In the final part of our ATF Christmas gift guide, we've rounded up some of the gadgets and kitchen stocking fillers that we'd most like to get this year, from sourdough starter kits to recipe journals, one-time purchase wine openers to bento boxes...
An Enrich & Endure Apron
We found the perfect pressie for your fashionable friend who also loves to get their hands dirty in the kitchen. Enrich & Endure's aprons are 100% Irish linen and handcrafted in Ireland, and they have loads of fun colours, but we especially love the one that they’ve created in collaboration with cookbook author Molly Yeh. Check it out here.
A Pasta Maker
The perfect gift for a friend who likes to show off their prowess in the kitchen, a pasta maker is great to add a little oomph to their dishes. And hopefully they’ll do the polite thing and have you over to sample the finished goods. We found a good option here but most good kitchen stores should have them.
Bannetons and Blades
Know someone who used the pandemic to develop their sourdough skills, or has been looking enviously at everyone who has? Apart from flour and water, they'll need a banneton, liner and a blade. Start them off with a set like this, or buy individual bits here, or in most good kitchen shops.
Toast Tongs
Okay, bear with us on this. This very simple gadget was a gift to us and what we initially thought was the most random thing we’d ever received swiftly became the most used tool in our kitchen. No longer will you have to risk burnt hands (or electrocution if you’re like us and often fish a broken piece of bread from the toaster with a fork). This is the handiest little device to have around and great for the toast lover in your life. If you can find one with a magnet to secure it to the side of the toaster that’s even better. We found ours here.
Meater Wireless Meat Thermometer
No home cook's kitchen is complete without a meat thermometer, but having to open the oven every time you want to check a temperature is a major pain. Meater's wireless meat thermometer connects to your smartphone, and you can set the app to any type or cut of meat you might have in the oven, to ensure it's perfect every time. Find it in Harvey Norman.
Raclette Set
We are very fond of a bit … okay, a lot, of raclette when we hit the slopes, and now you can bring that Alpine feast to the Emerald Isle with a raclette set. This isn’t too spenny so go all out and pair it with some raclette cheese which most decent cheese shops will have to top off a great gift. We sourced a good one here.
An Instant Pot
A pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker and yoghurt maker, this is the multi-function pot every kitchen needs. Chefs love it, it can make a meal out of anything, and it's perfect for anyone who's short on time during the week but still wants to eat well - just dump everything in and it'll be ready when you get home. Find it here.
An ATF x Badly Made Books Notebook
We've teamed up with Cork-based Badly Made Books to put together a collection of gorgeous notebooks, with covers made from food waste and pages made from recycled coffee cups. A lovely gift for anyone still in the habit of using pen and paper, and your food-loving friend will appreciate the quirky covers. Check them out here.
A Recipe Journal
We’ve all had the notion of taking our most loved recipes and collating them in our very own recipe book for handy referencing, but have never quite gotten around to it. This lovely recipe book would be a great gift for anyone you know who loves to get creative in the kitchen, and will give them a nudge to record those delicious creations.
Bento Box
This could be one for your office-mate who consistently brings in droolworthy leftovers for their lunch. An aesthetically pleasing lunchbox can take their lunches to the next level, and bring them a little bit of joy each day as they tuck into their food. We love this minimalistic bento box, and as a plus it’s dishwasher safe.
Le Creuset Wine Opener
You will probably balk at the price of this, we definitely did, but having seen this wine opener in action we think it could be worth every penny. It makes light work of any cork and will keep going for years and years. Take a look here for more detail.
A Barista-Level Coffee Machine
One thing the pandemic brought to light was just how much we all spent on coffee as part of our daily commutes. Tonnes of you seemed to invest in a professional coffee machine over the past year, with none more popular than the Sage Bean to Cup range. Irish roasters Velo are currently having a sale on their four models, from €525 to €1999, and if you're feeling generous towards the coffee lover in your life this year you can check them out here.
You can find our other gift guides here:
Part 1 - Cookbooks, memoirs and classes
Part 2 - Experiences and subscriptions
Part 3 - Edibles and Drinkables
