Holiday Gift Guide for Foodies & Cooks

by Jennifer R. Beck, Posted Dec 16th 2010 @ 11:00AM

People who love to eat and cook often have a kitchen stocked with the essentials and possess an array of specialty gadgets or food-themed décor. So looking for a dinner party hostess gift or an on-point present for the passionate foodie in your life is often quite the challenge. This year, we've rounded up some of the coolest new tools and goodies we could find – items that are brand-new or unique – to make your holiday shopping just a little easier. What's even better? They're all under $50. Click through the gallery to see our top gift picks.

Hungry for more? Check out all of our Christmas menus, recipes and entertaining tips. If you're all about cookies (who isn't?), we've got 25 days of Christmas cookies. If you want other sorts of sweets, check out Gail Simmons' Christmas desserts.

Additional reporting by Lindsay Damast.

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Holiday Gift Guide for Foodies & Cooks 2010

Some cooks aim to dirty every dish in the kitchen while prepping a meal. But for those who'd like one less utensil or bowl to clean, these colorful Measuring Colanders come to the rescue. With a three-cup capacity, the plastic colander has drain holes that double as measuring lines -- so you can wash, strain and measure using only one tool. Chef's Planet; $15 each.

Holiday Gift Guide for Foodies & Cooks 2010

While you still can't whip up a dinner for four with the snap of a finger (sigh), you can chop all of your herbs with a twist of the wrist. The Herb Mill has hundreds of tiny, ultra-sharp blades that allow you to prep all kinds of fresh herbs safely and quickly -- and you don't even have to lift a knife. Microplane; $19.95.

Holiday Gift Guide for Foodies & Cooks 2010

Let your favorite baker wear her love of desserts around her neck or wrist, in the form of a tiny whisk that stands 7/8 of an inch tall. The dainty charm is available in sterling silver, 18K gold-dipped metal and 10K sold gold, and all three come on a 16-inch box chain (different lengths available upon request). Frances & Co.; $45 to $160.

Holiday Gift Guide for Foodies & Cooks 2010

Olives and nuts are common additions to a seasonal spread, but nothing kills the aesthetic of a dinner table like a bowl of discarded pits or shells. The melamine Double Dish snack bowl saves the mood and easily conceals table trash in a handy collection dish that's stored under the serving bowl. Vat19; $18.

Holiday Gift Guide for Foodies & Cooks 2010

Both rustic and elegant, the Slate Cheese Serving Board is perfect for presenting an array of artisanal cheeses with chalked labels, but we love some of the other ideas for its use, too. Prop it up on a frame easel to indicate the evening's menu, or use it to serve other interesting foods that can use explaining -- like exotic truffle chocolates or unique appetizers. Williams-Sonoma; $40.

Holiday Gift Guide for Foodies & Cooks 2010

This contemporary take on a countertop staple will be a welcome (and bright!) addition to any kitchen. The Bistro Universal Knife Block is filled with pliable plastic sticks that grip knives safely and securely without dulling their blades. So stock up on as many chef's or paring knives as you'd like -- this block lets you store your knives, freed from slots. Bodum; $39.95.

Holiday Gift Guide for Foodies & Cooks 2010

Bring playful joy into the kitchen in the form of these Babushka measuring cups, modeled after the same-named nesting dolls (also known as Matryoshkas) most people played with as children. The heavy-duty, food-safe plastic cups accurately measure 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4 and 1 cup quantities. (They're a great way to get little ones to help in the kitchen, too.) ModernTribe; $12.

Holiday Gift Guide for Foodies & Cooks 2010

Satisfy a pizza lover's late-night cravings with a 440-piece puzzle. It comes wrapped up in a delivery box, just like your favorite pie. We can't promise that it will taste good -- but at least it's fat free! The Conran Shop; $18.

Holiday Gift Guide for Foodies & Cooks 2010

The Kuhn Rikon Frosting Decorating Pen makes decorating cakes, cookies and cupcakes like a pro as easy as...well, the push of a button. Load the battery-operated gadget with your favorite frosting, attach one of the five decorating tips and push the trigger to easily pipe out frosting. Sur La Table; $29.95.

Holiday Gift Guide for Foodies & Cooks 2010

They say it's better to give than to receive, but if you give this gift, you may be lucky enough to have the recipient show up on your doorstep with dinner in tow. This stylish Casserole Carrier is insulated to keep its contents hot or cold. It holds up to a 13x19-inch dish and has an external pocket to stash serving utensils in. Vonny; $45.

Holiday Gift Guide for Foodies & Cooks 2010

Filed Under: New Products, Gadgets
Tags: christmas, cooking tools, gadgets, gift guide, gift guide 2010, holiday shopping, holidays