Puzzled over what to gift the people on your list who like to cook, bake, eat and otherwise obsess over food? Washington Post deputy food and recipe editor Bonnie Benwick shares her top picks for the holiday season.
WASHINGTON 鈥� Puzzled over what to gift the people on your holiday shopping list who like to cook, bake, eat and otherwise obsess over food? is here to help.
The deputy food and recipe editor at The Washington Post shared some of her favorite cookbooks, kitchen gadgets and culinary experiences for the food lovers in your life:
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According to Benwick, 2018 was a hallmark year for cookbooks 鈥� especially for seasoned chefs and authors. One of Benwick鈥檚 top picks is 鈥�,鈥� by Dorie Greenspan, which she said is packed with 鈥渞eally doable recipes鈥� that have a bit of French influence (since Greenspan calls both Paris and the U.S. home). Another favorite is the latest cookbook from British author and food personality Nigella Lawson, called 鈥�.鈥�
鈥淎nd while we鈥檙e across the pond, I would also [recommend] Diana Henry鈥檚 鈥�,鈥欌�� said Benwick, who added that the book, filled with menus and stories, is 鈥渂eautifully written.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 just the kind of cookbook that I like to have on my bedside table,鈥� Benwick said.
(Courtesy Ellen Silverman)
Courtesy Ellen Silverman
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Cookbooks
For all the bakers out there, Benwick recommends 鈥�,鈥� by Anne Byrn.
Also on the top of her list is 鈥�,鈥� by Jeff Hertzberg and Zo毛 Fran莽ois, which equips homecooks with simple, timesaving baking techniques. Benwick was initially drawn to the book via an Instagram post showcasing the book鈥檚 extravagant raspberry star bread.
鈥淚 just kept seeing it and thinking, 鈥榃ho can do this?鈥� And it turns out, you can do this,鈥� she said.
鈥淸The book has] all those great things that you want to bake when it鈥檚 cold outside and when people come over.鈥�
(Courtesy Ellen Silverman)
Cookbooks
If there鈥檚 a meat lover on your list, check out first-time cookbook author . Benwick said his self-titled cookbook has 鈥渁 lot of voice and personality.鈥� Plus, the Canadian chef has a genius way to prepare a head of cauliflower.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Food & Wine)
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Food & Wine
Cookbooks
If you鈥檙e planning to get someone a cookbook and want to include a little something extra, Benwick recommends flipping to the book鈥檚 resource page and gifting one of the staple pantry ingredients recommended. If an author prefers a specific type of tahini or a hard-to-find spice, for instance, consider including a jar of that brand. Benwick said it鈥檚 鈥渁 little push to get somebody to crack open that book and cook in it.鈥�
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Getty Images
Cookbooks
Of course, one of the hot-ticket items last holiday season was the Instant Pot, and chances are, the multicooker will show up under plenty of trees again this year. Benwick said there are a number of cookbooks, featuring all different cuisines, that help Instant Pot owners learn to use the appliance. One of her favorites is 鈥�,鈥� by Sheri Castle. In addition to well-written recipes, Benwick said readers will appreciate the author鈥檚 sense of humor.
Need additional cookbook recommendations? .听
(AP/Cheyenne Cohen)
AP/Cheyenne Cohen
Kitchen staples
There鈥檚 no shortage of kitchen gadgets out there, but Benwick said one tool every home cook can use is a , which she described as having a thin and flexible metal blade. Benwick said it鈥檚 especially good at getting under something, such as a fish filet or frittata, without risking unwanted sticking.
鈥淎nd I use it for everything: I use it for flipping pancakes, I use it for anything that you want to get a handle under,鈥� Benwick said.
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Getty Images
Kitchen staples
Also useful in the kitchen is a , which Benwick said is inexpensive and can be used to cook anything 鈥� from cookies, to chickens, to pies. Yes, pies. The Washington Post contributor and local author Cathy Barrow goes in depth on how to make sheet-pan pies in her new book, 鈥�.鈥�
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Kitchen staples
Consider helping your foodie friend stock the pantry. Benwick said a small collection of finishing salts is always nice 鈥� 鈥淚t鈥檚 a really good depth-of-flavor kind of ingredient to have鈥� 鈥� as is a jar of infused honey, such as a hot honey.
鈥淭hat is just the sort of great thing to drizzle on top of oven-fried chicken or over a flank steak 鈥� it鈥檚 a really kind of lift-all-boats ingredient,鈥� she added.
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Getty Images
Food experience
Then, there鈥檚 always the gift of experience. on 14th Street hosts a number of cooking classes each week, including a Friday date night, as does , which offers classes from French cooking to cookie baking. Another idea is a to the Smithsonian, which comes with first dibs on demos, tastings and evening events.
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