Any Christmas gift suggestions for a cook?

[horst]

  Hi, I'm looking for any suggestions for Christmas gifts for the kitchen. Are there any groovy new gadgets out there that make cooking easier, or any great cookbooks that really see some use?

[hibiscus24]

A gadget would be a bit dodgy unless you know that s/he wants something specific. No point giving something that'll sit in the cabinet un- or little-used.

Cookbooks that one would covet are Wendy Hutton's new one (forget the exact title) and anything by Christopher/Terry Tan (son-and-dad), as well as the 3-book range of "Cooking with Asian...(roots, leaves and something else)" by Devagi Shanmugam and Chris.

A classic book to give - but if the giftee is a diehard cook s/he may already have it - is Elizabeth David's An Omelette And A Glass Of Wine. There are other books about cooking which are great reading too - like memoirs/cookbooks - a peek into the Kino cookbook section will help.

[kitchen aid]

kitchen aid has a new pink line thats small and not to costly. they have utensils and measuring cups and spoons etc. kitchen aid quality all woman love and in pink so 10% of all sales are donated to finding a cure for breast cancer. they have a shop here or check online at amazon.

[inspector gadget]

how about a Jamie Oliver flavour shaker!  Not exactly an essential piece of kitchen equipment, but someone who cooks often might find it useful.

[Head]

Yea, try the new blow up Gordon Ramsey. You will never guess where the mouth piece is, but dont over inflate him, he gets angry. Failing that you could try the life size Jamie Oliver card board cut out wearing nothing but a chefs hat and a smile.

[OP]

  Has anyone ever tried the electric or manual ice cream makers? Or will it just gather dust on the back shelf like my pasta maker?

[sharp]

a top-of-the-line knife sharpener... if s7he doesn't have one yet.

[personal]

or instead of my above ideas about the "pink" kitchen aid they also have a "pink" (to support breast cancer) betty crocker cookbook that is very nice.

or a very personal touch would be to print off or handwrite lots of fancy recipes and design your own cookbook for her. recipes of things she does not normally make or new creations like a balaniese cookbook, etc or gourmet recipes for special guests.

we know she loves cooking so you can not really go too wrong.

[gender]

who said the cook was a she?

[Old Mike]

We have an electric ice cream maker, the type that goes in the deep freeze. It is a wonderful thing. The only way to make traditional American ice cream ( cream, sugar, vanilla pod, stir until solid)
On a smaller budget, lemon zester, apple cutter ( Ikea) Traditional Chinese cleaver, various local cookbooks, crab scissors. ( Small scissors with a long prong protruding, for getting the meat out of the legs),bamboo steamers,measuring cups, etc

[Larousse]

Nothing's better than Larousse_Gastronomique by Pierre Larousse.  All the foodies (read: food snobs) will know what this is all about. Of course the English version is equally impressive.

[handy]

How about a parmesan cheese rotary grater. Great, affordable and handy. They have it in Pantry Magic (Holl. Vill.)