I’ve Been a Chef for 15+ Years, and These Are the 10 Holiday Gifts on My List

After being a chef for going on 15 years, I’ve come to learn what items are essential in the kitchen and what you can just leave behind. For example, everyone needs about two good knives, but a whole set in a block? I’m not so sure. While I’ve tried and loved (or ditched) plenty of kitchen tools and gadgets over the years, there are still many more I’m hoping for this holiday season.

This year, at the top of my list are new kitchen shoes, a gorgeous John Boos cutting board, an editor-favorite pizza oven, and more. If you’ve ever wondered what a chef really wants for the holidays, keep reading. My picks start at just $20. 

A Chef’s Holiday Wish List 

• Crocs On-the-Clock Slip-On, $45, originally $50 at zappos.com
• ChefsTemp Pocket Pro Meat Thermometer, $24, originally $30 at amazon.com
• John Boos Block Chop-N-Slice, $49 at amazon.com
• Created Co. Roam Mug, $28 at created.co
• Hedley & Bennett Essential Apron, $72, originally $85 at hedleyandbennett.com
• Primis Imports Early Harvest EVOO, $35 at primisimports.com
• Yeti Daytrip Lunch Box, $80 at yeti.com
• Ooni Koda 16 Pizza Oven, $698, originally $709 at amazon.com
• Wüsthof Stainless Steel Kitchen Shears, $55 at williams-sonoma.com
• Kitchen Torch, $60 at williams-sonoma.com

Crocs On-the-Clock Slip-On

I definitely need new kitchen shoes, and I have been eyeing this pair of closed-toe Crocs for a while now. They have a great grip, which is crucial for walking around slippery kitchen floors, plus relaxed, open backs so my feet can breathe even when I’m standing all day long. There is also arch support for comfort so I don’t wear myself out.

ChefsTemp Pocket Pro Meat Thermometer

I recently tried ChefsTemp’s wireless probe thermometer and fell in love — it has the longest range of any I’ve tried, so I can run to the store while I’m cooking and still monitor the internal temp of my roast. But for work, I need a quick instant-read thermometer that fits easily in my apron pocket, so I’m eyeing this nifty model from the same brand. I love its big, easy-to-read screen and how it rotates the numbers depending on what angle you’re holding it at. Plus, it comes in five different colors, so I can really personalize it to myself. 

John Boos Block Chop-N-Slice

This cutting board is another Food & Wine favorite, and it’s something I desperately need. It measures 16 x 10 x 1 inch, making it the perfect work surface for mise en place or everyday cutting. Because it’s made from such beautiful maple wood, it’d also be a great holiday charcuterie board. If taken care of properly, it could last forever, and boy, would I take care of it properly.

Created Co. Roam Mug

I drink quite a bit of coffee in the morning and prefer it to stay hot for hours on end. I’ve tried dozens of mugs from brands like Yeti and Stanley, but I recently found that the Nomad from Created Co. is my favorite thanks to its ceramic interior; it doesn’t change the taste of my coffee at all, which some stainless steel can do. The brand recently came out with the Roam mug, which looks like it will fit right into my car’s cupholders. Plus, I love the sleek colors it comes in, especially “rain,” which is a light blue. 

Hedley & Bennett Essential Apron

Speaking of aprons, I need a new one, and I’ve had my eye on this one from Hedley & Bennett for a while now. Hedley & Bennett definitely set the gold standard for aprons. Not only are they machine-washable — an important factor since I tend to beat mine up — but they have ample pockets for meat thermometers, pens, and other tools. And they just look stylish. I’m personally hoping for the Tahoe Pine color. 

Primis Imports Early Harvest EVOO

After seeing this olive oil all over my TikTok For You Page, I figured I would see what all the hullabaloo was about. (The fact that Kenji Lopez-Alt uses this brand helped convince me, too.) I fell in love — so much so that I blew through the whole bottle in about two weeks. I find myself using drastically less butter at home since this oil is so rich and delicious. I’m really hoping someone will give me some more of this tasty, grassy Greek olive oil for the holidays.

Yeti Daytrip Lunch Box

I love nearly everything Yeti makes, from its coolers to its espresso cups, but the latest item I’m longing for is its lunch box. Measuring 10.7 x 4.6 x 8.7 inches, it can fit up to five standard-sized cans, according to the brand, which is definitely enough space for my lunch. It has a water-resistant exterior and is easy to clean so if something spills inside, it won’t ruin my day. Plus, it comes in eight different colors. (Personally, I like the olive.)

Ooni Koda 16 Pizza Oven

While you might’ve heard that chefs don’t typically like to cook at home, the one thing that I will always enjoy making at home is pizza. It’s about time I finally got a pizza oven for my backyard, so I’m eyeing the Ooni Koda 16, which is a Food & Wine Favorite. This pizza oven is gas-powered, can get as hot as 932°F, and can cook a pizza with a bubbly crust and melty cheese in about 90 seconds, perfect for impromptu hangs with hungry friends or a more interactive build-your-own pizza night.

Wüsthof Stainless Steel Kitchen Shears

To me, a good pair of kitchen shears is an underrated essential. I use them almost daily for snipping herbs or breaking down whole fish and chicken, but I’d love a nicer pair. These Wüsthof ones almost look like surgical scissors. I love the sleek design, and they seem to be extra-sharp, which is very important for taking the backbone out of a chicken. They come apart for easy cleaning and even have a built-in bottle opener. I mean, does it get any better than that?

Kitchen Torch

Do I need a new kitchen torch? No, not really. But I certainly want one. This model from Williams Sonoma has a nice stand for it to rest on, plus an adjustable flame so I can really char something or just delicately brown it. When I’m in the mood for crème brûlée at home, this would come in handy.