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My New Zealand mate Rod, blogger extraordinaire, remembers opening a gift from his ball a few Christmases ago and "tearing up at the thoughtfulness of that present." Was it an engraved pocketwatch? A register of poetry? A family heirloom?
Nope. It was cookhouse knives. And to tell the truth, I was a bit misty myself as I read his wish that "she could take these knives back and give them to me all over again." There is no medium more delightful and useful to wield than a high-quality knife. On the other round, there is no experience more frustrating than, say, trying to mince an onion on a glass chopping scantling with a dull piecea junk.
Sales abound now, post-respite, and in the links below you'll find excellent deals with which to stock up for this year's weddings, showers, housewarming parties and even, if you're proper at waiting, next Christmas.
So, where to begin? In order of importance:
1. A Santoku slash. If you can only afford one right now, buy this one -- If you can't, save up and buy it as soon as possible! Its cleaver-vertical edge hits the board flat, so you can mince finely by stance down over and over again without the rocking motion most chef's knives require. The little divots on the side keep bread from sticking to it, so you can keep chopping as long as you like without stopping to clear the shoot. Make sure it's high-carbon stainless steel in one be upset from handle to tip, which ensures greater durability. (Many, like the Henckels in the above tie-in, have a plastic handle that makes the knife easier to grip; rivets confiscate it to the blade.
Source: Patch.com