Gift Ideas for DIY Foodies
That SodaStream was a gateway toy. This year, it’s all about meat grinders, smoking chips, and fermentation crocks
Danny Kim1/11Mead-Making Kit
For the Game of Thrones fan: everything he needs—yeast, siphoning tube, the work—to make a jug of ye olde honey wine. ($60; williams-sonoma.com)
Danny Kim2/11Stoneware Crock
"Crocks are invaluable tools for a serious pickler. They can be used to ferment alcoholic beverages, miso, soy sauce, fish sauce, and more. Try familiar things like vegetables first; from there, the possibilities are infinite.” —Sandor Katz, author, The Art of Fermentation ($54 for 1-gallon crock, $17 for lid; redwingstoneware.com)
Danny Kim3/11Oak Vinegar Aging Barrel
Simply add a “mother” to leftover beer or wine, and let time do the work. ($100 for two-liter barrel; thebrooklynkitchen.com)
Danny Kim4/11Texas BBQ Smoking Bags
Soak in water and toss on the coals to give meat a whiff of pecan, mesquite, or hickory. ($5 per bag; kaufmann-mercantile.com)
Danny Kim5/11Waring Pro Die-Cast Meat Grinder
This steel beauty churns out butcher-grade burger blends, sure, but it also makes legendary sausage. According to Umami Burger's Adam Fleischman, "grinding your own meat limits the beef’s exposure to oxygen, ensuring it’s of the ultimate freshness.” ($300; homedepot.com)
Danny Kim6/11Kill Devil Hill & Kaufmann-Mercantile Apron
The removable mess towel on this hand-sewn denim apron makes for easy clean-up after any recipe throwdown. ($80; kaufmann-mercantile.com)
Danny Kim7/11Ball Heritage Collection Pint Jars
The kitchen artisan can never have too many Mason jars, and this limited-edition, 100th-anniversary blue number is a colorful addition to any canner’s cupboard. ($13 for six; freshpreservingstore.com)
Danny Kim8/11Excalibur 5-Tray Food Dehydrator
Banana chips, rhubarb leather, salmon jerky... The drying (and snacking) possibilities are endless. “The Excalibur is a true workhorse—excellent temperature control, reliable fan, high capacity, and easy to clean," says Jill Houk, co-author of The Essential Dehydrator. "You can also get creative with it. Try drying cheese, shellfish, or hot sauce.” ($350; drying123.com)
Danny Kim9/11Millie’s Cheese Making Kit
Whip up tender marinated feta or queso fresco from scratch with this all-inclusive kit. ($39.99; cherrymoonfarms.com)
Danny Kim10/11Notes from the Larder: A Kitchen Diary with Recipes
The latest tome from Nigel Slater is a template for a year of thoughtful meals, from Christmas Bubble and Squeak to Gooseberry Crumble Cake. ($40; Ten Speed Press)
Danny Kim11/114-Tier Sprouter Kit
It takes just three days to grow your own alfalfa sprouts with this stackable starter kit. Then you can “replant” with, say, mung bean, chia, or broccoli sprouts. ($17; williams-sonoma.com)
