As a trained cook and devoted follower of Instagram’s most stylish chefs, I’m endlessly inspired by the seasonal recipes and beautifully decorated holiday tables filling my feed.
With hosting season upon us, I couldn’t help but wonder – what are the go-to gadgets behind these picture-perfect feasts?
I reached out to my three favorite Instagram chefs, who revealed their kitchen secrets behind such effortlessly chic dinner parties. From microplanes to high-powered blenders, here’s the scoop on the tools guaranteed to elevate your holiday cooking.
Eden Grinshpan
Eden Grinshpan, chef and author of Eating Out Loud, brings a pop of color and authenticity to her dinner table. Known for her warming recipes and down-to-earth charm, she shares glimpses of family life and her playful kitchen creativity on her popular Instagram.
A Le Cordon Bleu grad, Eden’s cooking draws on her passion for Middle Eastern cuisine. Her upcoming book, Tahini Baby, celebrates colorful mezze spreads, dips and desserts – it looks perfect for dinner parties and celebrations.
Eden’s kitchen essential for the holidays? A microplane grater. 'It's my must-have for the holidays (and honestly every day)', Eden tells me. 'It's the perfect tool for prepping key ingredients; like ginger, garlic, spices, citrus, nuts. It has saved me so much time in the kitchen especially when I have to last minute whip something up for fam and friends.'
Chloé Crane-Leroux
Chloé Crane-Leroux is a NYC-based recipe developer and food photographer. We're in love with her Instagram kitchens: a blend of French workspaces with copper pans, range cookers, and rustic appliances.
Most recently, Chloe released a collection of plant-based recipes with her mother. The Artful Way to Plant-Based Cooking puts a twist on classics like pappardelle mushroom bolognese and decadent dark chocolate cookies – perfect for family suppers and entertaining guests.
Chloe says a KitchenAid food processor is her kitchen essential for hosting: 'I use it all the time to make whipped feta, spicy chimichurri, and even chocolate mousse. The 7-cup size is great for everyday cooking. It’s compact enough to fit in my kitchen, but still powerful enough for tougher tasks like grinding nuts. I honestly reach for it so often; it's just one of those tools that makes cooking a little easier.'
Romilly Dauphin-Newman
Dubbed the Gen-Z Martha Stewart, Romilly Dauphin Newman is known for creating ultra-chic recipes and tablescapes for some of the coolest brands on the culinary scene.
She brings a refined yet playful approach to the kitchen, sharing her culinary expertise learnt at Le Cordon Bleu with her ever-growing Instagram audience. Her mantra is, 'The table you set and the dinner you make are only as good as the people around it and the fun you have.'
Romilly’s holiday must-have? 'I love one item that can do it all in the kitchen. My Vitamix blender is just that – I use it for soups, breadcrumbs, salsa verde, hollandaise… you name it! I’m just as excited about it now as I was the day I got it.'
If you're inspired by Romilly's pick, I'd recommend reading our guide to the best Vitamix blenders on the market. We've tested all the different shapes and sizes, so you can find the best fit for your kitchen.
While each of my favorite chefs has their own unique style, they all agree on one thing: having the right tools makes all the difference in elevating holiday meals. Whether it’s the precision of a Microplane, the versatility of a food processor, or the power of a Vitamix, these essentials help simplify prep work and maximize flavor, letting the cook focus on what truly matters – creating memorable moments with loved ones.
