Perfect Culinary Gifts

There's probably somebody in your life who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, whipping up everything from lavish holiday meals to quick weeknight dinners.

But if you don't know much about cooking, buying the perfect culinary gift can be a challenge.

Just in time for the season's last big shopping weekend, Zanne Stewart, Gourmet magazine's executive food editor, gave some culinary gifts recommendations on The Saturday Early Show.

Here are a few of Gourmet magazine's gift picks for the chef on your holiday list:

The New Cook

These three suggestions would be perfect for the cooks who are still developing their cooking style. Stewart says you can help stock the kitchen with basic, good quality cooking tools.

• Oxo Measuring Cups:
  Finally, no more holding a cup of milk over your head or crouching down next to your counter for an accurate measurement. These cups have an angled bottom so measurements can be read from above and from the side. The cups are priced from $5 to $7. (Available at chefscatalog.com, cooking.com and Zabars)
• Furi Knife and Sharpener:
  This Australian knife is forged from one piece of metal - meaning no bacteria can hide in joints or rivets. Stewart says the knives are light enough to be comfortable and heavy enough to do the job. The utensils displayed by Stewart were a 10'' knife for $69, an east-west knife (a combination of a cleaver and a knife) for $95, and a sharpener for $89 (Available at New York City's Bridge Kitchenware)
• Pinch Plus Herbs/Spices:
  Individual packets of herbs and spices allow chefs to experiment with new flavors and recipes before investing in large amounts of expensive spices. Although the spices are sold individually, you can also purchase them in sets by cuisine, such as a pinch of India, Thailand, Mexico, France, Maine and a pinch of Christmas. Each $6 set contains three different spices and includes corresponding recipes. (Available online at www.pinchplus.com, at Gourmet Garage and Citarella)

Expanding Horizons
Perhaps the cook in your life already has every tool imaginable. Stewart says these two gifts are perfect for the chef who is ready to try new things.

• HearthKit Oven Insert:
  Convert your gas or electric oven into a traditional brick oven and create perfectly crusted artisan bread, professional style pizza, succulent roast chicken and more. The insert is a base and two sides all made of cordierite, which the manufacturer says is a durable blend of earthen materials. The oven insert also comes with an instructional video at its $200 price tag. (Available at Sur La Table)
• Julienne Peeler
  Stewart says the peeler landed on desks at Gourmet magazine recently and everybody loved them. They're stainless steel and allow you to create quick garnishes without needing to keep a box of Band-Aids near-by. The peeler costs about $12.99. (Available at chefscatalog.com)

Updated Classics

Kitchen technology continues to develop, making old tools and appliances more convenient than ever. These two gifts are sure to be hits with anyone who spends time in the kitchen.

• Rowenta toaster T0-912:
  The toaster has a warming platform on top to warm to reheat pastries, flatbreads and more. Drop your bread in and choose the defrost option, the bagel option (toasting one side of the bread), or traditional toasting. The model toasts up to four slices at a time. There are two temperature controls which means you can have breakfast lightly toasted while your spouse has breakfast darkly toasted - and they'll be ready at the same time. The toaster costs about $100. (Available at major department stores and specialty retailers)
• Polder Remote Thermometer:
  This item looks like a small timer with a rope attached. The rope is the probe that actually reads the meat's temperature and the oven's temperature. Place the probe in the meat and pull the timer outside the oven where it attaches with a magnet. You don't have to open the oven door, cooling down the inside and slowing the cooking process just to check the temperature. And you don't have to poke a million holes in your meat with the remote thermometer. The Polder Thermometer is priced at $24.98 (Available at Zabar's)
• Lodge Company Cast Iron Grill Pan:
  Typically, when you buy a cast iron skillet you can't use it right away because it must be seasoned first by coating it in olive oil and placing in a low-heat oven. But this brand new line of skillets comes pre-seasoned. According to Stewart, nothing makes fried chicken better than the Lodge Company Cast Iron Grill Pan. The heavy pans insure great browning and the cast iron (once you season it or buy a pre-seasoned version) is a natural non-stick surface. (as opposed to Teflon or other chemically-created non-stick surfaces) The iron grill costs about $18. (Available at www.lodgemfg.com and most hardware stores)
• Doughmaker Baking Pans:
  These pans are a favorite of Gourmet's chefs. Stewart explains that the problem with most bakeware is that its dark steel or coated dark steel (Teflon) can make your baked goods cook too fast. You wind up with a dark, crusty finish that really doesn't taste good. The Doughmaker Baking Pans have a crackled finish, kind of like crocodile skin, which insures that your baked goods do not over-brown. The pans are priced at about $18 to $20. (Available at Broadway Panhandler and www.thebakersplace.com - type in code "es555 for free shipping on a $50 purchase)