Kitchen

[Sooner]

Jacques Pepin has some great books, some illustrated with his drawings.  

New York Times books are a great choice.

What are the person's interestes?  Mediterranean cookbooks appeal to me. Hoffman publications has some lovely cookbooks--many with great pictures of table settings or places. You might check there and see if something appeals. Some of the older Christmas books are great!  

[Lilysmom1]

Another vote for America's Test Kitchen or Cook's Country.  My go to.  

[gardenman]

Breaking the mold a bit, you could make them a cookbook featuring your favorite recipes that you've collected over your lifetime with any hints you've developed along the way. It's fairly easy to self-publish a book these days and there are lots of tools available to help you. It would be tricky getting it done in the time we have left before Christmas but could be a good project for next year. You could even include photos of your finished dishes. It would be quite the project and a labor of love, but a very impressive gift. And since you'd just be giving it to one person and not trying to sell it commercially, you could avoid most of the copyright issues.

You could even address the cook you're giving to it specifically in the instructions like, "I know you don't like paprika (assuming he/she doesn't like paprika) so you could withhold it here. It's not vital, but the dish is better with it." If you truly know them and their kitchen you can even address which specific cookware they have to use. "Your mother's old roasting pan would be great to use." 

It could be one of those mind-blowing gifts to give to someone that they'd never forget. It could also drive you slightly crazy making it and take many, many hours of your life to produce it. I'd only do it for a close friend/family member, but it would blow their mind more than anything else you could give them. You could expect to hear them say, "I can't believe you did this!" about a thousand times. Good luck in topping that gift in future years though. It's a biggie to make and give, but if you want to blow them away, it would be hard to beat.

[Carolina925]

I love the idea of getting cookbooks, or really any kind of book, as gifts. If the recipient is a cook, he/she may already have some of the basics mentioned here. I like going to the PBS site and ordering some of the cookbooks for specific areas of the world, always something exciting there. I really like my old Fannie Farmer cookbook but it's pretty basic. Also enjoy the Pat Conroy Cookbook. Anyone familiar with him as a writer would know he adds real stories into the recipes. Good luck, I'm sure the recipient will love anything you choose!

[JeanLouiseFinch]

I'd be careful if gifting a cookbook unless I specifically knew how the recipient liked to cook and eat, which has nothing to do with skill level.  Are they vegetarian, vegan, keto, low carb, paleo. pescatarians, carnivores?

[Dusty1]

@granddi Snoop Dogg: From Crook To Cook.

It has some really good recipes in it, the Orange Chicken is my favorite, & it's fun.

Also, it's not a "cookbook" but Stanley Tucci's Taste: My Life Through Food is a really good book & he does do some recipes in it.

[jackthebear]

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@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:

I'd be careful if gifting a cookbook unless I specifically knew how the recipient liked to cook and eat, which has nothing to do with skill level.  Are they vegetarian, vegan, keto, low carb, paleo. pescatarians, carnivores?

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unless u  know who or what they like dont

[CelticCrafter]

Are you sure it would be a wanted gift?

Goodwill, the church thrift shop and the used book room at the library are overloaded with cook books for sale.

[SouthernBee]

@gardenman : Great idea.

Friends have requested several of my recipes with the family history of the recipe and any hints or suggestions. My DH keeps copies of the recipes so we can print them when needed. I always have at least two notebook binders that can be used and decorated for recipes. I also have a supply of recipe cards, the plastic document holders and kitchen item related stickers. Plus photos of the cooked recipe. Now it only takes a few minutes to put  everything together.

[candys mine]

Maybe Nigella Lawson?  I remember her TV show was pleasent enough and I enjoyed looking through her Christmas cookbook at the Library a few years ago.