Willamette Geek: Gifts for the Foodie Geek Part 1

With the holiday shopping season upon us, checking off items to get the gadget-obsessed techno-fiend in your life may seem pretty daunting.

If, however, the geek in question happens to be a huge food enthusiast, you're in luck.

Join us as we review the bits of kit your home culinary mad scientists would love to find in their polypropelene-fiber stockings:

Splash-Proof Super-Fast Thermapen

$96 by ThermoWorks

Cooking at its most basic is the application of heat to food. And with the Thermapen, getting the right amount of heat into the food is easy. Its thermocouple probe can spit out results in three seconds so there will be no excuses in overcooking the roast targ at your next Society of Klingon Speakers mixer. Extra points for the seals to protect against any inadvertent bloodwine splashes.

Iwatani Torch Burner Professional

$36 on Amazon

Forget those wimpy, hard-to-refill creme brulee torches! If you want to get up close and personal with some serious BTUs, this sushi bar staple is the only way to roll. Butane canisters are stupid easy to find and dirt cheap, so get your sear on!