If you've got a loved one with a passion for cooking, you can't go to far wrong buying them gifts that fuel their culinary obsessions.

You can however go very very right by getting them a gift that's sure to surprise and delight them.

Here are 12 gifts ideas for serious home cooks and chefs that will put a sparkle in their eyes come Christmas morning.

12 great gifts for kitchen nuts (like me!!!)

In no particular order

A kitchen blow torch

Popular especially with men (something a little primal and a lot of fun about burning stuff) kitchen blow torches are the perfect way to a quickly caramelized Crème Brule. They aren't very expensive, they're pretty safe and they are always a crowd pleaser.

Microplanes

Check carefully before getting this one, as the odds are decent to good that your cooking lover already boasts one, but if she doesn't, she really should. There is nothing better for shaving hard cheeses, zesting lemons or quickly grating a little ginger. I'm no fan of useless gadgets that clutter up the kitchen unless they work as well as the microplane. This little beauty is a winner.

A cloche

A heavy clay board and cover that are used to effectively mimic the environment of a masonry oven, and that will deliver an exceptional loaf of artisan bread. These really work, and they aren't expensive (and they may be a way to appease that family member that keeps making waves about getting a real wood fired oven!)

A turkey deep-fryer

Why climb MountEverst?...Because it's there

Why deep-fry a turkey?...Because we can!

Add a little deep fried goodness to your next turkey dinner by giving your family cook the tools to do the job right. I wish I had one of these…

Meat grinder and sausage stuffer

There is something very satisfying in transforming a hunk of meat into a length of sausage – and the tools needed to do just that are few and simple. You will love the taste of fresh homemade sausage!

Bullet Smoker

If your cook in residence likes to grill, odds are they'd absolutely love to BBQ. An inexpensive bullet smoker is all that's needed to start cue'n at home. Put one of these under the tree and see if you aren’t enjoying smoked BBQ ribs by New Years.

Knife Sharpening Gear

Help them keep their knives in pro shape with a sharpening stone and rod.

Big stone mortar and pestle

Jamie Oliver always looks like he's having so much fun as he attacks herbs and spices in his big old Thai style stone mortar. If your favorite cook at home doesn't have one, he wishes he did.

La Creuset or cast iron

La Creuset enameled cookware is beautiful, and it cooks even better than it looks. You just can't go wrong with this stuff. A cheaper but just as usable option is cast iron. Muscle a 30 pound cast iron Dutch Oven under the Christmas Tree and your efforts will be applauded.

Burr coffee grinder

One of the easiest ways to improve the taste of home coffee is to grind at home – using a burr grinder. Mini choppers kind of work, but they leave, as purists would say, dust and boulders for your brew - An uneven mix of sizes that do not result in a great cup of coffee. To grind properly you need a burr grinder.

On Food and Cooking

Harold McGee's seminal work on food science. This book is a culinary classic. It is required reading in cooking schools around the world, and it will make anyone a better cook.

An ice cream maker

I got a Cuisinart motorized ice cream maker for about 100$, and it works great! Easy enough to allow for spontaneous ice cream creations just before dinner.