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For the graduate, I think the most played out gift ever is a pen with the graduate's name engraved on it. Don't get me wrong, I received a few of those myself, and I loved every single one of them. But really now. I know who I am. I don't need five million pens to remind me. Secondly, do people use pens anymore? I use a pen about once a month to sign my rent check. And there's another one - checks. Who uses those anymore?
So instead of filling our graduate's drawer with very expensive writing utensils, let's get our graduate's kitchen ready for his or her new real-world apartment. No more ramen made over a Bunsen burner!
- Knives - A set of very good knives is essential. Sharp, sturdy knives are essential for safety, and it is my personal belief that if you have nothing, nothing else, in the kitchen, the very least thing you should have is a good knife. If it's only going to be one, an 8" chef's knife is the best bet, otherwise, spring for the whole set. Your graduate worked hard. She deserves it.
- Cutting Board - Please don't let your graduate ruin his beautiful new knives by cutting things directly on the countertop! I like these flexible cutting boards that are color coordinated for type of food to eliminate the possibility of cross-contamination.
- Coffee Maker - Hey, instant coffee made with hot water out of the community cooler at the end of the dorm hall is okay when you're cramming for finals. It's not okay when your graduate is entertaining her adult friends in her apartment. A decent coffee maker is nice. A full-on espresso machine is even nicer.
- Rice Cooker - I know. It seems very narrowly focused on an Asian graduate, but not really. Everyone is eating more grains these days, and a rice cooker, especially something as nice as Zojirushi, can steam and cook everything from dried beans to barley.
- Pots - As always, an entire set is nice to have, but let me tell you, if your graduate isn't quite a budding Graham Kerr, then he can get by with one all-purpose pot. Just make sure to remind him that he can do a lot more than cook ramen in it.
- Pans - The same thing applies to pans as it does to pots. A 10" non-stick skillet is all-purpose,and if you have reservations about non-stick surfaces, well, then, go with a regular pan, but supply him with cooking spray.
- Toaster Oven - Because if he lives alone, firing up the giant oven might be a little wasteful, and we highly recommend that he not cook pizzas in the microwave oven. You can shop around and find one that matches his place and your budget.
- Cookbook - There are a bazillion cookbooks out there, and it might be nice to get her something within her "style" of cooking and eating. However, the best cookbook I ever received from my parents was the Joy of Cooking, which has been with me for years and still serves as an excellent reference.
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6-08-2006 @9:24PM LeiAtLarge said... 9) Spice rack with prefilled jars of common spices. :)
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6-08-2006 @9:49PM sarah said... excellent call, leiatlarge! excellent!
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6-08-2006 @10:19PM James said... 10) Microwave
Who could live without one?
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6-09-2006 @3:26AM Andrew said... Asian-American graduates might appreciate a rice cooker, although most will already have one. One thing some won't appreciate, however, is a knife. Knife-giving is taboo in certain circles.
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6-09-2006 @7:54AM Pat said... Not to completely nitpick but the way this list is written is kind of sexist, the "don't know how to boil water" gifts are for a man but the experienced "developed style" gifts are for the women. Maybe its just me but I'm a guy, a recent grad, and the biggest foodie of all my friends.
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6-09-2006 @8:59AM Marilyn said... I'm graduating for the third time around (MA) and I'm still holding out for a KitchenAid stand mixer. Third time's a charm, right?
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6-09-2006 @9:16AM Tanya said... I'm about to graduate soon and my personal preference for graduation gifts would not include knives or a cutting board. Then, if you made it through college, you probably have a coffee maker, rice cooker and toaster ovens - and the George Foreman Grill (at least if you have a dad like mine that's into kitchen gadgets). I would appreciate some nice pots and pans, cookbooks, and probably some good china too, since us grads probably have a bunch of free plastic cups instead of nice drinking glasses.
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6-09-2006 @11:26AM sarah said... hey pat - fee free to nitpick! ;) but to be quite honest, when i wrote this list, i was pretty much trying to use he/she every other item (for grammar/tense purposes,so i didin't have to use "they," which would have been wrong) and in no way was one item specifically for a "he" and another for a "she."
sorry if it came off the wrong way!
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6-09-2006 @1:38PM browse said... I second the vote on a toaster oven!
I bought a largish Europro toaster oven, and I find I use it far more than my full-sized gas oven. It scales from toast in the morning to baking cookies and pies to roasting chicken breasts for enchiladas. A great appliance, and one that has uses for the novice and the pro.
I'm sorry if this comes across as an ad. :-) I have no relationship with Europro, except as a customer.
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6-11-2006 @3:11AM kim said... In regards to knife-giving...
I've heard that if you plan to give a knife as a present, you should demand payment for it (a penny is common) so that the knife is not a sign of wishing to sever the relationship.
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