Cook’s wish list

Shopping for food enthusiasts can be tons of fun. Walk into any culinary store and there are aisles packed with gadgets and appliances, not to mention those ingredients from specialty stores that armchair top chefs love to shave, puree and infuse. Food gifts encourage sharing. With wines to sample and recipes to try, these gifts really do keep on giving. Budgets are tight this year but there are plenty of kitchen implements in every price range.

Here are our favorite ideas, from stocking stuffers to splurges.

GADGETS AND TOOLS

Gadgets make great gifts and stocking stuffers. To dress up packages, try tying spatulas, whisks and other tools onto boxes with ribbon.

> HEAD CHEF UTENSILS —- These tools made especially for little people look like —- well —- little people. Made of flexible silicone, children will be able to scrape down their own bowls. Imagine keeping a 3-year-old busy with the whisk and a couple of egg whites. And if the kid gets bored, the suction legs let the tools double as action figures.

HOW MUCH: $10

WHERE TO BUY: Sur La Table, Perimeter Mall

> CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE SHAVER —- If your favorite cook has a weakness for tools, as we do, then this heirloom-quality truffle shaver will make a nice stocking stuffer. Truffles are all the rage, and you can pick them up at Star Provisions or other specialty food stores. The adjustable rivet makes shearing off uniform slices of chocolate a breeze.

HOW MUCH: $46

WHERE TO BUY: Sur La Table

> DR. JO’S CARDS —- If your New’s Year resolution is to lose weight and eat healthfully, then dive into a deck of Dr. Jo’s Eat Out & Lose Weight Plan cards. The 32 color-coded cards will help you choose the healthiest options from pizza to burgers and will show you how to choose calorie-controlled breakfast, lunch and dinner meals.

HOW MUCH: $11.95

WHERE TO BUY: www.drjo.com

> GOURMET GETAWAY LUNCH TOTE —- Brown-bagging doesn’t have to be boring. These soft, insulated holders are the most fashionable way of economizing when you’re staying in for lunch. Collapsible and stretchy, these holders not only accommodate almost any size container, but also keep food cold or hot for up to four hours.

HOW MUCH: $25

WHERE TO BUY: www.builtny.com

> WINE MUMMY: Because of the Transportation Security Administration’s restrictions on liquids in carry-on luggage, wine enthusiasts have few options for transporting bottles. Enter the Wine Mummy, a durable, zip-top bubble bag that is perfect for protecting wine and spirits while traveling. You’ll also have the peace of mind that the contents of your luggage are well protected. No more stuffing bottles in socks and hoping for the best. Corporate logos on bags available.

HOW MUCH: $4.95

WHERE TO BUY: www.winemummy.com.

EXPERIENCE

Get your hands (or apron) dirty with these gifts.

> BISTRO SERIES —- Three hands-on classes with chef Allison Vezeau will help you to learn how to make elegant meals with flair. The series begins with an Italian getaway with chianti-braised veal, includes a romantic Valentine’s Day lobster dinner and concludes in Provence with a rack of spring lamb.

HOW MUCH: $180

WHERE: Cooks Warehouse, Brookhaven

> WINEMAKING KITS —- Available for the novice to the knowledgeable vintner. Finished wine can be made in as little as four weeks or take as long as a half-year for more complex varieties. Kits produce six gallons of wine, and various accessories —- from bottles to custom labels —- are also available.

HOW MUCH: Kits start at $65 and go to $200

WHERE TO BUY: Wine Craft Atlanta, 5920 Roswell Road, Atlanta. www.winecraftatl.com.

> WINE TOUR AND GUIDED TASTING —- For the wine lover, this in-depth tour of Montaluce Winery in Dahlonega escorted by winery staff or sommelier includes production facilities, tank or barrel samples and a vineyard tour (weather permitting). Then, guests will have a sommelier-guided tasting accompanied by artisan cheeses and charcuterie. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays.

HOW MUCH: $45 per person

WHERE TO RESERVE: 706-867-4060, www.montaluce.com.

BOOKS/CALENDARS

Whether they are for the coffee table or the kitchen table, food books are a favorite. Check local bookstores and online retailers for these titles. For recipes, see K4.

> “A DAY AT EL BULLI” by Ferran Adria (Phaidon) —- There are some restaurants epicureans worldwide dream about. A chosen few are able to land reservations and make the pilgrimage to northern Spain to dine at El Bulli. With 800 photographs, this book takes readers on a journey through gastronomic pioneer Adria’s kitchen. El Bulli was judged the best restaurant in the world, the birthplace of the molecular food movement, as well as training ground for Atlanta star chef Richard Blais.

HOW MUCH: $49.95

> “THE ART & SOUL OF BAKING” by Cindy Mushet (Andrews McMeel Publishing) —- There are any number of baking books available this year. Among our favorites: “Baked: New Frontiers in Baking” (Stewart, Taboori & Chang, $29.95) is a forward-thinking approach to the oven with an entire chapter devoted to breakfast. And “The Modern Baker” (Penguin Books, $29.95) is great for those who like their baking quick and easy. “Art & Soul” is the best of both worlds: comprehensive, with lush photography, and recipes that are innovative and well-tested.

HOW MUCH: $40

> “THE BON APPETIT FAST, EASY, FRESH COOKBOOK” by Barbara Fairchild (Wiley). Many of the 1,100 recipes can be prepared in about 30 minutes. While there are plenty of recipes for appetizers, desserts and even cocktails, this book puts a strong emphasis on dinner. As a bonus, you can redeem the back cover for a one-year subscription to the magazine.

HOW MUCH: $35.95

> “MARTHA STEWART’S COOKING SCHOOL” by Martha Stewart (Clarkson Potter). If your home cook hasn’t had enough cooking lessons from the TV series and magazines, Stewart’s latest title is a must-have. The highly instructive book is a complete culinary course for the novice to the expert. It’s beautifully presented and is the “Julia Child —- Mastering the Art of French Cooking” for this generation.

HOW MUCH: $45

> “THE NEW WINE LOVER’S COMPANION” by Sharon Tyler Herbst. (Barron’s Educational Series; second edition, 2003). With more than 4,000 entries, this is one of the most comprehensive, portable and comprehensible wine resource guides. Concise definitions of grape varieties, wine regions, styles, winemaking techniques and a potpourri of serving, tasting and ordering information make it indispensable for decoding the language of wine, but readers will find themselves flipping through its 684 pages to read about items such as abboccato or zibibbo. Food lovers can pick up “The New Food Lover’s Companion” by the same author and enjoy it just as much.

HOW MUCH: $14.99

> “UNDER PRESSURE: COOKING SOUS VIDE” by Thomas Keller (Artisan). Keller is one the nation’s best chefs, and sous vide, the culinary innovation of cooking foods in vacuum packs in precise low temperatures, has evolved from use in the military and airline industry to become one of the most popular techniques. While stocked with toney recipes for emulsions and purees, the sheer beauty of this book places it squarely on the coffee table.

HOW MUCH: $75

> “TEN” by Sheila Lukins (Workman). When it comes to dependable recipes no one beats Lukins, co-author of the “Silver Palate” books. In “Ten,” she provides 10 great recipes for each of our favorite foods.

HOW MUCH: $19.95

> “THINGS COOKS LOVE” by Marie Simmons (Andrews McMeel Publishing). This book is for that person who loves to roam the gadget aisle and is looking for reasons to expand their tools with tagines and ricers. The book explains the purpose for all those specialty items, such as mussel pots or a chinois, as well as recipes and care tips.

HOW MUCH: $35

WHERE TO BUY: Sur La Table

> MAMA SAYS, “NO MORE FROZEN PIZZA” RECIPE CARDS —- When you want to teach your kids to cook for themselves sometimes, you have no choice but to print 24 laminated recipe cards for their favorite dishes and package them in a pizza box, like local moms Iris Feinberg and Lynn Epstein did.

HOW MUCH: $18.99

WHERE TO BUY: www.mamasays.us, or the Cook’s Warehouse, 4062 Peachtree Road, Atlanta; the Cook’s & Sherlock’s, 180 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur

The Cook’s Warehouse, 549-1 Amsterdam Ave., Atlanta; Fragile, 6010 Sandy Springs Circle N.E., Suite C, Atlanta; Taste, 416 Church St., Decatur

> CALENDARS —- Andrews McMeel Publishing has produced a line of calendars on sturdy recipe cards from well-known cookbook titles, including “Joy of Cooking” and “How to Cook Everything.” For slow-cooker fans, we suggest trying “Fix It and Forget It.” We also like the magnetic miniature calendars featuring single subjects such as “Tea” or “Chocolate” for the office or the fridge. “Mix” is full of cocktail recipes, along with facts and tips.

HOW MUCH: $13.99 and $7.99

WHERE: Bookstores

SPECIALTY FOODS/DRINKS

Sometimes food is the right gift. Here are some ideas:

> ALMOND SNACK TIN —- You know nuts are healthy, but how many nuts are in a serving? At www.almondsarein.com, you can order a decorative tin that holds the perfect portion —- 23 almonds. Tuck this little container in your purse or briefcase for an afternoon snack.

HOW MUCH: $2.48 for tin, plus shipping and handling

WHERE TO BUY: www.almondsarein.com

> BOX OF LOVE —- Put together your very own assortment of chocolates from Cacao Laboratoire. Select a variety of candies or just a simple box of truffles.

HOW MUCH: $30

WHERE TO BUY: Cacao Laboratoire, 312 C N. Highland Ave., Atlanta. 404-221-2626, www.cacaoatlanta.com

> LINTON HOPKINS’ APPLE BUTTER —- A jar of apple butter from H&F Bread Co. makes an unexpected (and delicious) hostess gift. Chef Hopkins cans butter at Restaurant Eugene and stores it in pretty Weck jars with hermetic rubber seals. Other treats include pear and apple preserves.

HOW MUCH: $5.50

WHERE TO BUY: H&F Bread Co., 2255 Peachtree Road, N.E., Suite H. 404-350-8877

FOODIE WITH EVERYTHING

Here are some gifts for the epicurean who might leave you a bit stumped:

> GASTRONOMICA —- For the foodie with stacks of cookbooks, consider back issues of the Journal of Food and Culture. These exquisite magazines examine the world through culinary traditions. We recommend Vol. 3 —- 2003, which includes a summer issue with “Georgia Peach” on the cover.

HOW MUCH: $26 for four volumes.

WHERE TO BUY: www.gastronomica.com

> DISH MENU BOX —- Who doesn’t have takeout menus stuffed in a drawer or inching their way down the fridge through a weighed-down magnet? The Dish Menu Box, which features illustrations of Atlanta landmarks, gets those menus and coupons into an appropriate place, like the kitchen shelf.

HOW MUCH: $39.95

WHERE TO BUY: Swoozies, 4285 Roswell Road N.E., and other locations.

> EASY LEAF —- How about a little gold garnish? Easy Leaf makes edible silver and 24-karat gold leaf that comes in shakers or sprinkles for a surprising addition to the rim of a glass or on top of desserts.

HOW MUCH: $23 for 100-gram container

WHERE TO BUY: Neiman Marcus

> FOODIE FIGHT: THE FOOD-LOVER’S TRIVIA GAME —- This board game is great for potlucks and progressive dinner parties, with questions such as “What is the role of a sommelier?” or “What was the only thing on the menu at Olympia Cafe that John Belushi would cook on ‘Saturday Night Live’?” Answers: Wine, and “Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger.”

HOW MUCH: $18.95

WHERE TO BUY: Barnes & Noble; www.chroniclebooks.com

> “THE WINE JOURNAL” —- Don’t call it a book. It is “a companion” for wine lovers. This handsome leather-bound journal-scrapbook-guide explains some concepts, such as oakiness, but mainly has room to jot down notes from all those tastings your oenophile attends.

HOW MUCH: $30

WHERE TO BUY: Bookstores

> ICEMILK APRONS —- For people who love old-time things, check out Ice Milk aprons. Made from scratch, Atlanta designer Ashley Leckey draws on inspiration from her grandmother with these retro half and full aprons, sold with heritage recipes and tags. For fans of our Southern Recipe Restoration Project, check out Leckey’s blog while on the Web site.

HOW MUCH: $55-$100

WHERE TO BUY: www.icemilkaprons.com

Contributing: Jamila Robinson, Jeanne Besser, Gil Kulers, Cindy Murphy, Christine Rosenbloom

On ajc.com/holiday: Festive recipes and tips.