kitchenaid dessert maker image
Mackenzie
My son is 12 and has wanted to be a chef since age 4. In recent years he asks for kitchen gadgets for Christmas.
At first it was just minor things, like cookie cutters, or candy molds, or fondant to experiment with.
Last year he asked for an ice cream maker, we got him the Cuisinart one as recommended by people here at YA, and it turned out to be an excellent machine he has used often over the year for some amazing desserts.
This year he wants a $200 Kitchen Aid food processor ;-O
We are not big into holiday commercialism and he knows it so he is really not expecting it, because we usually don't even spend $200 per child on gifts, gifts in our family are usually simple things like pjs, books, board games or art supplies.
Don't think we are going to be able to do the food processor w/financial situation this year especially (even though I would love it, too, lol!) so maybe get it for him in a year or two. I'd rather wait and get him a good one than get him a cheap one for $50 that is a pain to work with and can't do much.
Anyway... suggestions for gifts a 12 yr old could use to cook?
He cooks pretty well all by himself, he can make standard dinners (chikcen, pork chops, fish, veggies) and makes various confections and pastries (clusters, truffels, pies) and he's even gotten into some more exotic things like sushi and makes a kick-but rissoto.
I'd like to get him things for under $100 that he can use to experiement and develop his skills further as now he is really getting into an age that he can do all sorts of things in the kitchen by himself w/the knives & oven & frying oil, and he is always giving me lists of ingredients to get at the market.
We do have a grill, good knives, peelers, hand mixer, blender, steamer, pie & cake pans-- basic stuff like that you'd find in the kitchen of just about anyone who cooks on a daily basis for a family.
The kid is tall and skinny as a rail... he already has a bike.
Why assume he's fat just because he likes food? He was raised on mainly veggies (largely home-grown) and home-cooked fresh foods every day, with treats in moderation.
Answer
He has shown that he is serious and dedicated, and that this is not a flash in the pan (pun intended). That means you should get the most professional items that your budget will afford, and do NOT get the cheapo or kiddie version of something.
A mixer is out of your price range. Realize that and work within your budget. Define your budget and sit down with your son and have him think about what he wants in that price range. Maybe get three things from him so he doesn't know which you will get. Buying what he wants is better than surprising him with a poorly chosen gift.
The thing that comes to mind, if you must surprise him, is a gift certificate for King Arthur (highly recommended because of their genuine advise and choices offered to serious cooks) or William Sonoma (you have to know what is good stuff and what is hype with them), or some other professional grade cooking outlet (maybe even a industrial restaurant supplier in your town). He can choose what he wants and he can save and contribute his own money to get a bigger ticket item. Maybe do the same for his birthday and grow the kitty over time.
Be aware about the current state of name brand mixers, they pretty much all suck. In every price range there will be one good product and five worthless products- you will have to do serious homework. Hobart sold kitchenaid to whirlpool years ago and the quality haas never been there since the sellout. The name recognition is what they bank on, but 90% of kitchenaid products are landfill fodder. Even the pro models are very cheap and very underpowered. Check out King Arthurs selections of mixers and see what they recommend. A good compromise is getting a real hobart kitchenaid off ebay. These vintage mixers will run for lifetimes and are compatible with the new attachments (but, again, the older attachments are better made and cheaper on ebay).
Also browse through some cooking catalogs and websites. You could probably buy a selection of nice things. Springer pans, bread/pizza stone, sets of his own private utensils (like silicon spatulas) would fill out the space under the tree nicely. Sets of his own things will give him pride, teach him to take care of them, and be ready to take with him when he strikes out on his own (coming sooner than you realize).
Good luck and congratulations on encouraging his passion.
He has shown that he is serious and dedicated, and that this is not a flash in the pan (pun intended). That means you should get the most professional items that your budget will afford, and do NOT get the cheapo or kiddie version of something.
A mixer is out of your price range. Realize that and work within your budget. Define your budget and sit down with your son and have him think about what he wants in that price range. Maybe get three things from him so he doesn't know which you will get. Buying what he wants is better than surprising him with a poorly chosen gift.
The thing that comes to mind, if you must surprise him, is a gift certificate for King Arthur (highly recommended because of their genuine advise and choices offered to serious cooks) or William Sonoma (you have to know what is good stuff and what is hype with them), or some other professional grade cooking outlet (maybe even a industrial restaurant supplier in your town). He can choose what he wants and he can save and contribute his own money to get a bigger ticket item. Maybe do the same for his birthday and grow the kitty over time.
Be aware about the current state of name brand mixers, they pretty much all suck. In every price range there will be one good product and five worthless products- you will have to do serious homework. Hobart sold kitchenaid to whirlpool years ago and the quality haas never been there since the sellout. The name recognition is what they bank on, but 90% of kitchenaid products are landfill fodder. Even the pro models are very cheap and very underpowered. Check out King Arthurs selections of mixers and see what they recommend. A good compromise is getting a real hobart kitchenaid off ebay. These vintage mixers will run for lifetimes and are compatible with the new attachments (but, again, the older attachments are better made and cheaper on ebay).
Also browse through some cooking catalogs and websites. You could probably buy a selection of nice things. Springer pans, bread/pizza stone, sets of his own private utensils (like silicon spatulas) would fill out the space under the tree nicely. Sets of his own things will give him pride, teach him to take care of them, and be ready to take with him when he strikes out on his own (coming sooner than you realize).
Good luck and congratulations on encouraging his passion.
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