Get Cookin'
Image courtesy KitchenAid
When it comes to kitchen registry items, new brides tend to agree that this is not their mother's kitchen.
Just ask Los Angeles chef and cookbook author Laura Díaz Brown, known internationally as "Chef LaLa." Her own registry went far beyond the traditional silver to the can't-live-without kitchen gadgets that reflect modern practicality.
"Nowadays we're all thinking about, 'What do we need to save time?'," she says.
Experts say that when creating an enduring kitchen, look for items that you will keep for the long haul, both for sentiment and necessity.
"Consider classic shapes, colors and pared-down styling so your items integrate with additional items over the years," says Janelle Steinberg, owner of J Steinberg Design in Orange County, Calif.
Classic colors are often associated with nature. They can be intense like terra cotta or neutral like a warm beige, but they're less faddish in tone.
Also incorporate items that will offer longevity. Steinberg says for young couples, it may help to think not only of their life right now but also activities and events they will host later in life.
The Essentials
Celebrity chef and former model Maria Liberati, author of "The Basic Art of Italian Cooking," (Prima Media, 2005), says quality cookware is essential in any kitchen.
Her preference is enamel-on-steel cookware. The high-quality enamel makes it long-lasting and visually attractive, which works for going from stovetop to tabletop. Copper-fused cookware also hold heat well, she adds. If you're not registering for a full cookware set, register for at least a 2- or 3-quart saucepan with a lid, a 10- or 12-inch frying pan and an 8-quart stock pan. Liberati says try to avoid specialty cookware items, such as a wok, that you may use only a few times but will take up space.
The basics also include storing items. Smart Living Companies, Inc. offers a collapsible kitchen tools collection for newlyweds, as they may not have spacious kitchens. The collection features collapsible mixing bowls, colanders, measuring cups and storage containers that store flat to free up valuable cabinet and drawer space. Collapsible plastic items also make room in the cupboards for glass containers, which Brown prefers for storing leftover, as they're environmentally friendlier and safer in the microwave.
Another must is good kitchen knife block set. A classic eight-piece set, like the Wüsth set from Williams-Sonoma, works for everything from peeling and chopping fruits and vegetables to slicing crusty bread or cutting poultry to daily food preparation. Handy are a few extra paring knives, which can come in color-coded varieties to help prevent cross-contamination of food. Brown also likes to have three cutting boards for the same reason.
To keep her kitchen in order, Liberati relies on solid hardwood cookware racks, which when combined with decorative cookware or dinnerware they're attractive enough to double as decorative piece atop a countertop. Liberati also includes flower vases and large ceramic fruit bowls in the must-have items, as these can brighten any kitchen.
The Entertainment Pieces
Steinberg says an enduring kitchen also holds many items for entertaining, such as platters, a soup tureen and silver serving pieces.
Look into different types of glasses: water goblets, red and white wine glasses, pilsners, martini glasses - any and all you'll use. "You can and will call on these items again and again, and they are so nice to have on hand when planning a gathering or dinner party," she adds.
The Gadgets
Iri Greco, a New York producer of food-oriented television and new media content, likes the idea of bringing luxury to the kitchen. She says that with the economy turning toward prudence, couples could enjoy items that impart a "restaurant" feel while cooking at home.
She suggests a panini press, an ice cream machine and a rotisserie grill.
Chris Easter, co-founder of TheManRegistry.com based in Kansas City, Kan., says his clients think along the same line. The registry provides couples with the ability to register for gifts that appeal to grooms and help engage them in the wedding process.
For the health-conscious, a nutrition scale takes the mystery and guesswork out of calculating portion sizes, and helps you learn how to gauge food portions.
"This is one of the most important kitchen gadgets for the new couple, as it promotes healthy eating, which is essential for a long and fruitful life together," says New York publicist Brian Wagner.
The Personal Touches
Greco says to ponder over some less obvious gifts, such a cookbook stand.
"This is an item people don't usually think to purchase. It looks great to have a cookbook on display, and it functions really well when you actually need it for cooking," she says. Likewise, a glass cake stand and dome can be displayed on the counter all the time.
Brown says the kitchen should reflect your personality - and it should serve as an inviting place where couples can enjoy plenty of time together.
"In the registries, don't forget some fun but practical items like a pancake grill," she says. "There's nothing more romantic than making pancakes for each other."
 |
