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Senior Editor Jon Bues's Holiday 2017 Picks

A few culinary favorites from HODINKEE's resident foodie.

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The winter holidays are fast approaching, and that means it's gift buying time. We thought it would be fun this year to have our editors put together their picks for the best gifts of the season. Each has selected a handful of products spanning categories and price points, as well as something from the HODINKEE Shop. We'll be bringing you a new guide each day this week, so keep checking in for more ideas.

It will come as little surprise to those who know me that most of my holiday wishes involve gadgets and gear for the kitchen, or things that I can eat or drink. (If you don't know me, just have a look at my Instagram.) I own or have used all of the items on this list, so I can vouch for the quality here. I've also included a range of price points, so this list has you covered, whether you're buying for a foodie of casual acquaintance or your best friends and family.


Anova Sous Vide With Wifi

With this wifi-enabled sous vide, I can leave a vacuum-sealed steak in a bath of ice water in the morning, begin precision cooking it at five, and arrive home to a perfectly cooked ribeye at seven. The sous vide technique guarantees edge-to-edge mid-rare perfection in every steak, and makes chicken and pork chops of unparrelled juicy tenderness as simple as can be. The goal is to sous vide a whole porchetta with one of these bad boys.

$159, anovaculinary.com


Big Green Egg

It’s my dream to own one of these marvels of modern BBQ. True, they’re impossible, impractical, and of questionable legality for apartment-dwelling Manhattanites, but I can dream, right? If I lived in a house with a yard, you better believe I’d be smoking all manner of ribs and chops in a Big Green Egg. What's really amazing is its ability to cook anything – whether your aim is to sear a steak, smoke some ribs, or bake a pizza, it gets the job done.

$859, biggreenegg.com


Zalto DenkArt Bordeaux Glass

Can a glass enhance the taste of wine enough to justify a cost that exceeds many fine bottles? Yes. Even a pedestrian vintage can sing when you swill it from one of these crystal orbs. These are the nicest wine glasses from which I've ever sipped. The thinness and shape of the glass is designed to optimize the flavor of wine as you drink it. Try not to break them (though you know you will). They're pricey, but definitely worth it.

$128 for two, amazon.com


Campari Pre-Bottled Negroni

The Negroni is anything but a hard drink to make. All three ingredients are readily available on my bar most days. But this premixed Negroni by Campari makes pouring out one of these elixirs as easy as can be. It’s great for entertaining. I first discovered this in the duty free shop at the Bologna airport, but I'm happy to report that you can find it at most corner wine shops here in the States. If not, you can always order from Astor in New York.

$39, astorwines.com


Big Bob Gibson's Alabama White BBQ Sauce

You need this sauce in your life. Pulled chicken smothered in this tangy mayo-based liquid is like mana from heaven. It hales from Decatur, Alabama, home of Big Bob Gibson BBQ, which serves the best smoked chicken. Boil chicken thighs in water seasoned with cumin and some onion. Shred the chicken, season it with salt and pepper, and toss it in the sauce. Serve on a potato roll with pickles for a non-traditional Christmas dinner.

$9, amazon.com


In The Shop: Paul Newman Portrait

Shameless plug: While bidding on Paul Newman's Paul Newman crossed the $10 million mark before you even had a chance to reach for your paddle, the HODINKEE Shop still has a limited number of this iconic portrait of Paul Newman, captured in 1978 at Sebring. What can you really say? It's an iconic photograph of Newman wearing the world's most expensive wristwatch. Each is signed by photographer Al Satterwhite too.

From $2,500, shop.hodinkee.com