Shower gift ideas for a seasoned cook

taintedblue

My friend is having a shower next month. She is a fairly experienced cook and has lots of cooking gadgets. At that level of cooking, what would you have liked to receive as a gift? Any smaller gadgets that maybe you didn't know about? A certain cookbook that really helped? A specialty food item?

Thank you for any input! 

CaitS07

Maybe a conversion chart? I bought a few different types a while back that stick to my fridge and they are super helpful esp. when baking. Amazon has a bunch.

-OR-

 A blank "cookbook" where your friend can write down her own recipes as she makes them. I've been thinking about getting one for myself.

 HTH!

0225eiluj

A steel if she doesn't have one for her knives. 

Silpat baking mats

Good, heavy, 1/2 sheet trays

I also like Harold McGee's books.   

alithebride

whta's on her registry? i dont buy gifts that aren't on the registry for showers. i mean do you know what she has? if she's a seasoned cook then she probably has a lot of stuff already.

26summer

I'd like to get some expensive flavored olive oils or balsamic vinegar.  These are things I don't buy for myself but I love to have and cook with.  Buying her some spices from Penzey's might be fun too.  My brother got me a few different seasoning mixes and I love using them (Arizona spice, pasta seasoning, Forward mix).

Tool wise I love my collapsable collander and measuring cups.

taintedblue

alithebride:

whta's on her registry? i dont buy gifts that aren't on the registry for showers. i mean do you know what she has? if she's a seasoned cook then she probably has a lot of stuff already.

She has very little on her registries. Yes, I know what she owns already. She told me I am welcome to deviate from her registries because she trusts my judgment and always love the surprises I come up with. I am simply looking for ideas from others who have found something they fell in love with or appreciate more since they have experience under their belts vs. being a brand-new cook in the kitchen. I know the things that I love and desire now are much different than when I was a newbie at cooking.

I love the idea of infused-oils. Perhaps I could make her some? The shower isn't until June. 

What are some of the spices on your "wish list" for the kitchen? 

I like the conversion chart idea, but she's got one saved in her Iphone that she uses (lol, oh technology!). 

MrsWindyCity

If you think she might like it (and you have these things near you) you could buy her some sort of class. Obviously not a beginning one, but maybe one for a particular ethnic cuisine or a skills class. DH bought me a knife skills class a couple years ago that I liked.

melbride2005

I love the idea of a knife skills class, or an advanced baking class...

a Le Creuset piece

I'm debating getting a stovetop smoker...does she have one?   

Magdala9

http://www.penzeys.com/

Penzey's spices are a good gift for an experienced cook.  

Budnotes

I'd also stick to what she has on her registry, but if you don't want to purchase something on her registry, I'd suggest a gift card to Williams-Sonoma or Sur La Table.  GREAT kitchen supply stores - great quality and nice selections.  This way she can pick out what she wants.  Hope this helps. Good luck!

amief

I second the nice balsalmics or olive oils

how about fancy sea salts?

umami paste

does she have a kitchenaid? would she like a splatter guard? or blade with scraper? or any other specialty attachment

if she is a baker.. maybe some cake decorating goodies, there is so much fun stuff out there

good maple syrup

serving pieces that will match what she has if she entertains much