Issue date:
Nov. 13-15, 1998

Related links
Back to this week's Thanksgiving main page.
Decor: A new Thanksgiving table, and Creative B. Smith shares tips.
Turkey tidbits: Turkey Day trivia, conversation starters, and meals at the millennium.
Recipes, recipes, recipes
Wine: What goes with this special menu.
The pantry: Spice up your shelves.
Introduction
Turkey 2000: Updating the classics

Gadgets

David Rosengarten is a Spartan in the kitchen. "All you need is a good, sharp knife," says the Food Network's co-anchor of In Food Today, host-chef of the Taste show and author of a new cookbook based on the show, Taste (Random House, $29.95 in paperback). Here, he recommends that knife and a few other items that would make ideal gifts - or help the Thanksgiving cook.

• Knife. The Kyocera Ceramics knife retains sharpness for years. "It's amazing," Rosengarten says. "You could slice paper-thin slices of tomato [or turkey!] with it." Plastic-handle knives: 3-inch paring knife to 512-inch chef's knife, $36-$93.77. Wooden-handle knife: 3 to 6 inches, $52-$167.70. 1-800-859-6994.

  

• Turkey Frier. "The most exciting turkey I've had in the last year is deep-fried turkey."
  Not greasy, Rosengarten says, if cooked at the right temperature: 365 degrees. The Turkey Frier is a tall stovetop cauldron for oil ($89.95 for 30-quart model). 1-800-221-8060.

• Cajun Injector ($6-$14.95) puts flavor inside the bird - or beef or pork. Four-pack of flavors including Chinese Sweet and Sour and Cajun Hot and Spicy
  is $13.95. 1-800-221-8060.

• Indoor grill. "It makes the grill marks, and a pan of water under the electric coils eats up the smoke. There's never any smoke in the kitchen," says Rosengarten. Multigrill, $80-$120. T-Fal, 1-800-395-8325.

NEW THIS SEASON

• Calphalon commercial anodized cookware. This relaunch of the lifetime-guarantee line of aluminum cookware is exclusive to Williams-Sonoma. What's new? A cool, triple-riveted handle, a domed lid to increase capacity and improve heat circulation, and a stick-resistant surface. From $60 for 11-inch grill pan to $429 for 10-piece set.

• Stainless steel rolling pin. Extra-long handles improve grip, and the pin can be chilled to prevent dough from getting sticky as it's rolled. $48.

• Stainless steel Williams-Sonoma cook tools with long handles and ergonomic grip. Made of 18/10 3mm (standard
  is 2mm) gauge steel in a brushed texture to hide fingerprints. Spatula, ladle, forks, serving spoons, from $9.

• Blackened chrome Waring blender. Used commercially in kitchens and bars, this wedding gift for the ages has two speeds including pulse function, $189.