Gifts for Home Cooks: Olive Wood That Gets Used Every Day
Home cooks already have everything? Not quite. Which olive-wood kitchen tools actually get used, and which make a great gift as a set.
People who love to cook are hard to buy for. The kitchen is full, the good knives are long since there, and yet another cookbook ends up on the shelf. What home cooks almost never have, though, is tools that feel good in the hand. Olive-wood kitchen tools are exactly that: things you pick up every day that grow more beautiful every year.
Why olive wood belongs in every cook's kitchen
Olive wood is one of the densest woods used in the kitchen. It takes on barely any moisture or odours, is taste-neutral and scratches neither coated pans nor enamelled pots. It also doesn't conduct heat: an olive-wood spoon stays comfortable at the handle even when it's standing in the casserole.
For those who grind everything themselves
The mortar & pestle is the gift for anyone who takes spices seriously, from fresh pepper and cumin to garlic and pesto. It comes in three sizes (Ø 8, 10 and 12 cm). For keen cooks we recommend the medium or large one: enough room to work, heavy enough not to wander.
For those at the stove
- Ladle: a deep ladle for soups, ragù and stews.
- Slotted skimmer: for lifting out gnocchi, ravioli or blanched vegetables.
- Spatula turner: flat and angled, slides under fried eggs and pancakes.
- Citrus reamer: for the squeeze of lemon just before serving.
Our tip: give two or three together. Spatula, skimmer and serving spoon cost €26 together and look great tied up with a ribbon.
For those who love to host
Anyone who doesn't just cook but loves having guests will be happy with something to serve on: a kidney-shaped cutting and serving board for bread and cheese, the large serving platter for antipasti, or the set of plates for tapas and mezze.
Personal with engraving
A board or a mortar with the cook's name on it is a gift nobody passes on. In the engraving studio you see right away how your text looks in the wood. Engraving costs €9 and is free on orders from €80.
Made to last
Olive wood doesn't belong in the dishwasher; a quick hand wash and the occasional oiling is all it needs. Hand the gift over with a short care note and it's perfect. Feel free to share our guide to oiling olive wood.
