Ten great food gifts for anyone

Food, it's been said, is the most personal of gifts. Whether the food-lover in your life is a kitchen veteran or has trouble boiling water, this list of 10 food gifts has something for everyone.

1. Personalized cookbook

Whether they are your own recipes or treasured family recipes from others, this unique gift is both a present and a keepsake. Gather the recipes and copy them into a colorful, kitchen-themed journal. You can also find websites online that will print and bind a professional quality book for you.

2. Indoor herb garden

Any professional chef will tell you that the difference between a good cook and a great cook is the herbs and spices. An indoor herb garden, whether a small collection of terra cotta pots or one of those big indoor hydroponic setups, will help add flavor and nutrition to meals.

3. A week of dinners

Maybe you plan to treat your food-loving loved one to dinner out at a nice restaurant. But how about offering to cook for the whole week? Even if you haven't attended culinary college and your skills don't go beyond boxed macaroni and cheese, you'll be pitching in and showing you care at the same time.

4. Ultimate Tower of Chocolates collection

Chocolate is mostly associated with Valentine's Day, but this incredible collection of gourmet chocolates from Harry and David is a can't miss treat any time of the year.

5. Local gourmet food gift basket

This isn't a collection of ancient sharp cheddar and summer sausage. Whether homemade or purchased from a local gift basket maker, these baskets should include a sampling of the best food products available in your area. These unique edibles will be sure to please with a taste of home.

6. Gift certificates/gift cards

What this gift lacks in creativity, it more than makes up for in practicality, especially if you're a student away at college.

7. Gourmet food tour

Nearly every major city has some sort of food-themed tour of fine restaurants and food-related businesses. Most feature tours that last several hours and include stops at top restaurants in your area. Each stop usually features a sampler of some of the top menu items or food products available from the merchants. Search for culinary arts events in your area and treat your special someone to a day out on the town.

8. A picnic in the park

Make up a basket of picnic goodies including fresh fruit, cheese, bread, wine and maybe some tasty fried chicken. Throw the basket in the back of the car and ask your friend if he or she would like to go for a ride. Take them to a local park enjoy the quiet pleasures of a picnic under an old shade tree.

9. Breakfast in bed

This tried-and-true classic will never go out of style. Egg omelets with fresh herbs, fruit salads or just bagels with cream cheese and preserves will help anyone relax and stay in bed just a little longer.

10. Cake-decorating classes

Cake decorating has become a popular hobby in recent years. Decorating and baking classes are an excellent way to combine a love for baking and artistic expression. Classes are often held at bakeries, community colleges, or in private homes. Look for cake decorating on the Internet or the Yellow Pages.

This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Los Angeles. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Los Angeles offers culinary arts, patisserie and baking and hospitality and restaurant management training programs in the Los Angeles area. To learn more about the class offerings, visit Chefs.edu/Los-Angeles for more information. (Le Cordon Bleu does not guarantee employment or salary.)

Courtesy of ARAcontent