Cooking specializations can be learned starting at level 530 from Sungshin Ironpaw, in the Halfhill Market in the Valley of the Four Winds. What's not mentioned, is unlike alchemy, or the now defunct tailoring specializations, you can specialize in each form of cooking, and all at the same time. So, save up your raw materials while you're out leveling, because you can find a use for them in one of the specializations.
Each specialization increases one primary stat, except for the Way of the Brew, which provides mana replanishing drinks, and apparently headaches and grandeur. Each quest requires something specific to start; these items are returned to you at the end of the quest, and are needed for the first quest in each specialization to get an Ironpaw Token.
Way of the Steamer: increases spirit
Requires 5 giant mantis shrimp and is turned in to Yan Ironpaw
Examples: Fire Spirit Salmon, Shrimp DumplingsWay of the Pot: increases intellect
Requires 5 jade lungfish and is turned in to Mei Mei Ironpaw
Examples: Swirling Mist Soup, Braised TurtleWay of the Oven: increases stamina
Requires 5 wildfowl breasts and is turned in to Jian Ironpaw
Examples: Chun Tian Spring Rolls, Twin Fish PlatterWay of the Gril: increases strength
Requires 5 raw tiger steaks and is turned in to Kol Ironpaw
Examples: Eternal Blossom Fish, Black Pepper Ribs and ShrimpWay of the Brew: mana drinks, some also replenish health
Requires 1 ginseng and is turned in to Bobo Ironpaw
Examples: Mad Brewer's Breakfast, Ginseng TeaWay of the Wok: increases agility
Requires 5 juicycrunch carrots and is turned in to Anthea Ironpaw
Examples: Sauteed Carrots, Valley Stir Fry
Quest
Way of the Steamer
Quest facts and objectives from the current retail game data.
The highest voted Wowhead comments for this page. They are community notes, not TheWoWDB comments.
As a quick note to those of you having trouble learning all of the cooking sub-proffessions (ie, way of the wok, way of the steamer, etc. etc.)
If you get 1 ironpaw token from finishing any of these quests, you can cash it in at the vendor ([npc=64395], located on the south side of the path in the center of halfhill, to the west of the in) for a sack of whichever good you need for the quest, and then the quest gives you an ironpaw token, leaving you right where you started before you completed the quest. Essentially, if you get one done you can finish them all with a single ironpaw token:
As an example, 1 ironpaw token buys you Juicycrunch Carrotx25 (contained within [item=87707] from [npc=64395]), which you can trade in 5 of to finish this quest, getting you back your token + 15 carrots, and you have the quest done. Then you use the ironpaw token to buy the sack for the next quest, and so on and so forth. The only issue is you still have to get one of the sets of goods. I find the easiest to get to be the Wildfowl Breastx5 which you can get from the [npc=59641] that fly directly over halfhill. These can be turned in right in halfhill to [npc=58716]
You may begin this quest for Way of the Steamer specialization when you have 530 Cooking. This quest is found at the Halfhill Market from Yan Ironpaw. Giant Mantis Shrimp are fished from schools and along the coasts of the Krasarang Wilds. In my experience, it seems the pools and being able to catch this item shares spawns with Reef Octupus. It may have something to do with the tides?
Quest facts
The client quest POI data records no map location for this quest, so no map is shown.
Check whether you have already completed this quest
in-game: /run print(C_QuestLog.IsQuestFlaggedCompleted(31475))
Description
A great meal can lift your spirits, and none more so than food from the Way of the Steamer. Bring the Master some giant mantis shrimp and he will show you. You can fish for giant mantis shrimp in the ocean.
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Ironpaw Token
Spell: Way of the SteamerAllows a cook to create steamed delicacies, up to a maximum skill of 75.
Reward details
Items you receive
Currency: Ironpaw Token
Represents your credit with the Ironpaw family of cooks. Can be redeemed for Cooking ingredients and other things at the Stockmaster in Halfhill Market.
Item facts are the current retail client’s (ItemSparse); the specialisations for a pick-one item are the ones the Blizzard quest API lists; faction and currency text is the client’s own. Lowest listed price = the US commodity auction house now.