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i go to mcdonalds and get a mc-double with whopper special sauce, and a hot and spicy chicken sandwich, since i wake up after breakfast haha. then i take the mc-double and pull it apart right in the middle. then i take the entire hot and spicy and put it between the two patties of meat and smush it down. it works wonders and doesnt even taste like mcdonalds.

Last night I drank a bunch of beers and some shots. I was so drunk I was hitting on a lady who was twice my age, so thats about how drunk I was. Went home and fell asleep as soon as I hit the pillow, woke up fully clothed shoes and all --- I was HUNG OVER. But there's a Pho diner around the corner. I went over there and got some of that vietnamese noodle soup and ate that whole thing. Went straight home and fell right back asleep again until later on in the afternoon. When I woke up, the hangover was completely gone.

Keep in mind that it's summer and chocolate will get all melty unless you have a cooler. I know this from recent experience.

Nuts are my favorite road trip food. For some reason whenever I travel - be it by car or plane - I have cashews. But I almost never eat them otherwise,.

While I also usually have a bottle of water in the car, I try to minimize my liquid consumption, especially if we're in the middle of nowhere.

I'm going to show my age here and say I graduated from college pre-microwave oven days. Now what I mean about that is that a microwave was still a very high price item, your poor college kid never even thought of owning such a thing. What saved me was the toaster oven. Now just about everyone needs a toaster, and why not get one that can do some other things as well. However, unlike your average college kid, once I got into apartments instead of dorm rooms the first things I got were a hand held mixer (great for basic baking), a blender (must have for parties as well as cooking, can take place of food processor at times) and an electric skillet. I had started cooking at the age of 14 and I was the college friend everyone came to for a home-cooked meal. I hit yard sales and stocked my first apartment kitchen. Believe it or not, I still own some of those first things from almost 30 years ago. Now also, if the poor man doesn't own them, get him a measuring cup (liquid and solid) and some measuring spoons. It's shocking the number of people in this country who don't own those basic items. This is what has happened to our country WITH the invention of the microwave and also with the loss of home-cooking and the family meal time. It's really a shame.

You left out a huge piece of info: What's YOUR budget?

If he's perpetually broke, then he'll be cooking with economical ingredients.
If you're also broke, I echo the suggestion for a slow cooker. A lot safer, easier & cheaper than simmering or braising for hours on the stove or in the oven. But can a hungry guy stand the aroma of cooking food, knowing it is inedible for the next 2-6 hours? Also, most slow cookers can only do slow simmer or fast simmer.

Therefore, if you've got the $$, I suggest you spring for a good-quality, modern pressure cooker. Flavorful & healthful stew from cheapo meat & veg in 1/2 hour. Rice or beans in 15 minutes. A good pressure cooker pan is high quality, so it also serves as a heavy saucepan or even a dutch oven for deep frying.

Both a slow cooker and a pressure cooker come with simple recipes that a beginner can use and an experienced cook can expand & improvise with.

PS. Knives & cookbooks are pretty personal as far as picking the ONE that will work for a person. Unless you're soulmates with this guy or you can check his registery, don't do it.

You sound like a good pal. GL

A few thoughts:

The knife (as one person said) may be a more personal purchase, but maybe not if you spend more money on it than he would!

Cast Iron skillet would usually be a good recommendation, but being in an apartment with a small kitchen, those things tend to smoke to much...and its not about controlling the heat. Its about 'seasoned' cast iron heating up.

But consider this, I bought 2 twelve inch COMMERCIAL non-stick pans from Sam's Club (because at that time they came in two AND Sams has a commercial restaurant supply section now - BUT NOT COSTCO DARN IT!) pretty cheap and they are made from thick aluminum under the non-stick coating...2 years later they still have the coating. I pulled the rubber handles (good for oven temps up to about 350) off and threw them away, cook on top, finish in oven. Works wonderful. Heavy duty, lighter, and less smokey than cast iron.

Get the kitchenaide mini processor (3 cups model) not the cuisenart. The reason being is because the 'catch' for making the motor work is a long piece of plastic protrudcing down from the lid, prone to breaking off! Kitchenaid, not so much small 'catch' on both sides of lid that doesn't protrude past the lip much, even if you manage to drop the lid on the floor and break one, you can still swivel the lid to the other.

As someone mentioned, electric hot water kettle. Starts things that need hot or boiled water much quicker.

Is he a serious tea or coffee drinker? Bodum (french press) goes good with that electric water kettle.

Small microwave as already said.

Coffee been grinder for grinding spices or coffee.

I buy bar towels in bulk from Sam's or Costco's, there just like the ones in commercial kitchens I use...and there cheap.

Immersion blender, as already said. This thing should be a must. Its terrific.

My pasta roller still comes in handy for (duh) pasta, and also: pita bread, rolling thin tortillas, flat bread...etc.

If your going to spend some money on him, buy a nice kitchen cart with storage underneath...then he can roll a 'chopping' island around to use and store these small appliances underneath when not in use.

Ok, I'll stop here...I cook professionally as well as not letting my small kitchen in my apartment keep me from cooking extensive and 'fine dining' meals at home.

A cast iron pan and knife are great but I agree with the microplane suggestion if you'd like to send something small. It's versatile and makes a real difference.

Wow, I'll bet you're sorry you asked for our comments?????
I don't have children, except for the 4-legged kind with fuzzy faces. However, I've always thought that my one good piece of advice in addition to all the rest of the good knife, frypan, toaster oven suggestions above, is............ supply him with dinnerware & casseroles, etc. that go from freezer, to oven, to microwave, to dishwasher, to table...........simply because it not only saves mucho time in cleaning, buying, storing, & saves $$$$$------if your son is anything like my husband, he washes plates, etc. by hand & refuses to use the dishwasher, it has the perfect all around usage. There's Fiesta ware, Pfaltzgraf, Corningware, & Chantal.........all great brands! I believe my suggestion will be VERY benefitial to the male species. Good luck to him...........& you as well!

Well, I am a bit late to this party, but as a foodie bachelorette Music School grad back in the day, I would have killed for a good Immersion Blender, with the tiny food processor cup and blade, and a whisk attachment.. That item alone makes up for not having a blender, a food processor (for smaller items, or small batches), and a hand mixer - for the most part.

That, some good mixing bowls, and cookware - basic pyres, pots and pans, etc. Dishes, silverware and glassware are nice, too.

Congratulations and good luck!!

~ Paula

A Wok is one of the best pieces of cookware to have in a kitchen. They are so versatile. For someone who doesn't have a lot of cookware this would be a great addition and enable them to make all sorts of meals.

A good chef's knife, a cutting board, a timer if he/she is a daydreamer-- unless they have a good sense of smell. A cheap coffee grinder is great for grinding up spice blends and won't run you much in $.
Also, you might check out if anyone in his area has any favorite co-ops, farmers' markets etc. for him to shop at.
And most of all, a "go to" list of family, friends and websites, particularly the SE community, for foodie questions, advice and of course, inspiration!

I would seriously consider a le creuset dutch oven (enameled cast iron)...

They're not cheap, but will last a lifetime and are indispensable for so many different types of culinary efforts....