Tea towels – Kookery

Taking a witty approach to washing up, Perth-based designer Amy Palmer-Millin’s pun-loving tea towels feature bold, vintage-inspired prints and tongue-in-cheek slogans, from ‘Pastry that’s how I roll’ to the festive-inspired ‘Ham is for life not just for Christmas’. Promising to ‘quirk your kitchen’, the linen tea towels are screen-printed in small batches, come in two shades – flax and white – and cost $24.95. Order online.

Ironman Geisha coffee – Campos
What do you buy the coffee snob in your life? The most expensive beans in Australia, of course! Having taken out the prestigious Best of Panama prize, farmer Robert Brenes’ Geisha Ironman beans were quickly snapped up at auction by Campos earlier this year. With a hefty $666 per kilogram price tag, beans are roasted every two weeks – 300 jars are set for release on December 19. What does it taste like? Cupping notes reveal hints of pineapple blossom, white peach and sweet chocolate. 150g jars cost $100, order online.

Sashimi knives – Chef’s Armoury

As Australia’s love affair with Japanese food continues, sharpen your knives skills and get to slicing and serving your own sashimi. Purpose-designed yanagiba knives include the stainless steel Inox ($198.95) and hammer-forged Kaiden ($595). Super-sharp and finished with sleek wooden handles, there is a range especially for left-handed cooks and the option to design your own handcrafted bespoke blade. Shops in Sydney and Melbourne, with an online store.

KINK oil and vinegar bottles – JamFactory

Form meets function in these sculptural oil and vinegar bottles from designer Deb Jones. Made using traditional glass-blowing techniques in the studios at JamFactory – Adelaide’s centre for all things crafty – each piece is unique. Oil bottles ($125) come in lime, olive and clear, while smaller vinegar bottles ($95) are available in smoke, clear and aubergine. Check out the online shop or visit one of the three South Australia stores.

Spice gift boxes – Gewürzhaus

Bringing a burst of flavour to the festive season, Gewürzhaus’ freshly milled whole spices feature in a range of gift boxes. If Christmas dinner means firing up the barbecue then opt for the Greek grilling, Louisianan Cajun and Spanish skewer blends – all of which feature in the BBQ box, alongside the super-macho Bloke’s Spice. Or channel some European festive cheer with Advent Tea, Christmas Cake and Pudding Spice, Lebkuchen and Viennese Christmas Sugar. Boxes cost $59.95 and are available online or from one of three Melbourne stores.

Live, Love, Eat gift pack – kikki.K
An organised cook is a happy cook, according to purveyors of sleek Swedish stationary kikki.K. So banish dog-eared recipes and ingredient-splattered books and bring a little order into someone’s kitchen with the Live, Love, Eat gift pack. Containing a recipe organiser, shopping list, tea towel and stickers, it promises to bring a sense of calm to even the most chaotic culinary endeavours. $59.95, visit the website to order or find outlets in most states via the online store locator.

Artisan Cheese kit – Mad Millie
The perfect gift for the fromage fanatic who wants to take their dairy appreciation to the next level, New Zealand company Mad Millie’s Artisan Cheese kit ($184.95) contains all the equipment and ingredients needed to make a whopping 10kg of cheese, from cheddar to feta to Wensleydale. With no artificial flavours or preservatives, there’s also Fresh Cheese, Italian Cheese and Specialty Cheeses kits. Order online.

Bowlboard – Ute

Make like a TV chef and get all the chopping, grating and dicing done before you start cooking. With in-built melamine bowls this bamboo cutting board means your ingredients are prepared and close at hand, ready for whatever the recipe book throughs at you next. And when the cooking’s done, it doubles up as a serving platter. Perfect for that friend who fancies themselves as the next Jamie Oliver. $64.95 order online or call 0417 562 250 for stockist information.

Hamper – Margaret River Hampers
If the recipient you have in mind prefers consuming to cooking, a food and drink-filled hamper is the answer. Featuring delicious Margaret River produce – including organic olives, cheeses and extra-virgin olive oil from Olio Bello, Amberley Estate wines and Eagle Bay beers, and local fudge and chocolate truffles – call 0487 852 360 or visit the website to place your order.

Cookery classes – Essential Ingredient

Whether it’s for a novice kitchen nightmare or an experienced home cook, give the gift of learning with a voucher to one of Essential Ingredient’s cookery classes. Catering for different skill levels and covering a range of cuisines – next year’s program see pupils get to grips with Cooking with Chillies, Mexican Streetfood and Spanish Tapas – classes take place in Melbourne, Sydney and Newcastle. For the truly dedicated, there is a three-week course covering how to make brioche, pastry and croissants. See the website for details.

Grow your own mushrooms – Funghi Culture

Calling all city slickers: you don’t need a garden to grow your own ingredients with these DIY mushroom-harvesting kits. Designed by self-confessed funghi addict Todd Mansfield, simply keep a box on your kitchen counter, mist it daily and within 12-16 days you will be reaping the rewards. Boxes can sustain multiple harvests, so wave goodbye to shrink-wrapped supermarket offerings and hello to ‘shroom self-sufficiency. Buy online or use the store locator.