Holiday Gift Guide: Presents For Your “Top Chef”

Do you have a friend of family member that thinks they could win a Food Network competition? These gift ideas are right up their alley.

Vinebox’s “12 Nights of Wine” Advent Calendar is the gift that keeps giving. (Courtesy Photo)

Vinebox’s “12 Nights of Wine” Advent Calendar ($129, www.getvinebox.com) is the gift that keeps giving. Whether you present it before Christmas or leave it underneath the tree until it’s time, the recipient can savor 12 adorably packed glasses of wine. The 12 different wines were specifically curated for the holiday season and include an aged 2005 St. Emilion Bordeaux, as well as some new releases.

Passion Green Tea is included in the Heavenly Tea Leaves 9 Flavor Variety Pack. (Courtesy Photo)

Do they frequently partake in afternoon tea, but don’t have their own kettle? Then the Black + Decker Stainless Steel Electric Cordless Kettle that’s available at Walmart ($49.99, 1890 Old Country Road, Riverhead, www.blackanddeckerappliances.com) is a must. Its Rapid Boil Technology will provide them with boiling water quicker than a stove top version or the microwave and it can easily fit up to seven cups. The Cordless Kettle comes in red, cream, and black.

And if you really want to impress them, pair the Kettle with Heavenly Tea Leaves’ 9 Flavor Variety Pack ($43.99, www.heavenlytealeaves.com). The loose tea sampler features nine of the Long Island-based company’s bestsellers, including Passion Green Tea, China Green Tea, Black Tea, Flavored Black Tea, White Tea, Oolong Tea, Rooibos Orange Tisane, Chamomile Herbal Tisaneut. Each tin contains ten servings of tea.

What do you get the wine aficionado that has everything vino related? Rabbit RBT’s Electric Corkscrew ($99.95, www.crateandbarrel.com) – because who says opening wine can’t be easy and chic? The all-metal electric corkscrew with gold accents is paired with a rubber anti-rotation bottle coaster and built-in foil cutter. It works on all cork types and its rechargeable battery can open over 30 bottles before it needs a charge.

Just Spices’ Kitchen Essentials Box. (Courtesy Photo)

Can you ever really have enough spice options? We think not, so scoop up Just Spices’ Kitchen Essentials Box ($34.49, justspices.com), which features Murray River Salt (crystal salt from the Murray River Basin in Australia), Tellicherry Pepper (“bigger and better than your average black pepper, with unique citrus tones”), Spicy Garlic Seasoning (a savory mix of onions, wild oregano, fresh thyme, and some hot chili pepper) and Just Spices’ original BBQ Seasoning.

Stainless Steel Cubes, Rabbit RBT’s Electric Corkscrew and Black + Decker Stainless Steel Electric Cordless Kettle in red. (Courtesy Photo)

Leave it to the owners of White Girl Rose and Babe to launch Family Time is Hard ($19.99, white-girl-wine.com), a limited edition Pinot Grigio that will have its recipient cracking up over its ever so appropriate name. It’s a “bright medium-bodied Pinot Grigio with citrus, pear, melon and mineral flavors with light to medium acidity” that will please the palate of any white wine lover. Just make sure to pick up a bottle for yourself as well because chances are you’ll attend at least one gathering that will result in you needing a cocktail or two to cool down.

Family Time is Hard and Drinkmate. (Courtesy Photo)

Are you buying for someone whose party pet peeve is watered down drinks? They’ll love Stainless Steel Cubes ($23, corkpops.com), four stainless steel blocks that are kept in the freezer to provide instant cooling when dropped in a drink.

Have they always dreamed of owning their own winery? Oakbottle ($39.95 to $89.95, oakbottle.com), an oak accelerator, allows them to add “subtle caramel tones, smoothness, and other oak traits” to their favorite wine or wines (if they dare to combine) in just hours. Its reusable bottle is crafted with American white oak that is charred inside using traditional processes to a medium toast level. The Oak Bottle also comes in a range of flavors, like cherry, chocolate, citrus, maple, coffee and more.

Is their drink of choice always bubbly? Allow them to create their own fizzy concoctions with the Drinkmate ($109, idrinkproducts.com) – the only carbonation beverage maker that allows you to carbonate any liquid – from juices to cocktails to iced tea to beer.