The SHARP Gift Guide For Chefs (& Foodies)

For the men in your life eagerly shouldering the hosting and cooking duties, give the gift of the best food and drink accessories available. It’s as much a gift for you as it is for him. In the spirit of sharing, we’ve also spoken to one of Toronto’s top culinary minds, chef David Schwartz (of MIMI Chinese, Sunny’s, and Linny’s) about holiday hosting. Below, you’ll find Schwartz’s secret to throwing the perfect dinner party — followed by an array of kitchen-inspired gifts. Whether it’s a sleek red fridge designed by Porsche and SMEG or an 18-Year expression of The Glenlivet, these picks will leave you ready to eat, drink, and be merry.

Nespresso Vertuo Next Full White

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Nespresso’s Vertuo Next Full White takes the full range of the brand’s extensive coffee styles to the next level. Impress even the most discerning coffee connoisseurs different cup sizes, from Ristrettos to Carafe. The machine reads the code integrated in each capsule to offer you what Nespresso promises are “hidden treasures” at the touch of a button. The aromas, the flavours, and most importantly, the crema combine to provide a seamless, elevated at-home coffee experience. Add to the state-of-the-art experience with a variety of complementary gifts, from stemmed cocktail glasses to holiday capsules. ($249)

Porsche x Smeg Fab 28 Retro Style With Porsche Handle Red Salzburg

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Not only is the Fridge 917 Salzburg the most exclusive piece from the Porsche × Smeg collaboration, but it also happens to be the most stunning fridge ever created. The limited edition celebrates the historic win of the Porsche 917 kh Salzburg at the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1970. Fit with countless easter eggs and wrapped in the iconic 917 Salzburg red. ($8,000)

The Glenlivet 18 Year Old

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Few things mark a special occasion quite like a dram of The Glenlivet. For those in your life with truly discerning palates, the brand’s 18 Year Old is a gift worthy of even the highest standards. The Glenlivet distiller Alan Winchester takes this malt through a combination of cask types, including both first and second-fill American oak (for tropical fruitiness) and ex-sherry oak (for spiciness). The result is this golden-coloured dram with rich spicy aromas, toasty grain, vanilla and almond flavours, and a long smooth finish. ($215)

SharkNinja Fireside 360

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For those hoping to brave the conditions and enjoy patio season all year long, SharkNinja’s Fireside 360 delivers the perfect solution to chilly winter evenings. It’s simple. Light the flame, control the heat, and set the mood with this all-in-one customizable smokeless outdoor companion. The powerful outdoor heater and fire pit creates a circular heat zone and instant flames on demand, allowing you to grab a glass of wine, kick back, and enjoy the season’s serene beauty without sacrificing comfort. ($500)

HexClad Eco Modern Apron

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Home cooks are the pillars of the holiday hosting experience, so much so that it’s hard to know how best to adequately thank them for their hours of tireless work. But for those who want to look good doing it, Hexclad’s Eco Modern Apron is a good start. Made from the brand’s super-durable recycled HexTwill fabric, their Eco Modern Apron looks good from every angle. Each apron is constructed from plastic bottles that have been melted and spun into a sustainable yarn which is as stylish and functional as it is environmentally friendly. Slim fitting, comfortable, and durable, it’s an apron with features even the most passionate home cooks didn’t know they needed. ($140)

Cocktail Chameleon by Mark Addison, Assouline

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Spanning from the time-honoured Margarita to the Love Byte, Cocktail Chameleon is award-winning designer and producer Mark Addison’s invitation to join him as he dresses up twelve cocktails in twelve unique variations for 144 signature takes on timeless classics. Wrapped in a stunning Assouline hardcover, Addison toys with molecular mixology reinvent the Bloody Mary with sake and invokes the famed royal rose garden with the Versailles. To help spark the creative mixologist in everyone, Cocktail Chameleon is the gift made for hosts looking to elevate an occasion or end your day on a high note. ($85)

Le Creuset 4.1L Holly Collection Chef’s Oven

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At the peak of soup season, there might be no gift more welcome than Le Creuset’s chef’s oven, with the Holly Collection adding a festive twist on a kitchen staple. The pot is adorned with a festive embossed holly design. Whether preparing a flavourful chicken stock or slowly building a rich cream base for a large batch of soup, the pot offers the perfect vessel for stovetop simmering and holiday hosting. ($475)

Mission Hill Family Estate 2020 Quatrain, 2020 Compendium, and 2021 Oculus

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Looking for the perfect wine for the aficionados in your life? We’ll do you one (or two) better with a trio of Mission Hill Family Estate’s beloved bottles. For each wine, Mission Hill painstakingly manages the wines to produce ensure perfect ripeness and opulent flavours. While the 2020 Quatrain offers a structured and rich taste with a precise, lingering finish, the 2020 Compendium delivers dark blackberry, anise, and crème de cassis, framed by fine-grained tannins and a poised finish. As for the 2021 Oculus, this iconic wine is the result of meticulous selection in the vineyard estate with grapes that have been specifically nurtured for this rare wine. Together, they make for a show-stopping gift from one of Canada’s most renowned winemakers. (from $85)

Le Labo Santal 26 Medium Black Concrete Candle

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A quality candle is to gifting what a grey suit is to events: you can’t go wrong. To help ground a kitchen or dining space, Le Labo offers what the brand describes as an “aristocratic scent,” balancing between a gentle and leathery, smoky scent. Although suitable for all seasons, the warmth of Santal 26 offers a perfect, elevated stocking stuffer during the cold winter months. ($107)

Alessi Alessandro M. Giallo E Nero Corkscrew

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Certain gifts are necessary. Certain gifts are simply delightful. But some rarified gifts are just so delightful that they become inherently necessary. Alessi Alessandro M.’s Giallo E Nero Corkscrew sits decisively in that third category. A playful self-portrait of its creator, designer Alessandro Mendini, the corkscrew was originally designed in 2003. Now, Alessi has updated the beloved character both in terms of aesthetics and materials. The familiar features, including the smiling face and a bowler hat, remain unchanged, but he now wears a completely new outfit. For those who would appreciate a cheeky statement piece in their kitchen space, this new release from Alessi Alessandro M. offers the perfect token. ($160)

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