2020 turned home kitchens into ad hoc restaurans
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Restaurants popped up in the most unexpected of places this year — in parking lots, garages, driveways, and yes, home kitchens. Furloughed professionals, self taught MasterChef aspirees, and budding restaurateurs all made impressive cheffed-up lemonade out of the abundance of lemons that was 2020. While these stay-at-home gourmet cooks may have stocked up on the essentials, a few over-the-top, special and delicious gifts will up their at-home restaurant game even further.
Caviar
The Caviar Co.’s gift set
The Caviar Co.
Caviar can amp up any savory, or even sweet dish, no matter the skill level of the chef. A dollop on buttered noodles? So impressive! Plus, each small bite tastes special, so the extravagance can last until New Year’s Eve. San Francisco-based, The Caviar Co. ships elegant gifts sets of smoked trout roe, white sturgeon, paddlefish, Russian Osetra and more, complete with creme fraiche, blini and mother of pearl caviar spoons. Starts at $60, thecaviarco.com
Top notch spices
The Spice House’s Spice Trader box
The Spice House
Freshly dried, well-sourced spices can enhance any style of cooking to the next level, in sauces, marinades, dry rubs or as a garnish. Spice House’s spices are sourced worldwide, and come in stylish bottles with matte labels that are certainly giftable. For proficient chefs, try The Spice Trader gift box which comes with Aleppo pepper, Saigon cinnamon and more global products. $148, thespicehouse.com
Ōra King Salmon
Ora King Salmon
Ora King
New Zealand’s premium salmon, rated a Best Choice by Monterey Bay Aquarium’s “Seafood Watch”, Ōra King salmon is newly available to home consumers, and not just restaurants. The vibrant orange color and high oil content makes for an excellent fillet to play restaurant at home with. Starts at $89, Goldbelly.com
Artisanal bread basket
Bread Basket NYC’s European basket
Bread Basket NYC
Any restaurant worth its salt starts the meal with an excellent bread basket, and an at-home restaurant should be no exception. Bread Basket NYC ships freshly baked, artisanal loaves, baguettes, biscuits and more across the country. $45, breadbasket.nyc
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Korean BBQ Kit
Samwon Garden’s Korean BBQ kit
Samwon Garden
New York’s Samwon Garden expanded into a ready-to-eat butcher this year, offering several at-home Korean BBQ kits that are both fun and easy to enjoy without leaving the house. Frozen selections include thinly sliced galbi, short ribs, soups and more, for special warming meals that will make a winter night worth staying home for. Starts at $169, SamwonGarden.com
Nonstick saucepan
Caraway saucepan
Caraway
A gourmet chef can never have too many saucepans. Caraway’s new line of cookware is hyper stylish, and its saucepan in several colors is no exception. The oven-safe durable non-stick pan with ceramic-coated interior, makes cooking easy, and is good looking enough to live on the stove. $109, Carawayhome.com
A prosciutto leg
Lidl’s prosciutto leg
Lidl
Straight from Italy and into Lidl, the reasonably priced supermarket known for affordable versions of luxe groceries, is a 15 lb. Maestri prosciutto Italiano leg. Yep, that’s an entire cured leg of prosciutto, compete with a stand and knife for perfect carving. $99, Lidl stores