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Gourmet Gift Guide

November 16, 2009
Randy Mayor
Our favorite gifts for cooks.
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Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.

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Beautiful Bowls

Randy Mayor
What we love: Printed inside and out with red, blue, or green cornflowers, pale blue daisies or red and green geometric patterns, these Anthropologie bowls look lovely whether they’re full or empty.

Price: $8 to $24

Shop: Anthropologie

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Modern Flatware for Kids

Randy Mayor
What we love: Scaled down for smaller hands but not cloyingly styled, WMF's stainless steel Knuddel pattern will look right at home on an adult's tabletop.

Price: $40

Shop: WMFAmericas.com

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Collapsible Colander

Randy Mayor
What we love: This clever colander is not only pretty, but a smart space-saver for small kitchens. Silicone sides allow the it to fold down for convenient storage.

Price: $25

Shop: Norpro Knockdown on Amazon

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Microplane Grater

Randy Mayor
What we love: The same versatile tool we love―it effortlessly grates hard cheese or zests lemon rind―now available with colorful, more comfortable handles.

Price: $15

Shop: microplane.com

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KitchenAid Mixer

Randy Mayor
What we love: KitchenAid stand mixers have aged gracefully since the original 1919 model. The 90th anniversary edition gets a candy-apple paint job and has a 5-quart glass bowl, which makes it easy to see when butter and sugar are creamed to perfection.

Price: $399

Shop: KitchenAid

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Silicone Steamer Insert

Randy Mayor
What we love: This flexible Chef'n insert fits almost any pot, and silicone handles make it easier and safer to remove. Avilable in two sizes and colors.

Price: $12 to $20

Shop:Cooking.com

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Handy Knife

Randy Mayor
What we love: Foot-long chef’s knives are great. . .for chefs. For the rest of us, New West’s Chopper, with a 51/2-ince blade, is sized right as it chops, slices, and dices with aplomb.

Price: $99

Shop: newwestknifeworks.com

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Landmark Baking Book

Randy Mayor
What we love: You’ll find James Peterson’s James Beard Award–winning tome, Cooking, on the shelves of every Cooking Light food editor. He has a special talent for friendly and thorough instruction, which is also evident in Baking.

Price: $26.40

Shop: Amazon.com

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Soda Maker

Randy Mayor
What we love: In the old days, a little CO2 capsule in a syphon shot bubbles into cocktails. Now there’s a machine for that. SodaStream’s home carbonation system put the fizz in water. Feeling silly, we couldn’t help experimenting with whisky, red wine, and-kids would love it- milk! ($120; sodastream.com).

Price: $120

Shop: SodastreamUSA.com 

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Pro Bakeware

Randy Mayor
What we love: Get professional results with this pro-grade cookie sheets. The pebbled aluminum surface helps your baked goods brown and crisp beautifully.

Price: $50, set of three

Shop: doughmakers.com

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Free-Form Dinnerware

Randy Mayor
What we love: The organic shapes and subtle crackle glaze of CB2's Lotus pattern brings an earthy touch to your table.

Price: $5 to $8

Shop: CB2.com

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Sassy Cake Server

Randy Mayor
What we love: You can't help but serve with a smile when you're wielding the only genuinely funny cake server we've ever seen.

Price: $23

Shop: zippergifts.com

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Herb Saver

Randy Mayor
What we love: Like cut flowers, fresh herbs last longer when they're trimmed and placed in water as soon as you bring them home. Prepara's adorable Herb Savor keeps them stylishly corralled in your fridge.

Price: $30

Shop: prepara.com

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Space-Saving Potato Masher

Randy Mayor
What we love: Potato mashers are one of the bulkiest items in the utensil drawer, but this clever version from Sur la Table folds neatly when not in use.

Price: $20

Shop: surlatable.com

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