Three Birthday Gift Ideas for Your Favorite Cook

Do you have a spouse, a friend or a sibling who loves to cook? If so, you have a lot of creative birthday gift options for that loved one. Food can bring back memories of travel experience and transport you to a another destination. Food is very powerful and a great way to travel when you don't have the money to actually travel. 

If you have the need to purchase a gift soon, check out three birthday gift ideas for a favorite cook or chef in your life.

A Recipe Book Written by a Famous Chef

Maybe your friend or relative loves Julia Child, Wolfgang Puck or Ina Garten. Perhaps the person loves to make desserts and dishes created by a particular chef. If so, why not get a recipe book written by one of the person’s favorite chefs? Your loved one is sure to be pleased with the detailed recipes, photos and funny stories that are often a part of a recipe book.

Spices

Spices are used in all sorts of recipes. A grilling spices gift set is a fun idea for a cooking enthusiast because they can be used in countless dishes. Also, having a collection of quality spices gives a cook the opportunity to make traditional dishes taste even better. 

A Personalized Utensil

A cooking utensil such as a spatula, a paring knife or a colander is certainly a welcome gift for any chef. But, why not take it a step further? Give the person a personalized utensil. For instance, you could give your loved one a serving spoon engraved with the person's name. Or, you could go with a serving spoon with the person’s name as well as a meaningful quote about cooking. A personalized utensil makes it all the more special to the chef who uses it. He or she will be reminded of your kindness every time the utensil is used.

These are just three birthday gift ideas for a favorite cook or chef in your life. Think about what the person likes to prepare in the kitchen. Also, consider the condition of the person's utensils and supplies to come up with ideas for a gift. From entrees to desserts, there are many gifts that can help a chef perform at his or her best in the kitchen.

We're Going Back to Hogwarts

So, we had our annual Harry Potter party, did a bunch of fun wizarding-related things, and then I went back to Hogwarts. As all of you Potterheads know, today's the day all those little witch and wizards board the Hogwarts Express from Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station. While I don't get to be there today (sad face) and get in on all the awesome back-to-school stuffs happening, I was able to beat most of the crowds getting robes and wands in order to tour the castle.

First thing's first, you head straight to Forbidden Journey, where you can walk through the whole castle before being attacked by everything terrifying the school has to offer. It's not genuinely scary. It's actually very cool, but you will get tossed around some, so this is why you get food and a Butterbeer after. Here are some fun castle shots:

Hogwarts in the morning

Mandrakes in the greenhouse. They aren't book accurate, but they are still pretty cute. Check out those dragonhide gloves!

These portraits really talked! (click to see bigger)

The house hourglasses. Why is Ravenclaw doing so badly???

One of my favorite characters in Harry Potter: the Sorting Hat

Now's when you take a bit of a break to get on Flight of the Hippogriff, because it's chill and also you get to see Hagrid's Hut and garden, and Buckbeak!

It's Sirius's motorbike!

Don't forget to bow, or you might end up like Malfoy!

Hagrid has a lot of things that may or may not be safe for students. Make sure to look around when in line.

Now, you can go have some Butterbeer before your wand chooses you, hit up the other stores in Hogsmeade and make some magic before the castle show!

One of these wands might be yours!

It may be small, but Madam Malkins is literally packed with actual props! (click to see full res.)

I really just love the look of the Three Broomsticks amid the other buildings in Hogsmeade. And yes, it's always winter.

The food is delicious. We got fish and chips with Tongue-Tying Lemonade and
the cheese toastie with chicken and a Pumpkin Juice (because yaaasss!).

You gotta love the Butterbeer trucks!

I can't even tell you how much I love Honeydukes. I bought so much
unnecessary candy.

Do not miss the castle show. It plays a bunch of times after dark and is only 5 minutes, but SO worth it.
It's magical, you guys!

You did it! A successful back to school experience. Whether you're a first year, heading back to the first place you call home or still waiting on your Hogwarts letter, Hogsmeade is a magical experience for all. Your Universal trip should start and end there. Now, don't forget to watch out for Peeves, keep up with your homework and practice hard for the Quidditch Cup!

A post shared by Shereen Travels Cheap (@srayle) on Aug 12, 2018 at 11:52am PDT

Have a great term, everyone! Have some treacle tart for me. 

My Portland Coffee Tour - Part 16

You probably thought this series was done, but no. There are are still a bunch of coffee shops in Portland for me to get to. I got to two in the last two months (sorry, but my life has been super busy with no time to go out for coffee), but I also went to an awesome place in Anaheim while my friend and I were at Disney.

Photo credit: Nathan Dumlao

I've spent a fair amount of time planning brunches and shuttling my mom to doctor appointments, so I was able to check out two shops in close proximity to each other that I've been wanting to try.

 

Fairlane Coffee

This shop has a small, but inviting, storefront and I was instantly drawn to it.

Fairlane is very Portland-y looking inside: industrial with warm woods. There's a cement floor, metal chairs and an outdoorsy theme throughout. Imagine a lumberjack opened a coffee joint and you've got Fairlane.  

The case here is full of yummy looking pastries, plus there are a ton of awesome-sounding sandwiches on the menu as well, but I was just in the mood for a specialty coffee since we had just had breakfast across the street. I ordered the Crater Lake ($4.25) which is essentially a vanilla, honey and lavender latte. If you love the soothing smell and subtle flavor of lavender, then this twist on an old favorite is going to be right up your alley. I'll definitely be going back when I am in the area again.

Kahveology

Right around the corner fromFairlane is Kahveology (which is also across the street from a Starbucks, because Portland). It's bigger and a bit brighter with unfinished features, like this particle board counter and lapship wall. They brew with Oatly oat milk, which you know how I feel about (if you don't, I love it), but apparently, you have to pay an extra $.75 to get, and also serve Kombucha (which I hate with a passion). 

Eric was with me and we ordered an Americano ($3 -me) and a white chocolate mocha ($5.25 , because oat milk - him). I wasn't enamored by either drink. I felt the Americano, which I'm told is one of their most popular drinks, didn't have the full body I look for in a coffee. I also felt that the mocha was not that strong and wasn't worth the price. If I have the choice, I'll head around the corner instead.

Creme & Sugar Anaheim

I've been following Creme & Sugar on Instagram (are you surprised?) and have been drooling over their unicorn lattes and milkshakes. I wasn't able to hit up the shop in Vegas for cotton candy burrito, so I found this place instead. While not exactly the same, the calories are probably up there. 

I found out they had all the Butterbeer options and drove 20 minutes to indulge.  I mean, we were going to Universal the next day for Butterbeer at the Wizarding World, but why not pre-game a little bit? I was dead set on the Butter Latte ($7.25) piled with a mountain of whipped cream, butterscotch drizzle, gold sprinkles and a lightning bolt (as a nod to Harry himself). It was just as delicious as I expected and as big as my head. You don't get a choice of size. It's on the Epic Lattes menu. 

I forced Mel to order something ridiculous on me (or is it Riddikulus?) and she opted for the Butterbeer Float ($8), which also gives you the rest of the butterscotch soda that didn't fit in the glass. It also was covered in butterscotch drizzle, gold sprinkles, that adorable lightning bolt, but also gold Sixlets. She couldn't finish it and I wasn't surprised. Look at that thing!

The shop itself is a mish-mash of amazing things: unicorns, rainbows, cake, ice cream, antiques. It's right next door to a pizza parlour and a nice family came in after they had eaten there and were asking us questions about it. They were a little surprised that we had never been there before and we had a nice chat about their yearly trips to Portland and what we were doing in Anaheim. If you are dying for a good ice cream, float or coffee that's mostly sugar, this is the place for you. It rivaled my "official" Butterbeers at Universal.

So, next month I'll try to bring you more coffee from actual Portland. I should have more time to get out and about and enjoy a cup (or 5) of locally-brewed Joe.

What are your favorite coffee shops where you live or from your travels?