Fed up with the usual holiday fare? With the holidays come holiday dinners, some of the most important and enjoyable meals of the year. Still, classic traditional meals can become mundane over time, even in a chef’s kitchen (mine included). Meanwhile, choosing a gift for your particular culinary expert who seems to have everything can deck the halls with unneeded stress. If you find your meal stuck in a rut, or just don’t know what to get the chef in your house, here are a few simple but crucial suggestions that will spice up any kitchen. Unless otherwise indicated, all gift pricing is in (sometimes adjusted) Canadian dollars; no pricing includes S&H fees.

CLICK HERE FOR THE 18-CATEGORY OVERVIEW OF DailyXY’s 2011 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 

Imported Pepper Mills
Nobody  — nobody — should use pre-ground pepper. This mill comes with a cup on the bottom to catch the freshly-ground pepper. In about thirty seconds of grinding, you will have roughly a tablespoon. They look cool too, notably in brass. From $56

Paula Wolfert’s Cookbooks
Over the years, I’ve given away at least three copies of Paula Wolfert’s first book on Morocco, called Couscous and Other Good Food from Morocco. Her latest, The Food of Morocco, covers the same material in a coffee-table format, with plenty of photos — it’s almost a food and travel book all in one. $20 (Couscous), $50 (Food of Morocco)

Señorío de Jaén Olive Oil
Forceful yet clean, a touch grassy with a very long finish; this is not your run-of-the-mill oil for bread dipping. Pour it over grilled fish or drizzle it on your gazpacho, Señorío de Jaén olive oil is produced in the heart of Andalusia, Spain. It is beautifully packaged in 500 millilitre bottles that can be used up while still fresh. $40

Le Creuset Oval Cast Iron Braising Pot, 4.7L 
By now, you should be aware that I am partial to long, slow, cooked dishes. At $300, yes, this pot is expensive, but will last you a lifetime. Simply, it’s what you need to cook your stews and braises — and with its hard-wearing enamel coating, cleaning is easy. From $300

XOCOCAVA Treats
Lastly, some shameless self-promotion. Packaged side-by-side, XOCOCAVA’s chocolate-dipped maple bacon toffee and spiced pecans (150 grams of each) make the perfect hostess gift. A little offbeat, perhaps, but the proof is in the purchasing: We are proud to have a hard time keeping up with the annual demand for these salty treats. For a complete list of our products, including mail order availability, contact xoco.orders@cavarestaurant.ca. $24

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Image courtesy of Ryan Hyde.