Dear Santa,
Even before our meeting on Christmas Eve ’84, when I snuck a peek on my way to the upstairs bathroom, I’ve believed in you. My parents, uncle, aunt, and cousins tried to convince me that you weren’t real, that my grandpa had dressed up, sat in the chair next to the plate of cookies, and looked at the pictures my cousins and I had colored for you. But it was you, the real you. I could tell by your eyes and your girth. Because I’m a believer, I figured you might bring me, even though I’m 35, a little treat from your toy bag this year. In exchange, I promise to leave you a plate of homemade gourmet gluten-free cookies that will be well worth your travels. I’ve been really nice, Santa, and, like many other home cooks and food enthusiasts, I really need:
10.) Zwilling J.A. Henckles Four Star II Meat Clever, $139.95, Williams-Sonoma. I roast a lot of whole chickens.
9.) Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker with Extra Freezer Bowl, $69.95, Williams-Sonoma. Seriously, I could be the next Jeni Britton Bauer of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. Or at least save quite a chunk of change making my own rather than buying hers…
8.) Cuisinart CDF-100 Deep Fryer, Compact, $49.99, Macy’s. I’m on a mission to make gluten-free Scotch eggs and Scotch olives. Owning a legit deep fryer means less mess than using my Dutch oven. And you know how much I loathe messes.
7.) The OCD Chef Cutting Board, $25.99, thinkgeek.com. To further enhance my perfection in the kitchen, it would be wise to use the measurements on this cutting board to hone my knife skills.
6.) GelPro Mat: Willow Fern 20X48”, $134.95, gelpro.com. I could do yoga eight hours a day, and my back and feet would still kill me after two hours in the kitchen. Just a little cushioning is what I need to be a happy home cook.
5.) Zingerman’s 6-month Bacon Club, $189.00, zingermans.com. Bacon is a gift that just doesn’t quit giving. I don’t care if the bacon fad is over; it just means more pig for me.
4.) Gift cards to independent, local restaurants. Be it SoHo Kitchen in Cleveland, Olive: An Urban Dive in Dayton, or Deepwood in Columbus, giving gift cards to exciting restaurants supports local businesses and steers me clear of any microwaved foods at big chain restaurants. Do a little research online, Santa, and I bet you’ll find a little piece of heaven perfect for date night or a night out on the town with friends.
3.) What’s better than The Top Chef Cookbook? An array of cookbooks by Top Chefs! From season four winner Stephanie Izard’s Girl in the Kitchen to Try This at Home: Recipes from My Head to Your Plate by Richard Blais, All-Stars winner, I want them all: Kevin Gillespie, Sam Talbot, the Voltaggio brothers. Mama needs, Santa. Mama needs.
2.) Aga Traditional Gas Cooker 3 oven NG, Pistachio, $14,799.00, allproappliances.com. Santa, can you imagine what I could do with this thing? Nigel Slater, eat your heart out.
1.) A full-ride to The International Culinary Center, http://www.internationalculinarycenter.com. Need I say more?
Thank you for any gift, no matter how small or big, Santa. There’s no doubt I’ll appreciate it.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Amanda