are plenty of fancy, highbrow dim sum spots but the other day, we met a dear friend, Karen, for lunch at New Asian Pearl Peninsula in Millbrae, a suburb located south of San Francisco near the airport. It was low key with customers who were mostly older and from the neighborhood. The area has a number of northern Chinese dumpling shops but this was the only Cantonese-style dim sum restaurant. You order by marking up a menu, which I love to do because hopefully, the dim sum will come out hot and extra fresh.
A handful of people watched the World Cup and when there was a goal, we all cheered. The dim sum was steamy hot when brought to our table, well made, and generously portioned. The hor fun steamed rice sheets had a tender springy quality that I seldom experience because the sheets are made way in advance and get meh sitting in the dim sum carts as they tour the dining room before they get to me. The very good pork and shrimp siu mai studded with shiitake was big (that’s dyed fish roe on top), and so was the har gow. Everything has been supersized so enjoy them as two or three biters. I would go to New Asian Pearl Peninsula again. There’s plenty free parking in the back and on side streets. It’s easygoing, especially on a weekday for lunch.
LA Restaurants and Michelin Stars
This past week, the Los Angeles Times released its picks of the Best 101 Restaurants. Bill Addison, the newspaper’s critic, also added to the LA Hall of Fame list of modern classics. It used to be that expensive and Euro-centric places got most of the nods from critics but we now live in a more democratic, global food landscape. Whether or not you live in Los Angeles and Orange County, it’s one of the most exciting culinary regions to keep up with.
The New York Times just published a terrific recap of restaurant dishes that their staff found most memorable (couldn’t stop thinking about) in 2022. The dishes and locations run the gamut and cover many places in the country, including Frisco, Texas. (Apologies if you face a paywall for this content. I tried to share the link from my LAT and NYT subscriptions.)
Finally, the Michelin Guide also published its 2022 ratings, which you may search for wherever you may be. But know that Michelin looks for certain things (silverware and wine service, for example) so it’s not the same as what the LA Times, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, or Eater may write up.
I’m eyeing easy baking projects this week . . .
Thank you for your gift list. I immediately bought myself the thin wooden spatula. I have had one for many years and was having a hard time finding one that was thin enough to replace it. You made my holiday season. From me to me.