Holiday Gift Ideas for the Chef in your Life

First, ask yourself, what obscure tool do they complain about not having? You might have no idea what they're talking about, but write it down and then get theeself off to Williams Sonoma They do have quality products, although in my opinion they're a bit over priced. Make sure to check and see if they want a specific brand re: knives, kitchen tools that sort of thing.

If you enjoy deal shopping, check out the kitchen section at Smart Bargains. Their selection varies, but you can often find really good deals on quality items.

Do NOT buy them cookbooks. That is equivalent to buying women clothing. If you think they would like a new cookbook, buy a gift certificate to Borders, which has ever book you could possibly conceive of. You can also use it online at Amazon.com

You can never go wrong with good quality spices or seasonings. I recommend organic ginger and pure vanilla extract. Both will make a huge difference in taste, and are used a ton in most cooking/baking. While your chef may not want to normally splurge on these, they will appreciate them as a gift.

For the beginning chef: a quality set of knives, an industrial kitchen-aid mixer, a grater or a good spatula are all great choices. When shopping for knives especially make sure you bring someone with expertise or go to a store where they are knowledgeable and can help you find the right set for your needs.

For the medium/advanced chef: a stainless steel mandolin, marble rolling pin and rolling board, a good knife sharpener or specialty baking pans (like souffle etc)

For the advanced chef with everything:
You could buy: a gift certificate to a restaurant with food they'll appreciate, or a gift certificate to a place where they normally buy ingredients. Finally you could buy them a gourmet food basket (high quality chocolates, or cheeses or wines) so your chef can take a break in the kitchen and enjoy some food!