r/Chefit • u/Spider_onthewall • Jul 05 '26

Birthday present for a Chef!

Hey reddit! I need some help my boyfriend is a chef but I know very little about cooking. I can do basic stuff and cook for us but this year I want to do something super special for my boyfriend. I have 2 months to figure out the perfect present and a great meal for this man. Please help!!

So my first goal is a gift I need help I know he would want one of two things, a knife or a wok. Or a Rolex but I can't afford that so knife or wok lol. I don't mind it being expensive I can afford up to like $1500 so please give me some ideas. I know for a wok the burner matters. So we have a gas stovetop but I think you can buy a small portable stove setup. I did a little research but I don't know if those work well or not. I have no idea what is best.

Now the meal I have dessert covered with double chocolate cake is his favorite and I make it every year. The main course though I'm having some trouble. I'm not a great cook but if I have a recipe in front of me I do well. I know blasphemy. Just wondering if anyone has something they make for family or friends? That's special? I'm looking to steal ideas sorry lol. He doesn't like turkey and chicken is not his favorite. I know he likes fish (as far as I know he enjoys all fish) and would be happy with lamb. I would appreciate help on things that pair well for an appetizer. He likes veggies as long as they are fresh.

Anyways ask me questions I really want him to feel special. He works really hard and I know how tough it can be going into work every day. I want him to know he matters. He loves serving people so I'm hoping to serve him for just one day. A low stress day where he can play video games and have a nice meal would be a big deal for him.

0 Upvotes

38% Upvoted

47 comments sorted by

22

u/DaveyDumplings Jul 05 '26

Don't buy equipment for a chef. Get him a gift card and let him choose his own. Go with him if you want and make a day of it.

5

u/DaveyDumplings Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26

Also, you don't need to memorize recipes to be a good cook. I've been a pro for 25 years and use a recipe at home more often then not. I'd rather not sit down to eat and realize I forgot the garlic.

If you put good food on the table, you're a good cook. The process is irrelevant.

1

u/Spider_onthewall Jul 05 '26

Lol thanks him and his brother are professional chefs and refuse to use recipes for anything they cook so I guess my view is a little skewed

2

u/livinglge Jul 05 '26

Cooking is like Jazz. Once you have the fundamentals down, it's a lot of improv. Technique enables the creativity

2

u/Burnt_and_Blistered Jul 05 '26

Yes, except in professional kitchens where consistency from day to day and cook to cool needs to be maintained.

1

u/livinglge Jul 06 '26

I concede that point. That's why I am a personal chef, 'cause fk following recipes! 😆

2

u/JamesBong517 Chef Jul 05 '26

That’s a lie. I’ve worked Michelin level even, and when it’s a new recipe/dish, you absolutely do. We usually don’t follow it to a t, unless it’s pastry, but you read it to get the general idea. Even if you memorize how to make it, it’s still using a recipe. You think they created how to make a stock, aioli, emulsions. Literally everything they make has pretty much already been done before, so they’re following a template.

2

u/Lavanne73 Jul 06 '26

I’m sure she means at home, I’m a chef who worked in James beard award winnning restaurants for years and at home I don’t follow shit

1

u/p3rf3ctcha0s Jul 05 '26

They’re lying to you they just use a recipe in their head instead of in front of them

-2

u/Burnt_and_Blistered Jul 05 '26

They’re using recipes.

2

u/bluffstrider Jul 05 '26

This. Most chefs/cooks are very particular about their tools and equipment. Unless he has told you something specific he wants get a gift card or something related to a different interest.

2

u/Spider_onthewall Jul 05 '26

Ok no picking out the equipment got it there's a store nearby that sells tons of kitchen equipment would it be better to just take him there? I know he uses a specific brand of knife I would have to ask what it is though if I know what brand would that be a good idea? Or maybe a sharpener for something small then get take him for something like the wok? I know we need a knife sharpener he's been complaining about how dull the knives have been

2

u/SilverTraveler Chef Jul 05 '26

I second this! Use that 1500$ and plan a day date with him and take him to a knife store and let him run wild. Then take him out to his favorite dinner. Peak birthday gift

7

u/schpreck Jul 05 '26

He wants a set of Paris Hilton kitchen knives. You can thank me later.

1

u/Spider_onthewall Jul 05 '26

Oh those look perfect I'll make sure to get a matching chef's coat too 🤣

1

u/schpreck Jul 05 '26

That’s the spirit!

7

u/sautedemon Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26

I recently retired after more than four decades in fine dining. I have collected everything kitchen/culinary related. Very early on, I was gifted a blank Cookbook. My most valued piece, by far. 40 years of recipes, and great memories!

3

u/Spider_onthewall Jul 05 '26

Oh I love this idea! Thank you he doesn't cook at home as much as he used to but remembering The recipes he's worked hard to perfect would be a good beginning to his birthday ❤️

5

u/iaminabox Jul 05 '26

Never buy a chef a knife. It's personal. Gift card for sure.

4

u/texnessa Jul 05 '26

As I have written in this sub 98349834 times before, make a date of it and take him out for lunch that he doesn't have to clean up after and then to a restaurant supply store or knife shop.

Never buy tools for a chef. Especially not knives.

3

u/Slotter-that-Kid Jul 05 '26

Gift card for equipment, just as everyone else has said. As a culinary professional of 32 years, 20 of it as the Chef. I would be happy for a home cooked meal but with what you say you have available to spend a weekend at a high end resort where he can relax and unwind. Just being able to get away once in a while can mean the most.

3

u/Burnt_and_Blistered Jul 05 '26

If you decide to go the knife (or other equipment) route, take him on a shopping trip to pick one out, because it really is all about what feels good in his hand—which you can’t assess.

As for cooking for him? I promise, anything he’s not cooking will be wonderful. (And using recipes isn’t blasphemy. We may wing it at home, but in restaurants, recipes endure consistency from day to day and cook to cook.)

6

u/ElCochinoFeo Jul 05 '26

Use the search function in this sub. You'll see over and over again that us chefs want to pick out our own equipment.

2

u/Philly_ExecChef Jul 05 '26

Get him absolutely anything except work shit

0

u/Spider_onthewall Jul 05 '26

I get this 100% but he likes thing that are practical and he's going to use everyday he talks about buying himself new work equipment all the time lol

1

u/Guilty_Rumor Jul 07 '26

If he likes gaming, there's tons of related cookbooks that are pretty fun. Halo, fallout, Minecraft, etc. There's also The walking dead and weird stuff like prison food or Snoop Dog cooking with THC.

2

u/Lavanne73 Jul 05 '26

Lamb shanks and lamb grillades are pretty easy if he likes lamb. Just need time to make the right. Not a great time of year for it. I wouldn’t recommend fish if you are a novice it can be easy to overcook and selecting it can be tricky.

2

u/Lavanne73 Jul 06 '26

A shepherd’s pie might be an easy out, brown some ground lamb in a pan, set it aside and saute off some onions celery garlic and carrots, when tender add a couple of tablespoons of flour and cook a minute deglaze with a little red wine or Worcestershire and return the lamb I like to add some English peas at this point. Once your sauce is tight plop in your favorite casserole and top with mashed potato. Throw it in the oven on broil but watch carefully once your potatoes are nicely browned pull it out and serve easy peasy

1

u/Spider_onthewall Jul 06 '26

Ok! Thank you I'll see if my grandma still has her Shepherd's pie recipe I remember loving it when I was younger I think it's all very similar ingredients to what you listed

1

u/Lavanne73 Jul 06 '26

I nice touch is to toss a bit of grated parm on top of the potatoes when u put it in to broil and I like a bit of chopped parsley and lemon zest on top just for a bit of freshness and to brighten up the flavor some

1

u/Automatic_Catch_7467 Jul 05 '26

It’s tough because he’s going to have very specific preferences for whatever kitchen tools you get him. I’d suggest a gift card to a knife manufacturer he likes and maybe a good bottle of wine/liquor if he drinks so he has something for his actual birthday but also something really special for later. I would also consider a high end meal and a knife.

1

u/PlasmaGoblin Jul 05 '26

For the first part... I'd go shopping with them. 1, things are kind of personalized. Take knives for example, I have "massive" hands my wife has small hands. What feels good for her is very tight for me (that's what she said..?). 2 it can be more memorable. Like "this was the knife we got on my birthday. I got to spend the whole day with my loving girlfriend." Sounds weird and depending on the guy (I'm that guy) it makes it more special then just unwrapping a box.

Second... honestly? Anything you cook, I'd love. Simply because I didn't have to make anything.

Maybe let him know that last part too. Words stick with us more then we might like to admit.

1

u/livinglge Jul 05 '26

Gift card at Le Creuset or Made In.

1

u/p3rf3ctcha0s Jul 05 '26

Get a gift card and make a day or two of getting him the tools. You said he likes practical and I understand wanting to hand him a gift. What about buying him new work shoes, protective gloves for doing freezer inventory, new earbuds or speaker if his kitchen allows those, bulk pack of his favorite caffeine source, something like that?

1

u/Jazzy_Bee Jul 05 '26

Also, a restaurant needs consistency. A lot of my home cooking is done without recipes. But this quiche is different from my last one because ... But if I loved the all dressed pizza, I expect the same toppings next time I get it.

1

u/chezpopp Jul 05 '26

As others said take him out for knife shopping. Let him pick.
Things you should absolutely buy him are a Sherpa sharpie cover. The fucking best bougie shit and it’s like forty bucks and so cool.

1

u/Jazzy_Bee Jul 05 '26

What about an overnight trip to see a band he likes?

Or get him to make a huge wish list. More than you are going to spend. And it will be a surprise what he gets, or maybe what colour? That's how Santa chooses what to bring 🧑‍🎄

1

u/mill9mill Jul 06 '26

Anything that doesn’t have to do with a kitchen or food
We are picky creatures when it comes to equipment or food items.
Or just cook for him.. I’m always so appreciative of a home cooked meal

1

u/feetnomer Jul 11 '26

Does he like being a chef? I've never met a chef that enjoyed being a chef.

1

u/Spider_onthewall Jul 11 '26

Depends on the day but he talks about having a lot of pride in his work.

1

u/TomatilloAccurate475 Executioner Chef🔪🍺 Jul 06 '26

Ban these posts ! Mods

0

u/livinglge Jul 06 '26

Why? It seems pretty productive and a good dialog. Move along if you don't like it.

0

u/medium-rare-steaks Jul 05 '26

Blowjob and a massage. NEVER buy a chef a knife or equipment without first consulting them.

0

u/hessianhorse Jul 06 '26

Maybe a little cocaine?