If you're not sure what to get the chef who has everything, check out Short Order's list of the latest and greatest tech gear. We compiled a thoughtful list of ten tech products designed to keep your favorite foodie on the cutting edge of culinary trends while streamlining their work in the kitchen. Let the last minute holiday shopping ensue!
Belkin Chef Stand + Stylus; About $40 on ebay.com
This is the hot item for foodies this year--which of course means it's sold out on amazon.com, bestbuy.com, tiger direct and staples. But, since this is a must for the chef in your life try nabbing one on ebay instead. Made especially for use in the kitchen, the Chef Stand and Stylus eliminates the need for printed recipes pages and gives you the freedom to interact with your tablet while you cook--without worrying about touching your device with messy hands. The case-compatible stand has a non-slip rubber base and two different angles that are ideal for countertop use. The wand allows you to follow recipes of your favorite chefs and browse the web without ever laying a finger on your screen. The stylus' magnetic tip works with any touchscreen including the ubiquitous iPad.
The Triscale by Joseph Joseph; $30 at josephjoseph.com
This unique digital scale brings new meaning to the concept of space-saving kitchen gadgets. When open, its three arms provide a stable platform on which to place bowls and other items for weighing. When closed, the unit folds down to an extremely compact size, enclosing and protecting the screen and controls, which makes it perfect for storing in a kitchen drawer. It has an easy-to-read LCD display, touch-sensitive controls and an auto power-off feature. The device and weighs/measures in the following units: gms, lbs, ozs, fl.ozs and mls and a convenient Add & Weigh function also allows multiple ingredients to be measured in the same bowl during recipe preparation.
Kenwood Cooking Chef; $2,000 at Williams-Sonoma
This might be the only kitchen appliance you'll ever need, available for the first time in North America exclusively through Williams-Sonoma. Originally designed for the European home, the four-in-one Kenwood Cooking Chef combines all the best features of a stand mixer, food processor and blender with an induction heating plate that cooks foods directly in the work bowl. It lets you prepare everything from soups to steamed vegetables to sauces--all in one bowl in a timely fashion. Attachments are available to chop, puree, blend, shred and slice.
The OXO Good Grips Salt & Pepper Grinder Set; $39.99 at www.oxo.com
Oxo, known for 'consistent quality at a fair price' makes an electric grinder set that makes it easy to add fresh black pepper and flavorful sea salt to any meal. The grinders are sturdy and come with Oxo's signature nonslip grip, settings that allow you to grind the spices to your preferred grind and an innovative design that puts the grinding mechanism up top, which means your counter has a better shot at being mess-free. The set contains one Salt Grinder and one Pepper Grinder and comes filled with sea salt and black peppercorns.
Treatful Online Gift Cards; $25 and up at Treatful.com
Give the gift of a night out with online gift cards for restaurants via Treatful. Powered by Open table, they make for unique and personal gifts and great last minute stocking stuffers. Treatful connects customers with local restaurants to allow them to send instant and secure online gift cards known as "treats". To do so, gift givers pick a local restaurant and purchase a suggested amount. Recipients are sent their "treat" via e-mail, and after it's printed out, it can be redeemed at the specified restaurant at any time. As of right now, Treatful is now available in most metro areas, including Miami, San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver with over 20 Miami restaurants participating.
GE Monogram 30-Inch Refrigerator with Convertible Drawers; $6,249 available where Monogram appliances are sold
In addition to your standard fresh refrigerator/freezer drawer combo, this high-tech line of refrigerators features a third convertible drawer--an industry first for built-in refrigerators--that can be set from negative 6 degrees Fahrenheit to 55 degrees Fahrenheit with a simple touch of its digital controls, meaning you can switch the space from freezer to wine chiller as needed in under 24 hours. The material used to make the refrigerators is a first as well - these guys are the first HFC-free refrigerators in the U.S., which means they replace the standard hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant with isobutene, an alternative that creates significantly fewer greenhouse gases.
Nespresso Pixie Machine with Automatic Milk Frother; $279.95 at Williams-Sonoma.com
These eye-catching single-cup machines are popping up all over Italy and come in playful colors like lime green and red. The compact espresso maker is perfect for tiny counters while packing a bold-flavor punch serving up 1-3 oz pours and can be programmed to brew a specific length based on your preference. The included Aeroccino creates steamed or frothed milk to top off your carefully crafted drink.
Taylor Wireless Remote Thermometer; $24.99 at Target.com
Mind the oven while entertaining guests in the next room with this digital thermometer and wireless remote that monitors cooking temperatures for up to 200' away. The device signals temperature and time alerts with light, sound and vibration notifications. The thermometer measures temperature ranges from 32-450°F or 0-232°C and is easy to read in the dark.
Oster Electric Wine Opener; $17 at Amazon.com
Pop bottles faster with the Oster Electric Wine Opener. The cordless opener opens all traditional-sized wine bottles in seconds with the touch of a button, available in red, black, silver and stainless steel finishes. The device has a separate recharging base to ensure mobility of the opening unit so hosts can spend more time entertaining guests.
Waring Pro Wine Chiller; $129.99 at bedbathandbeyond.com
For those who love their vino, pick up the Waring Pro Wine Chiller wich chills and serves wines at their proper temperature. The LCD backlit screen displays pre-programmed temperatures for 33 varieties of red, white and Champagne wines making it easy to fake it as a wine connoisseur at your next event.
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