Great Food Gifts for 2006

The holiday season is here. Therefore it is time for cooking, baking, and gift giving. However, sometimes it is very difficult to purchase gifts for those people on your gift list that are hard to buy for because they have everything. But, this year will be different because Food and Wine magazine has complied lists of some of the most divine gifts for the cook, baker, or food lover on you gift list. It also categorizes the food gifts into to different price point depending on your gift budget. Below are some food gift ideas for every budget.

Gifts under $25

1. Oxo’s “Precision Tongs have a finely ridged tip for grasping delicate foods. They can be purchased for $10 at oxo.com

2. Fred’s “Cool Jewels” ice tray gives “on the rocks” glamorous appeal: It makes six classic gem cuts. It costs $9.50 at spponsisters.com

3. Kate Spade’s “Festive Peacock” plate is a colorful interpretation of the partridge in “The 12 Days of Christmas” The plate can be found at katespade.com for $22.

4. Jacques Torres Chocolates: His malt balls are a classic take on Whoppers. These delicious chocolates can be purchased for $ 10 at jacquestorres.com

5. Wunderkind’s Cookbook: British teen Sam Stern’s cookbook called Cooking up a Storm is available at most bookstores for $17 dollars This cookbook offers up cooking tips for young cooks For example, he warns against salting steaks before cooking them since it makes steaks tougher.

Gifts $25 to $50

1. Chef’s Favorite Salts: Ron Sigel at the Dining Room located at the Ritz Carlton in San Francisco loves Bolivian rock salt so much that his restaurant sells it for $35 including a grater.

2. Before Dinner Drink: Casanis Pastis has a smooth licorice bite and be purchased for $28.

3. Lavish Butters: D’Artagnan’s black and white truffle butters are a delicious and decadent spread for crackers; $25.50 buys you three ounces of black truffle butter and three ounces of white truffle butter with crackers. These delicious and decadent butters are available at dartagnan.com