Foodie Gift Ideas: Top 10 Tools for Gourmet Outdoor Entertaining

by Huggingthecoast.Com | December 11, 2008 at 02:33 pm

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Do you enjoy entertaining and cooking outdoors, eating gourmet foods during your on-the-road travel (including backpacking and RVing), or just prefer the taste of good food under an open sky?

Then don’t miss our list of the Top 10 Tools for Outdoor and On the Go Entertaining below.

1. Smith & Hawken Backyard Firepit

If you frequently enjoy entertaining outside, especially at night or during the cooler part of the year, and you feel uncomfortable regularly relying on a fire ring, a high quality firepit (plus spark screen) is for you.

In addition to providing both a lovely glowing light and ambient warmth, you can cook outdoors on a firepit. Earlier this year, when I was preparing to compete in the Redwood Creek Semi-Finals (my dish was Moroccan Charbroiled Lamb & Fennel Stew with 7 Seed Couscous), I came to truly love using a firepit to safely manage and contain my cooking fires.

(I trained using wood, but charcoal briquettes were used at the event; this particular firepit from Smith & Hawken works well with either fuel source.)

The Smith & Hawken Backyard Firepit features an extra-thick copper basin safety tested to 700° and a one-piece wrought-iron stand; yet is portable enough to take to the beach, picnic, outdoor family reunion, or campground.

2. Rome Double Pie Iron with Steel and Wood Handles

One of the simple pleasures of outdoor cooking, there’s something about using a pie iron that brings out the inner child in any outdoor chef.

These long handled and inexpensive devices offer campers, RVers, backpackers, and other fans of outdoor cooking a simple and fun way for the whole family to make toasted sandwiches, campfire “pizzas”, cornbread, and pies over an open fire or briquettes.

If you’ve never used a pie iron and would like to learn more, as well as see some easy and delicious recipes that use a pie iron, please click here.

The Rome Industries Double Pie Iron (with Steel and Wood Handles) is designed to conveniently cook two sandwiches, pie, etc. at the same time over either an open fire or charcoal briquettes.

3. 10,000 BTU Century Single Burner Stove

When I first went backpacking through Europe in my 20’s, I learned that owning a reasonably lightweight and reliable camping stove is essential to cooking gourmet food on the road.

Later, back in the States, I found that my trusted portable camping stove also came in handy for power outages and for boiling pasta water quickly (as a kind of poor man’s high BTU burner).

For all these uses, this 10,000 BTU Century Single Burner Stove fits the bill. Using canister propane fuel (widely available at camping and outdoor gear stores), this single burner 1 lb stove is both economical and easy to store.

Average Boil Time for 1 quart of water is estimated at 3 minutes.

4. Canterbury Picnic Cooler Backpack for 4

If sunny days make you think “picnic”, this Canterbury deluxe picnic bag is for you.

Featuring a retractable comfort grip handle and an adjustable shoulder strap that can be detached, this cooler bag is perfect for just about any serious picnicker.

The set includes:

4 stainless steel spoons with plastic handle
4 stainless steel knives with plastic handle
4 stainless steel forks with plastic handle
4 9″ melamine dinner plates
4 plastic wine glasses
4 cotton napkins
1 salt & pepper shaker set
1 plastic cutting board
1 waiter style corkscrew
1 cheese knife

5. Weber 2820 Smokey Mountain Cooker/Smoker

If you love juicy and tender slow cooked barbecue, you’ll love this moderately priced outdoor smoker from Weber.

Designed with a large, roomy interior, you can cook a whole Boston butt for pulled pork and a good-sized turkey at the same time. Air flow is regulated via vents on the bowl and lid, and there’s two 18-1/2 inches diameter grates for your meats as well as a porcelain-on-steel water pan to help your meats stay juicy.

Measures 41 by 19 by 19 inches. Includes a Weber cookbook and a heavy-duty vinyl cover. 10-year limited warranty.

6. Barbecue Beeper Digital Thermometer

Measuring temperatures in both Fahrenheit and Celsius, this remote control digital thermometer will help take the guesswork out of your outdoor cooking so your foods will be both delicious and safe.

7. Montbell Portable Chopsticks

Retracting into their handles for easy storage, these chopsticks are the environmentally convenient way to make sure you have chopsticks with you when you need them.

8. Bamboo Sporks

Small and light enough to fit in your pocket or lunch cooler, these inexpensive, reusable bamboo sporks double as both a spoon and a fork and are much more attractive then the disposable plastic sporks more commonly used.

9. Snack & Stack Utensil Set

Inspired by the bright, primary colored Legos many of us had as children, this interlocking portable knife, fork, and spoon set is perfect for camping and brown bagging at work.

Keep an extra set in your glove compartment for impromptu meals or modern bento box fun.

10. The Pi Dish

Guaranteed to be a conversation starter at your next family gathering, dish to pass, or potluck dinner, this pi themed pie plate is made of glazed stoneware and is 15/8″H x 103/8. Microwave safe.

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