Gift ideas for beloved chef and waiter?

14 years ago

My group of friends has been going to eat at the Chef's table at a local restaurant for the past few years for our December Holiday Dinner. For those that don't know, a chef's table is a private table, usually in the kitchen or just off of it, that you reserve for the night. There's no menu, the chef just whips up stuff for you at his whim for a fixed price. It's a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it if you have a chance to do this.

This is maybe our fifth year and we've formed a relationship with the chef and our waiter who we request year after year. They have taken the very best care of us every time we've come. The delicious food just keeps coming and the service is excellent. We exchange hugs on our way in and out, and they even allow a couple of us to go in the kitchen and cook something (with lots of guidance and help). It's a major blast!

This year we thought it would be nice to give them each a gift. Our dinner is December 5 so we have a couple of weeks or so. Of course we only know them as chef and waiter and have no knowledge of their personal tastes or hobbies, so we need something sort of general but nice.

Any ideas? Thanks!!

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Comments (14)

caliloo
14 years ago
Can I suggest the ubiquitous gift card? Rather than the generic American Express sort of thing, maybe you have a great wine shop or restaurant or other foodie type store that issues them. Either that or a bottle of booze. Most of the restaurant people I have known like to party as much as they love food!

Of course, if there is another great restaurant near by, maybe a gc to go there so THEY can have a night out with people waiting on them.

Alexa
beanthere_dunthat
14 years ago
Gift certificate for spa service?
Don't laugh. Chefs and waitstaff always have aching backs and legs.

Maybe too personal, though, huh?
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doucanoe
14 years ago
What a sweet idea!

I can only recommend as part of the gift-a Boomerang corkscrew! LOL May, you might remember mine from PFPP. Now Peppi has one and maybe Sherry, too. It's the best!

I attached a link to it on Amazon, you may find a better deal elsewhre, I dunno.

Linda

Here is a link that might be useful: Boomerang Corkscrew
caliloo
14 years ago
I had another idea... what about a basket of homemade treats from your kitchen for them to share? It could be sweet or savory, but I bet they would love for someone to make them something tasty to enjoy at their leisure.

Alexa
booberry85
14 years ago
I second the basket of homemade treats. I have a niece who manages a restaurant out in California she graduated from the Culinary Institute of America a couple years ago (dual program with Cornell.) Anyway, everyone is afraid to cook for her now! She always appreciates it when I send her homemade cookies.
lowspark
Original Author
14 years ago
Good ideas!

We've discussed the gift card route but it's been voted down. I think because, as you say, it's ubiquitous, you know, been done to death. There are seven of us involved by the way, so we're going to have to come to some agreement.

The spa service is a unique idea! But I'm leaning toward "too personal" plus I'm not sure these guys are the spa types. LOL

Corkscrew sounds like a great idea, but IIRC, Ruben (the waiter) already has one - or one like it. I think waiters tend to have a pet corkscrew if they open a lot of wine.

I'm really intrigued by the idea of the basket of homemade goodies! That is right up MY alley. Just not sure I can convince the other girls. Two of them don't cook much at all, and might balk. But OTOH, maybe just two or three of us can get together in advance and have a session in the kitchen and just make the others pay for the ingredients! LOL

Regardless of what I said above, I will bring up all the ideas mentioned tomorrow when we get together and see what they say. Please keep the ideas coming. With seven of us, I have a feeling it's going to be hard to come to a concensus!
teresa_nc7
14 years ago
What about a gift basket of homemade goodies, and a bottle of really good wine, AND a gift card for either a specialty gourmet store or another restaurant? Most foodies could find a number of things they would enjoy at a specialty gourmet store -- coffee, tea, mustard, salsa, BBQ sauce, gadgets, kitchen linens, etc.

Teresa
jojoco
14 years ago
I would give the chef a great bottle of port and a box of chocolates from the link below. For the waiter, I would write a heartfelt note and slip in cash or a gift card.
Jo

Here is a link that might be useful: hand painted chocolate
lowspark
Original Author
14 years ago
Wow! That's some expensive chocolate! I'd be afraid to eat it! LOL

Teresa, good call. A combo of the different things might be just the ticket. And it might be something we can all agree to since it encompasses a variety of items.

Jo,
You do bring up an interesting idea though. We had not discussed it but I sort of assumed we'd give them both the same thing. Now I'm wondering if we ought to give each of them something different.

More to consider and more to discuss with the girls. Thanks! Keep em coming!
compumom
14 years ago
No better suggestions or wisdom for May, but I'll attest to Mariebelle's hot chocolate being the most fabulous chocolate high, ever!!
caliloo
14 years ago
I like Teresa's idea of letting the non-cooks put in a bottle of booze and/or a gift card. Also, how about a couple of great cigars to go with that bottle of port?

Alexa
sweeby
14 years ago
Lowspark - That Chef's table sounds like a fabulous evening out -- One I know Hubby would really enjoy -- it's long been his favorite G-rated fantasy...

If you don't mind sharing, what's the restaurant? How many can they accommodate? (Since it's G-rated and all) And how expensive is it?

And I like the Goodie Basket idea -- That way, if an individual item isn't a hit, there are lots of other goodies that would be.
lowspark
Original Author
14 years ago
Well, my favorite idea - cooking for them and then making a basket with booze & such got shot down fast. "I'm not going to cook for a CHEF!" said one of the participants. Oh well, we're back to square one. If you have any more ideas, please let me know. I'm guessing we're going to end up with gift cards simply because we won't be able to come to an agreement on anything else.

Sweeby,
We go to Damian's. We have seven attending and that's about the limit the table can accomodate. But I'm sure as little as two would be ok in there. However, if you're going to do it, get some friends to go with you. It takes up the entire evening and it's more fun with more people.

IIRC the price is $75 + tax & tip. It might be slightly higher than that but I'm sure it's under $100. That does not include liquor of course. We end up spending somewhere around $130ish per person, that includes cocktails and wine.

Although it's not a complete list, b4-u-eat.com has some chef tables listed, and you can google for more places that have them. I do highly recommend Damian's though. The food is fab. Let me know if you end up going!

Here is a link that might be useful: chef tables list
dgkritch
14 years ago
Maybe get away from things "food related", since it seems to be intimidating to some.

What about tickets to a museum, art show, theatre, or other "well-known" attraction in the area.
Could be accompanied by a nice bottle of wine and small box of chocolates.

If you wanted to stay food related:
Beautiful cutting boards (Ann_T style!!)?
A selection of gourmet peppercorns and salts?
Imported cheeses? Chocolate?

Something that is a 'base' ingredient that they can use to create their own masterpiece. It doesn't compete with their talents/skills, but should be of interest to them.

Just ideas........
Deanna

Gift ideas for beloved chef and waiter?

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