cooking

This may very well be one of the most expensive pieces of cookware in the world, and certainly must be the most expensive fish poaching pan. The La Cintura Fish Poacher is made of heavy-gauge copper and has a nickel plated interior, stainless steel lid, rack and handles. It can hold up to 12-quarts of water and, at 23.5" x 8" x 4", is large enough for most of the fish you can buy commercially, though you certainly won't be able to fit in a swordfish if you're an ocean sport fisherman. Price: $965.

The City Boy Grill gets its name from the idea that many city-dwellers don't have room for a full sized barbecue, but the real applications for this portable grill are many. It can be taken hiking, camping, to the beach or used in the yard. The feature that makes it a standout is the fact that the grill is gas powered and comes with a gas cartridge (which can be refilled or replaced); most small grills use charcoal. This means that there are no coals to deal with, no messy cleanup and minimal smoke. It measures only 8.7" high, with a square grate that measures 7.1"x7.1". The grill is made from stainless steel and has a heat-resistant wooden handle. Price: $300.

The Tundra Grill is definitely a unique piece for the serious outdoor cook. It is based on a design that is used in Lapland, above the Arctic Circle, so it generates a lot of heat and can be used to multiple purposes simultaneously. The main feature is the zinc-coated stainless steel grill is the 37-inch base, which can be fueled by any one of a variety of fuels, including wood, charcoal, pine cones or brushwood. It comes with a grill rack, skewers, and three skillets at different heights (which can be swung away when not in used), that allow for frying or baking in a Dutch-oven. The smoke hood, similar in purpose to those used in professional kitchens, whisks fumes and smoke away from the chef, while also keeping the elements at bay. As you might imagine, a grill with so much cook space can be used to cook for a whole family reunion, not just your own family. It can fit two whole fish, three whole chickens, and six steaks. Price: $2,599.95.

Spices are naturally colorful, so the temptation to put a spice rack out in plain sight can be strong. Unfortunately, the racks themselves are often cheap or simply ugly, not to mention that they don't take advantage of the decorating possibilities that spices offer. This One-line Spice Rack from DESU changes that, though. It is designed to display spices in a way that will flatter any kitchen with some empty wall space. It comes with 15 cubic, glass jars to hold the spices and has a space that fits a standard olive oil bottle - giving it a unique look and a degree of usefulness that almost no other spice rack offers. It is made of stainless steel and the mounting screws are hidden to make it appear to "float" on the wall. Price: $199.

Giving a warm edge to the multitude of shining, modernist kitchen appliances is the newest offering from Jenn-Air: the Oiled Bronze line. The idea is to offer the sophistication and shine of a metallic finish with an injection of warmth to keep the kitchen feeling welcoming and friendly. The finish will be available on many, but not all, Jenn-Air products, including refrigerators, dishwashers ovens and cook tops, no doubt hitting the more lux lines before the down-market choices. The french door refrigerator is expected to retail for around $3,000.

[Image Detroit News]

The Chefs Remote Thermometer works in much the same way as a baby monitor, allowing you to keep track of what is happening in another room without having to be there. The transmitter base has a meat thermometer attached to it. The receiver has a range of 100-ft. and receives remote temperature updates from the thermometer. An audible alert lets you know when your meat reaches the appropriated level of doneness, with preset levels from rare to well done and custom levels that you can set yourself. This frees up the chef to work on the rest of the meal or watch the big game on TV while the main course is cooking without having to get up and check on it. The thermometer works both indoors and outdoors. Price: $49.95.

Working over a grill can take you away from guests at a backyard cookout, since heat and smoke are not generally what people want to gather around. Of course, if you have an electric cook-top built into your table, you avoid all the downsides of grilling, while everyone can pitch in and prepare delicious food together. The Cook-N-Dine tables, like this Dawson Teak Table, all have a stainless steel cooktop embedded in their center. During operation, the electric cooking surface on the table can heat up to temperatures of 430F and also sinks down slightly due to a patented process as it cooks the food. The outside of the table, the dining area, is completely unaffected by the cooking process. While Cook-N-Dine makes tables that are all metal, this table is one that is a modified version of a design by Ascot Teak. It comes in two heights, 30 and 40-inches, and is 59-inches in diameter. It can be used indoors as well as outdoors, so you'll be able to make the most of your table year round, not just during the summer grilling season. Prices (on sale) starts at $3922.