Best Gifts for the Budding Chef Under $30

How would you turn out a grand holiday meal without the pounding and slaving of a chef over a hot stove? Chefs are the lifeblood of holiday festivities and this season, show some appreciation by treating the chef of your heart to some amazing presents-without even breaking your wallet.Why not give a cast iron grill pan? It's an exquisite gift that will surely delight any chef, especially those who find that breaking out the charcoal grill and cleaning up afterwards isn't exactly their cup of tea. Grill pans are perfect for getting those beautiful grill marks on hamburgers, steaks or toasted breads, and they're excellent for toasting breakfast fare like sausages and bacon, too. Lodge offers a top-notch pan and for a mere $29.95, you can start making those burger-flipping moments a hot reality. (www.crateandbarel.com)

Spices are another way to add a zing to your holidays. If you think the most basic seasoning-salt-is as plain and bland as it can get, wait till you sample the sensational sea salt varieties that Coastal Goods has on offer. Their Salt Sensations collection has over six different flavored Mediterranean sea salt blends that will up the flavor of any meal! These salts come in tubs that include autumnberry, sea smoke, lavender, celery, lemon, and garlic salts. Each 4.5 oz tub comes in at $6 while their sampler collection (includes portions of each salt flavor) costs $30. They also have specialty salts like Le Saunier de Camargue (8 oz, $4.50), a fine, flavorful salt harvested from Provencal, and the Fleur de Sel with Olives (4 oz, $8) that will easily bring the French countryside to your dinner table. They also offer other salt blends, pepper blends and brine mixes that work perfectly as complex seasonings for flavorful regional fare.

For more details, visit www.coastalgoods.com. Herbie's Spices also offers a huge collection of different spice kits that make for wonderful presents. Each kit consists of 6 or 7 spices that come together in a seductive and flavorful theme, such as Aphrodisiac spices or Indian Summer spice kit. Most kits run for less than US$30 and come in beautifully wrapped packages, ready to thrill any budding chef! (www.ozevillage.com.au/herbies/index.html) aAnother good choice would be different spice blends-an Asian spice rack would make an excellent present. You can do some research on the spices you want and go to your local Asian market to buy the spices in small quantities. Package them in individual spice bottles or a spice rack and you have an elegant, exotic and unique present, without even having to break your wallet!

Truffles never fail to add a layer of sparkle and flavor even to the simplest of dishes, so why not give a bottle for the holidays? Chefs always treasure these precious goodies because they're so expensive, but really, they don't always have to be. Marky's offers some excellent Italian White Summer Truffles. Grab a bottle for roughly $12 and throw in a bottle of olives, be creative and package them elegantly, and you've turned out a lovely present of gourmet fare at a price that will rock the house! A bottle of aged balsamic vinegar also fits the bill nicely. They come in elegant bottles and in different varieties that will add layers of flavor to your dinner salad. Marky's has balsamic vinegars from Modena that are agd 10 or 15 years, Muscat grape-flavored, apple-flavored or fig-flavored ones that all come in at less than $30. (www.emarkys.com)

What better material to give the budding chef than one that's been written by the First Lady of French Cooking in America herself, Julia Child? Her Mastering the Art of French Cooking Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 show the classic humor and ease of technique by which Julia delighted American households in the 60s, fascinating our mothers with the realization that they too are entitled whip up a crème anglaise or a bouillabaisse in their very own kitchens. Julia made cooking and mealtimes fun and creative ventures that don't just mean subjecting ourselves to the overdone hamburgers and burnt toasts. Volume 1 and Volume 2 are her masterpieces and in here, we get to work with Julia in the kitchen, turning out the perfect pies and sauces page after page after page. For a $30 budget, you can only afford one volume from a regular bookstore, but eBay and Amazon frequently turn up wholesale bargains for brand new copies, so they're definitely worth checking out.Grains

also make an excellent present-they're inexpensive, they keep for a long time so they can be prepared way ahead of time and as a present, they make up a unique idea. Instead of buying gift sets from specialty shops, you can go to your local market and stock up on a variety of good quality grains like Arborio rice (that starchy grain that's responsible for the creaminess in classic Italian risotto dishes), organic brown rice (the latest fad in health foods), Basmati rice (a fragrant Asian variety), or Japanese rice (fragrant, glutinous rice that's soaked in vinegar to make sticky sushi rice), among others. There are so many other varieties, and you can go for whatever's available. Package your grains in little bags or containers and mix and match your own assortments. This is sure to be an impressive hit with any chef!

You don't always have to stretch your budget to come up with spectacular presents. Personalizing your gifts always adds an extra special feel, and they'll know you went out of your way and really put in some effort into your present. Check out your local crafts shop, bookstore or thrift shop to come up with some creative packaging and you're sure to turn up some elegant presents at fantastic costs.