2012 Gift Guide: Kitchen Tools

Their enameled cast-iron cookware is duly famous, but Le Creuset’s other products are kitchen essentials as well–namely, these stoneware bowls, which nest and stack, are oven-safe, and are colorfully fired in hues to match your dutch oven. _Le Creuset Stoneware Bowls, $25-$55 at Amazon.com_

Made from the reclaimed wood of Nordic elms destroyed by Dutch elm disease, these arty surfaces have the origin of the wood engraved along one edge, and a smooth, hard top-surface showcasing the lines of the wood grain. Much more than showpieces, they’re durable planks that will last a lifetime. _Sløjd Wood Cutting Boards, $125-$335 at Slojd.org_

Few things make a kitchen look lovelier than a shiny, beautifully-constructed pot on the stove. All-Clad’s Copper Core series envelops high-performance copper in gorgeously high-gloss stainless steel; the 1.5-size saucepan is versatile enough for almost any use. All-Clad Copper Core 1.5-qt Saucepan, $159.95 at Amazon.com

Ideal for grating garlic or ginger–or just showing off on display–these tin-coated, hand-shaped copper graters from Japan were made using a technique dating from the Edo period. Japanese Copper Graters, $40 each at Poketo.com

UK company Falcon has been producing their famous color-accented enamelware since 1920, and little has changed about the product since then. Their pie set of five nesting rectangular dishes is perfect for casseroles, roasts, or–yes–even pie. _Falcon Enamelware Pie Set, $98 at anthropologie.com_

It’s a Swiss Army Knife for bartenders, and it’s not a joke: the incredibly clever Bar10der does ten things in one remarkably sturdy package: it zests, it strains, it muddles, it reams, it peels, it jiggers, and–best of all–it has everyone in our office in love with it. Bar10der 10-in-1 Bar Tool, $50 at uncommongoods.com

The classic tableside grinder, Vic Firth’s 8-inch wooden pepper and salt mills are both modern and timeless. Acadia Salt and Pepper Mill, $45.95 each at VicFirthgourmet.com

This simple glass vessel is in fact a work of genius: put a handful of kernels in the bottom, a pat of butter on the perforated silicone top, and after few minutes in the microwave you’ve got a snack infinitely better than anything that comes in a bag. _Microwave Popcorn Popper, $22.50 at Williams-Sonoma.com_

A classic work of Scandinavian design, Jens Quistgaard’s sculptural 1956 designs have long been prizes for diligant collectors. Crate & Barrel’s reissue brings iconic midcentury design to your kitchen without the scrounge. Dansk Kobenstyle 4-quart Casserole, $99 at CrateandBarrel.com

Marked with circles for rolling pie crusts, a ruler for dough, and a measurement conversion table for–well, for converting measurements–this lovely bamboo cutting board is an essential tool for any baker. Core Bamboo Pro-Baker’s Measuring Board, $89 at WestElm.com

Nearly every chef we know swears by some version of Benriner’s razor-sharp, incredibly useful mandoline. This version, with a handy collection tray just under the (swappable) blade, makes both prep and cleanup a pleasure. _Benriner Mandoline with Collection Tray, $41.80 at Amazon.com_

Coffee giant Starbucks makes their first foray into capsule-brewing with this clever, streamlined machine, which pulls espressos, lungos, and brewed coffee with equal facility. Starbucks Verismo 580 System, $199 at williams-sonoma.com

From tagines to baked beans to basmati rice, this two-in-one slow cooker can do it all. The programming is digital so it’s easy to use, while the chemical-free natural clay cooking pot promotes even, no-fuss cooking. _VitaClay 6-Cup Programmable Multi-Cooker, $69.99 at Amazon.com_

Clocking in at just under $2000, this isn’t your run-of-the-mill kitchen gadget: What appears at first glance to be just another stand mixer is actually also a blender, food processor, and induction cooking surface. It doesn’t just belong in your kitchen–it practically replaces your kitchen. Kenwood Cooking Chef, $1999.95 at williams-sonoma.com