If you're shopping for someone who'd love a new addition to the kitchen, or who loves to cook, these are some of our top buys.
I've tried and tested a range of kitchen and cooking items, and these have been the best and easiest to use.
From a classic pizza oven, which works amazingly as a wood fired oven, to a seasonal casserole and a hot chocolate maker that's completely won me over, read on for the ideal gifts for foodies this Christmas.
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I’ve been intrigued by these Ooni pizza ovens for ages, but was never quite sure which one was best and if I could use one in what little outdoor space I have.
I decided to try the slightly older Karu 2 multi-fuel oven because I love a wood fire and there’s something lovely about cooking over it. Even outside your front door on paving slabs.
The compact oven is sleek looking and very easy to use. You can buy kindling from Ooni, ideal if you don’t have access to it already, and the oven heats up pretty quickly with the wood. It’s even faster and hotter with gas, but you need a gas burner attachment and a gas canister.
We made some simple cheese and tomato pizzas with Ooni’s pre-made pizza dough (yes they have this to buy online if you don’t have the time or ingredients to make your own. 25 x 250g dough balls are currently £36).
The pizzas cooked quickly and were easy to move around in the oven thanks to the Ooni pizza peel (aka big shovel thing). There’s also an optional table for the oven, which was much appreciated in our small outdoor space.
All in all Ooni has everything you need for an excellent, al fresco pizza cooking experience and it’s easy to see why they’re the best known brand for the job.
The Ooni Karu 2 mutli-fuel pizza oven is currently £279.20, down from £349 in the Black Friday sale. You can buy one here.
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a roast, and if you’re anything like me, there can never be enough pots and pans for the meals around the festive season, including the big day.
I’ve had one small Le Creuset casserole, a bright blue one, bought for me from my mum years ago and there’s not a week that goes by when I’m not using it for something.
That’s why this Christmas, any keen cook will seriously appreciate a festive addition to their cookware range.
The Le Creuset Holly 4.1 litre casserole, available in bright cerise or a more subdued thyme colour - complete with embossed holly foliage and a gold knob - is a seasonal and functional addition to any kitchen this winter.
Billed as a soup pot, it also has capacity for stews, roasts and I reckon a decent sized Christmas ham. It can be used on the stove top and in the oven and as it’s cast iron, it’s designed to last a lifetime and be easy to clean.
Holly Casserole is priced at £345.00 and can be purchased from Le Creuset online here.
I never have any sharp knives, which is a nightmare when cutting bread, trying to chop into pumpkins (every Halloween) or basically cutting anything for cooking.
Knives are not something you tend to buy yourself, and frankly can seem a bit boring, but not the JKC AUS10 Santoku 165mm from the Japanese Knife Company.
Looking like a sculpted work of art, the matt blade is high carbon steel between soft stainless steel and can be used for any kind of cutting, chopping or dicing.
The wooden handle is also much nicer than the usual black plastic, so if you know any budding chefs, or someone like me who is one wrong slice away from seriously hurting themselves, buy them this knife.
The JKC AUS10 Santoku 165mm knife is priced at £109 and available from the Japanese Knife Company website.
I am a huge hot chocolate fan, and tend to go for real chocolate flakes from somewhere like Bare Bones in Glasgow or the Highland Chocolatier.
I've always tried to create a frothy hot chocolate with my trusty £1 Ikea milk frother, so was intrigued but somewhat skeptical about the Hotel Chocolat velveting when it first hit the market. At over £100 how much better can it be than my £1 frother?
A lot, it turns out. Plus it has the added convenience of heating up the milk as it stirs in your chosen sachet of Hotel Chocolat hot chocolate.
The entire thing takes two minutes, at the press of a button, and there's minimal washing up. I've yet to try it with my favourite hot chocolate flakes but I'm confident the results will be the same. A smooth, creamy hot chocolate.
There’s also a cold setting, and Hotel Chocolat have sachets of cold milk drinks including: mint, classic, banana, mandarin and orange and creme brulee, meaning it’s not just for wintery days.
The Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser is priced at £149 and you can buy one here.
