We Asked 10 Chefs What They’re Giving for Valentine’s Day—and Their Answers May Surprise You

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and if you still don’t have a gift for whomever you want to celebrate (or at least an idea) yet, well, you’re behind. I’m not going to lie, I’m right there with you. I still don’t know what I’m giving my partner, and when I reached out to a bunch of chefs for inspiration, to find that many of them had amazing and heartfelt answers, well, I realized I needed to step up my game.

If you’ve ever wondered what chefs around the country are buying for Valentine’s Day, wonder no more. We asked 10 what they’re gifting this year, and their answers range from Stanley cups to Legos to watch rolls. So take the stress out of searching for the perfect gift and keep reading to check out their creative (and thoughtful) ideas. 

What Chefs Are Giving for Valentine’s Day

• Stanley Quencher, $45 (originally $50) at amazon.com
• OXO Good Grips Cookie Scoop, 3-Pack, $40 (originally $50) at amazon.com
• Lego Roses Building Kit, $15 at amazon.com
• Wolf Tutti Frutti Single Watch Roll, $89 at neimanmarcus.com
• Sabri Sabri Heirloom Italian Linen Napkins, $136 at food52.com
• Zojirushi Fuzzy Rice Cooker, $225 (originally $309) at amazon.com
• Ghia Berry Aperitif, $38 at drinkghia.com
• Amazon Basics Tea Kettle, $35 at amazon.com
• Microplane Cheese Grater, $13 at amazon.com
• Delices de Chocolat, $6 at amazon.com

Stanley Quencher

“Lindsey is a plant lady and she loves to decorate every surface in our home with a plant. This year I'm getting her a Vriesea Bromeliad from Lively Root. They are an online plant delivery service that has tons of selection for every kind of plant lover. You can filter by care, water level, sunlight, and pet friendliness. I’m also getting her a Stanley Cup, not because she's basic, but because I know she'll use it.” —Evan LeRoy, chef, pitmaster and co-owner of LeRoy and Lewis in Austin, TX, with a brick & mortar opening late February

OXO Good Grips Cookie Scoop, 3-Pack

“While we don’t typically exchange gifts for Valentine’s Day, I am looking forward to doing something special this year. My wife likes baking cookies, especially to give as gifts during the holidays. We realized this year, when she was already buried in cookie production of all sorts, that all of our cookie scoops had disappeared so I am getting her a set of three different sizes of OXO cookie scoops.” —Chef Dan Kluger, Greywind & Loring Place in New York, NY

Lego Roses Building Kit

“This is Lego for grown-ups, and this one is a rose version. I think it's pretty cool, and love doing a hands-on activity for Valentine’s Day.” —Sol Han, Executive Chef at Little Mad, New York, NY

Wolf Tutti Frutti Single Watch Roll

“In my free time I’m always searching for watches for myself and for my wife. One of my frequent searches is the “Kama Sutra” by Girard Perregaux; (look it up, it’s a fun piece). While browsing I found a nice little dainty vintage watch by the same maker that looks perfect for Andrea. It’s my goal for the year to find more watches for her, so I’m also getting her a travel watch roll so she can take some with her when she travels for work. —Nico Garza, Sous Chef at Restaurant Mixtli, San Antonio, TX

Sabri Sabri Heirloom Italian Linen Napkins

“We travel to Italy quite often and have a deep love of Italian ceramics and tabletop items. These linen napkins would be a beautiful addition to any table. Made in Italy, they look vintage and modern all at once. I think they would be a sweet Valentine’s gift for a loved one, and a modern heirloom.” —Anthony Mangieri, founder of Genio Della Pizza and chef/owner of Una Pizza Napoletana, New York, NY

Zojirushi Fuzzy Rice Cooker

“My husband is obsessed with rice and although I am not sure that after 25 years I would describe myself as ‘obsessed’ with my husband. Still, he is definitely my forever Valentine, and so I am gifting him the Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer this V-day. It makes absolutely spectacular rice — each grain is plump and perfect — keeps said rice warm for ages, and has an adorable little chime at the end.” —Jessie Sheehan, recipe developer, baker, and bestselling cookbook author of Snackable Bakes

Ghia Berry Aperitif

“So many people are going easy on alcohol these days, including my husband. We both love everything from Ghia. Its products are delicious and give a celebratory lift to an NA beverage.” —Valerie Gordon, chef and owner of Valerie Confections 

Amazon Basics Tea Kettle 

“My wife loves tea, so I’m excited to upgrade our stove-top tea kettle to this electric one from Amazon.” —Adam Alderin, chef and owner of The Beal House in Littleton, NH 

Microplane Cheese Grater

“It might not sound very romantic, but my wife is a huge cheese fan and it’s a way to her heart. I think everyone should have a Microplane in their kitchen and I can’t wait to gift my wife its ribbon version for Valentine’s Day. She will absolutely love it. You get pillows of cheese that have more texture, so when you eat you get the actual bite and flavor of cheese. You can also grate vegetables directly into salads. Maybe we’ll pair our cheese with some bubbly to further toast our love on this special day.” —Niven Patel, chef and co-owner Erba & Ghee, Miami, FL

Delices de Chocolat

“In the chaotic midst of launching Lilou, a new independent, fine dining French brasserie in Knoxville, Tenn., I recently found myself hunting for the perfect gift for Valentine's Day. I hoped to find something thoughtful and create an experience that my significant other and I can share together. So, I'm into the idea of storytelling through flavors, and I thought, I can cook dinner and my Amore can do dessert. Why not pick up a French book that's all about chocolate? My personal favorite is called Délices de Chocolat, a French chocolatier's delight.” —Benjamin Tilatti, chef at Lilou, Knoxville, TN