Holiday Gift Guide: The baker
By Shannon Parker // October 31, 2010
For more gift ideas:
The Home Cook, The Food Snob, The Home Cook and
The Merrymaker
THE BAKER
Bakers are fun to shop for, as they do love their toys, whether decorative or purely functional. But the best part is, the more cool presents you buy for the bakers in your life, the more likely they are to reward you with some tasty treats.
1. Emile Henry pie plate
These brilliantly colored pie plates are extra-thick on the bottom, which prevents burning and helps keep the filling perfectly moist. We’re partial to the fig color, but choose your baker’s favorite from among the six hues offered.
$44.95 per 9-inch plate. Sur La Table, 295 Plaza Frontenac, Frontenac, 314.993.0566.
2. Marble pastry board
You could have marble countertops installed in your baker’s kitchen, but that might be a tad expensive. Give her a marble slab instead, and she will still reap the benefits of its cool surface, perfect for rolling out dough of all types.
$129. Williams-Sonoma, 260 Plaza Frontenac, Frontenac, 314.567.9211 and 227 Chesterfield Mall, Chesterfield, 636.536.4370.
3. Single-origin cocoa powder
There’s no telling what deep, dark, decadent treats your baker can concoct with this artisan cocoa powder from Askinosie Chocolate. Based in Springfield, Mo., the bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer recently started producing single-origin cocoa powder with an incredibly rich taste and depth.
$11. Winslow’s Home, 7213 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314.725.7559.
4. Cast-iron Dutch oven
The new no-knead method of bread baking requires a long, slow rise and a trip to the oven in a heavy-duty pot, like this 7-quart classic from Lodge.
$99.95. Cornucopia, 107 N. Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood, 314.822.2440.
5. Escali scale
Your baker may not want a scale in his bathroom, but he’ll definitely want one in the kitchen. Using a scale allows for more accurate measuring, a practice that can’t be underestimated in baking. This digital model accurately measures amounts up to 11 pounds, but its sleek profile won’t take up too much space on the counter.
$29.95. Kitchen Conservatory, 8021 Clayton Road, Clayton, 314.862.2665.
