2014 Gift Guide

It's that time of the season again to give thanks and presents to the food lovers in our lives. If you're looking for some gift suggestions,  here are some that have caught my eye that may tickle your fancy.

For more gift ideas, check out last year's Gift Guide.

• Auto-measuring Spice Rack
  Stylish and suitable for use under a cabinet or on a shelf, the removable spice compartments each feature an auto-measure for a perfect 1/ 4-teaspoon measurement, as well as the standard shaking and pouring methods.
  

• Baking Bad: Great Recipes. No Meth-in Around
  What could be better for a "Breaking Bad" fan than re-watching their favourite season with some Meth Muffins (complete with blue sugar crystals) and some Ricin Crispie Treats by their side? For fans of AMC's monster hit, the only gift that could be more perfect than this cookbook is a RV for another type of cooking.
  
• Beer Making Kit
  Whether it's a craft beer aficionado, or someone who just likes drinking beer, at some point, that person has considered brewing their own brew. With this gift, you can help them achieve that goal. Many local brewers started out doing this as a hobby, so who knows where this gift can go. Available for different styles of beer, the kit includes a set of 10 beer bottles, a bottle capper and caps.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Flameless Cooker
  No fire, no gas, no electricity? No problem. With this Japanese import, a meal can be cooked just about anywhere. Perfect for the camper or survivalist on your shopping list.
  
• Hand Free Wine Glass Holder
  Ideal for the attendee to the annual Wine and Food show or for people who like to talk with their hands when they drink.
  
• Mini Stovetop Smoker
  This will allow someone to have the flavour of smoked food from their stove-top without filling the house with actual smoke. It can also be used as a steamer, and who doesn't like cooking equipment that's multi.
  
• Muffin Tops Muffin Mold
  Even the health conscious can use a reminder to go to the gym. For those occasions, there are these muffin pans.
  
• Palm Peeler
  It makes peeling potatoes like child's play, and it's a safe way to allow children to help out preparing the vegetables for the day's meal.
  
• Smartphone-controlled Sous-Vide Machine
  Everything else seems to be controlled by your cellphone, why not a sous-vide machine? Tap the Mellow app on a cellphone, tell the cooker what temperature, how long, and when to begin making dinner, and by the time they get off the bus, their food has been cooked, using less electricity than their stove. Makes up to 6 adult servings of food.
  
• Spiral Vegetable Slicer
  Vegetarian cooking fans will love this tool for making things like garnishes for salads and vegetable noodles, a great pasta substitute.
  
• Star Wars Lightsaber BBQ Fork
  Whether a Jedi or a Sith, any fan of barbecue and the Star Wars movies would want a BBQ fork that looks just like a lightsaber. That should tide them over until Episode 7 arrives in theaters.
  
• Ultimate Wine Bottle Glass
  This is the glass for those days when the only things keeping a person from putting the bottle to their lips the second it's uncorked is dignity, self respect, and society.
  
• Umami: Unlocking the Secrets of the Fifth Taste
  For the food lover who wants to know more about the fifth taste, this book will give them both technical data and cultural history while allowing them to deploy umami like a pro.