Somebody's got to be a Scrooge. It's only been a few short weeks after giving thanks, but I've already made a list of holiday gifts I'd have to say, "No, thanks" to, and imagine that many other moderate to serious cooks would, too. We, the avid, maybe obsessive foodies who liken ourselves to chefs, appreciate that so many try to give us the perfect gift to further our hobbies. It's not about disrespect. But having been through many holiday seasons of this, I can offer some suggestions to avoid the awkwardness of a tool never used.
Bear in mind however that no cook is cookie-cutter, so to speak, and we all have our own tendencies. So my general tips here are pretty much null as long as you know the kind of home cook you're dealing with. And I can't say I haven't been inspired to cook with something because it was given to me as a gift. But if I had to make a list, and check it twice, these are the top ten gifts I would NOT give. Got any no-no's of your own? Leave a note to Santa in the comments below.
Cross-posted from Not Eating Out in New York
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In our house, we choose to take in new appliances like we would a new pet. It's something that you have to commit to caring/storing for the long term. You have to designate a spot in the closet or maybe even on the counter. Other people shouldn't make that decision for you, even if it just means the Fondue set winds up re-gifted or in a landfill (worst case....not quite the animal shelter, but you get the idea).
I prefer to give things that have an expiration date, unless I know specifically what someone wants.
What it comes down to is that right now, for myself and most everyone I know......the issue is having too much material stuff, not lacking in it. The difficulty is being discerning in adding to that pile of stuff. Gift giving is essential, but you don't want it to add to people's troubles.