Gifts for the kitchen from two of our favorite stores

In a holiday season that feels more stressful than ever, we’re looking to the kitchen for some gift inspiration. This year we partnered with Williams Sonoma and Sur La Table, two of our favorite cooking stores, to take some popular gifts for a real-life test drive. Whether you’re shopping for a serious chef, a coffee lover or a fan of vintage cocktails, here are six top picks that would be welcome in any kitchen.

This flexible red popcorn popper is a consistent performer in the microwave and a cheery addition to your coffee table on movie night. It’s dishwasher-safe, smushes down flat for storage, and makes a great gift at just $20. Lékué Popcorn Maker at Sur La Table; shop online or visit the new store at Pike & Rose. Click here for details.

The Moscow Mule, a vintage cocktail of vodka, lime and ginger beer, is having a moment. It’s traditionally served in a frosty copper mug, which you can find at Williams Sonoma along with some great-looking copper barware: tumblers and ice buckets, cocktail shakers and serving trays with a classic style right out of Mad Men. Some items require occasional polishing, but we think the look is worth it. Click here to shop the entire Williams Sonoma Copper Collection, or check it out in person at Tysons Galleria or Bethesda Row.

There’s a latte to like about this slim milk frother, which quickly whips up a drink that would impress your local barista. It’s battery-operated, easy to clean, and small enough to nestle into your silverware drawer. A perfect gift for your latte-loving friends. Aerolatte Handheld Milk Frother, $19.95 at Williams Sonoma. Click here for details.

The cold brew coffee craze is huge this year, and it’s easy to make your own with this graceful pitcher from Sur La Table. Just pour ground coffee into the brewing basket, add cold water, tuck the pitcher into your fridge and wait. In 24 hours, your patience will be rewarded with a smooth brew that can be sipped hot or cold. Sur La Table Cold Brew Coffee Maker, $30 in stores or online. Click here for details.

We’re impressed with the power of this sleek immersion blender, which purées soups and sauces as quickly as our Vitamix — but with less noise and better control over the texture. Seems like a splurge, but it will get used more often than you’d imagine. All-Clad Immersion Blender, $99.95 at Williams Sonoma. Click here for details.

For the person on your list who loves to cook, we tested the $99.95 All-Clad Nonstick Roaster from Sur La Table (click here) and the $49.99 Professional Stainless Steel Nonstick Fry Pan from Williams Sonoma (click here). Both are good-looking and extremely well designed, with consistent cooking results that made them a favorite in our test kitchen. Plus: They’re dishwasher-safe, which means you’ll also get a thank-you from the cleanup crew.

About these reviews: Sur La Table and Williams Sonoma provided more than a dozen items for Store Reporter to test and review this holiday season. We chose the products above for their form, function and easy maintenance. Look for more Store Reporter product reviews in 2018.