Help with BBQ/grilling shower gift

[gsElsbeth]

I've been invited to a shower where the theme is BBQ (or grilling). I was thinking of giving some kind of cookbook, but have no idea what would be good. I'm sure this young couple will have a grill of some kind, but not a smoker. Any suggestions? Any other suggestions other than grilling tools or BBQ mitts?

[MsMaryMc]

Lots of good suggestions already...

The grilling cookbook I've used the most is The Weber Big Book of Grilling. It probably has a higher number of recipes that have entered our regular rotation than most of the other cookbooks on my shelves.

Another gadget I like is a flat wire basket with a handle that lets me grill things like shrimp, asparagus, and other small items that are hard to turn or that can easily fall through the grill. I resisted for a long time--it seemed too specialized and esoteric--but now I wish I'd bought one sooner.

[meatn3]

A remote wireless meat thermometer is really handy. An assortment of different wood chips (hickory, mesquite, apple, etc.) gives them an option for playing with the flavor of smoke with out a smoker. Cedar planks are nice too. A cover for the grill is always useful.

[valerie]

I agree with the suggestions of Steven Raichlen's Barbecue Bible or How to Grill. Or, to add onto Dolores' suggestion of plastic glasses, you can get great reasonably priced sets of plates or pitchers/glasses at Target and they are great for outdoor entertaining.

Crate and Barrel also has great things for outdoor entertaining -- chip and dips, pitchers/glasses. I just bought this chip and dip and the 3 part dish for a friend...

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family....

[jujuthomas]

barbeques galore is a great store if you're near one. they used to offer a lot of product online, but apparently not anymore.

[grampart]

Another great book is The Cook’s Illustrated Guide to Grilling and Barbecue.
http://tinyurl.com/5bd3bd

[porker]

beer

[currymouth]

You sir are the real backyard griller . Cheers.

[CourtneyO]

I have seen wood chip sampler packs. You can do a basket of different chips and planks.

Or a fire extinguisher.

[currymouth]

The most useful tools anyone that grills need is a set of long sprung stainless steel tongs and spatula. Not the hokey ones you find in all the catalogs or at your local Bed,Bath, and Beyond, but can be easily found in any good restaurant supply store. I wish someone would have given me these tools when I got my first grill.

[gordeaux]

ZACTLY!!

I have the coolest spatula ever. It's a "fish spatula" for the grill, but I use that and my heavy duta tongs for everything. The spatula "head" is shaped like a whale, and is about 8 inches wide (across), and 4 or 5 inches deep.I can flip a whole side of salmon with no worries, and it's thick stainless, so weight is never an issue. Long so my hands are never directly over flame or coals.

[dolores]

Plastic drink glasses -- martini, margarita, etc. -- so the cook can drink while cooking.

Invaluable.

[currymouth]

Where can I get one?

[gordeaux]

smoker boxes for wood chips.
set of rubs from penzey's or spice house
grill light
scraper
GOOD tongs! GOOD heavy duty long ones.
both a meat and grill thermometer
buy a basket, and stuff these things in it!

[MGZ]

A chimney starter is an oft overlooked tool. Books try: Steven Raichlen's "The Barbecue Bible" or Weber's "Real Griling."

[nofunlatte]

I second these recommendations. I have both bbq books and love them. And I just got my Weber chimney starter yesterday--it has a larger capacity than the ones I got before.

and why not add your own favorite grilling recipe(s)!

[danhole]

Google Steve Raichlen, and check out his Grill cookbook. He is really good.

[LNG212]

It's a small gift so you'd probably want to get something else as well ... but it was a real hit with the person we gave this to. Williams Sonoma sells a monogram branding iron. It gets heated on the grill and then the person can "brand" their burgers, steaks, chicken, whatever. It's 3 initials. I don't recall if they do the initials in different styles.

[Lilli62]

Take a look at PamperedChef.com - they have a gift set especially for grilling.

[jujuthomas]

skip the bbq mitts and get heavy duty leather welding gloves. thick ones. I can't tell you how many times DH got a hot spot in the standard bbq mitt and almost burned himself. now that he has these globes (they reach almost to the elbow) his hands are well protected.

[ricepad]

"Smoke & Spice", by Jamison and Jamison. One of the best ever about cooking w/ smoke.

[janniecooks]

Smoke and Spice is a great barbeque cookbook, as you mention one of the best about cooking with smoke, and it's in my library. But the OP specifically mentioned that the giftee does not have a smoker, so I would be inclined to recommend instead Steven Raichlen's book, "How to Grill", rather than the Jamison's book. (see danhole's post.)