Christmas Gift Ideas for the Home Chef

A homemade loaf is a kitchen table favourite. Learn to bake the perfect Italian or sourdough bread at Devonport’s Column Bakehouse in Plymouth. Course prices start at £75 per person.

www.columnbakehouse.org

Chop, chop with these impressive-looking kitchen blades. They’ll make light work of any meat, fish or vegetable in their path. A set of four Robert Welch knives are available from the Ashburton Cookery School shop, priced at £169 (which includes a free sharpener worth £24).

www.ashburtoncookeryschool.co.uk

Pattard Kitchen in Hartland holds half- or full-day tailored and standard courses. You will be provided with knives, equipment, aprons and ingredients, and will receive an instruction booklet containing information about the skills taught on the course. Full day: £155 (including food and drink); half-day: £65 (including food and drink).

Mitch Tonks

Mitch Tonks is a top Devon food writer and passionate seafood restaurateur. No recipe bookshelf would be complete without this bible of seafood cooking. £25.

www.therockfish.co.uk

How about one of these rustic beauties, made by Dartmoor-based knife-maker Dave Budd. Knives vary in price, starting at £160 (this one pictured costs £350). For those interested in learning a new skill, Dave also runs knife-making courses.

www.davebudd.com

A hamper full of the West Country’s finest products is sure to get their creative juices going. At the Food Shop at The Shops at Dartington, you can put together your own hamper by mixing and matching some of the delicious produce on sale. You can fill a small tray or a large hamper with chilli, chocolate, chutneys and pickles. Prices vary.

www.dartington.org