Over the holidays, my family always refers to me as the head chef. Whether I’m entertaining guests with my favorite cocktail, teaching relatives how to bake the perfect coconut pie crust, or keeping each dinner course on schedule, I’m known as the expert in our kitchen.

Being a culinary connoisseur, my friends and family often come to me for cooking-related gift recommendations or holiday entertaining tips. My loved ones can always expect to be surprised each holiday with my favorite cooking items wrapped under the tree for them to open. I hope you enjoy my Cooking Gift Guide!

1. Chef Knows Best
Over the holidays, I prepare my favorite stews and casseroles in a Roasting Pan (suited for roasting and induction cooking), and also love utilizing my Teppanyaki Pan while cooking mouth-watering meats and roasting vegetables with induction in my 48-Inch Range. Exceptional cooking equipment such as the Roasting Pan and Teppanyaki Pan makes all the difference in taste, and would make the perfect gift for the chef in your life.

2. Spice it Up
Every year, my closest girlfriend buys me a fresh Gourmet Spice Kit. There are 15 different flavors within this set of spices, and I really look forward to cooking with them throughout the year. This would be a sweet gift to surprise a friend with, or the perfect way to thank a family member for hosting the holidays.

3. Cookbooks & Cocktails
This year, I’m pairing our holiday dinner with my favorite cocktail in Nathan Turner’s I Love California cookbook and then surprising each family member attending our holiday party with their own copy. Being from California and with most of my relatives living across the U.S., I want to send a little sunshine their way. A cookbook is the gift that keeps on giving, so culinary connoisseurs (or amateurs!) can continue to experiment with recipes all year round.

4. Personalized Present
Another great gift idea is a premium personalized cutting board. I like to have the last name of the recipient carved into the board, or maybe another personalized image or message that will mean something to them. Last year, I gifted my mom a cutting board with my grandmother’s favorite lasagna recipe etched in – such a special touch and a great way to keep family recipes passed down from generation to generation! The best part about these boards is what goes on top. I like to shop for a variety of crackers, an assortment of savory cheeses, and a mix of nuts and seeds to accompany the cutting board to demonstrate how it can be used not only as a place to chop but also as a beautiful serving platter for bite-size appetizers and charcuterie boards.

5. A Range of Possibilities
I am so excited to give my husband the item at the top of his wish list—a Thermador Grill accessory for our range. He loves grilling steaks, seafood, and vegetables and can’t wait to try them out on this grill that’s thermostatically controlled to deliver a consistent, even heating across the entire surface of the grill accessory.

How will you surprise the chef in your life? Share your thoughts with us in the comments or on our social channels: www.facebook.com/thermador, @ThermadorHome and @Thermador.