Chicago Cutlery made this chefs knife with a forged stainless steel blade with bolster, full tang, and triple riveted handle. The 1, 2, 3 of a quality chef’s knife at a price that begs the question of what those other guys are offering for the money. Makes a great casual gift for the newly independent chef’s first kitchen knife.

The two most innovative features of Yoshikin Global knives are their edge and the way they are balanced. A knife is really all about its edge, and the Global edge is its signature feature. The majority of the Global knives are sharpened or ground on both sides of the blade, just like Western style knives. However, these two sided edges are ground at an acute angle.

This is in contrast to Western or European knives that use a beveled edge - the straight edge results in a dramatically sharper knife which stays sharper longer. The edge on a two-sided Global knife is so large and prominent that it is easily seen with the naked eye and extends a quarter of an inch or more up from the tip of the knife.

Henckels Twin Cermax M66 blades are crafted from microcarbide steel, a molten substance atomized into a powder and then compacted under intensely high heat and pressure. The result is a hardness rating of 66 Rockwell, which allows the blades to be brought to scalpel like sharpness and ensures that they retain their edges remarkably well. A Henckels chef knife complements every cook and any kitchen.

This Wusthof Classic 8 inch is a great all-around knife for cutting, chopping, or slicing meats and vegetables. Blade, tang, and bolster forged of single piece of high-carbon steel; provides perfect balance. Sharp, laser-tested, long-lasting edge; won’t stain, pit, or rust; hollow-ground design reduces friction, allows moist foods to release easily. Black, triple-riveted, synthetic handle for strength and durability. Hand wash recommended. This forged chef knife is in stock and ready to ship.

The chefs knife, also called the cook’s knife. or the French knife, is the workhorse of the kitchen. The go-to food preparation tool that you will use every time you prepare a gourmet recipe. Chef knives come in various length blades - from 5 to 12 inches. Professional chefs prefer the 8 inch blade length which seems to provide the most versatility and balance. Keep in mind that most professional chefs are male and the 8″ blade may be a tad hefty for the more diminutive cook. Don’t worry. There are excellent quality 6″ chef knives too. The shape of the chef’s knife is what makes it so versatile. This illustration from Wusthof shows how parts of the knife are used for different tasks.

1 The mid section of the blade is appropriate for either firm or soft
food. The gentle curve of the blade is ideal for mincing leeks, chives,
parsley etc. A chef’s knife edge is ground thin for cutting
performance. Chopping through hard, dense bones with the center of the edge will dull
the blade and could damage the fine edge. Use a cleaver and not your chef’s knife for heavy
duty meat chopping. Chefs knives do not have serrated blades which are designed
to cut soft objects.

2
The tip is pointed, slightly flexible, and can be maneuvered around bones. The
curved front of the blade should be kept sharp as it is suitable for many small cutting jobs.
It is particularly useful for chopping onions, mushrooms, garlic and other small vegetables.
The curved shape lets you chop and dice with a smooth rocking motion which
reduces fatigue on those big jobs.

3 The spine of the blade
is flat and much thicker than the edge. The spine of your chefs knife can be used to break up small bones
or shellfish or for tenderizing meat cuts.

4 The weight distribution
and balance are optimal at the bolster, just above the heel of the blade. The
heel section of the blade is used to chop through extremely firm food objects like turnips
and other root vegetables. A bolster that extends full length to the heel
provides better finger protection but can
make sharpening the heel section more difficult.

5
The wide flat surface of the blade is suitable for smashing garlic, and for
flattening fillets as well as for lifting the choppings into
the pan.

Whether it’s a family dinner for 10, or an open house for 50, organization is the key to successful party planning. This winter, create a great party with more cheer and less stress.

Furi Rachael Ray Gusto Grip 3-Piece Knife Set

List Price: $125.00
Buy New: $55.99
You Save: $69.01 (55%)

A perfect gift for a home chef, Fueri’s Rachel Ray 3-piece knife set offers a handsome presentation as well as high-quality, functional tools. The set is named after the Food Network personality and includes both a 5-inch and a 7-inch Gusto Gripo East/West knife. With features of both a cook’s knife and a vegetable chopper, the two make handy all-around tools that suit everyday kitchen jobs. The German stainless-steel alloy blades are crafted without seams and have been cut very thin then hardened and tempered, so the edges start out extremely sharp, maintain their razor sharpness longer, and hold up well for years of heavy use. For exceptional maneuverability, scallops along the blades help the knives move through food without sticking, and the forged bolsters and weighty tangs provide balance and strength. The contoured red handles provide a striking finish and fit comfortably in the palm. Enclosed in a natural bamboo box with a hinged lid and slots for the knives, these tools store safely and securely when they’re not working hard. Best washed by hand to protect the edges, this set comes with a limited lifetime warranty. –Kara Karll

Ginny Bean, publisher of Ginny’s catalog and Ginnys.com, shares these ideas for making sure everyone has a great time — including you.

1. Plan ahead.
“Planning is daydreaming with a purpose,” says Bean. “It’s emotionally enjoyable, and the end result is a party made special by attention to detail.”

She suggests taking inventory of cookware and serving pieces well in advance to ensure they’re up to the task ahead. Among today’s options is a growing array of cookware designed to go seamlessly and beautifully from oven or stovetop to even the most formal table, saving time and clean-up.

2. Make the most of your space.
The size of the meal may expand during the holidays, but cooking and serving space doesn’t. Rachel Ray has an ingenious line of high-capacity, oval-shaped pots and pans that are perfect for preparing crowd-sized meals on a single burner. Ginny’s double coffeemaker is another great holiday space-saver, brewing two 12-cup pots of coffee at once, so guests can choose between decaf or regular. On the buffet table, tiered servers hold appetizers and desserts vertically, rather than horizontally, saving valuable space and creating an attractive display.

3. Embrace the buffet.
The larger the group, the less practical sit-down meals become. Buffets are perfect for large-scale entertaining, and a large-capacity buffet warmer is a party essential. The most versatile of these now come with individual serving compartments and a base that doubles as a warming plate. Consider creating multiple food stations in different rooms.

4. Decorate for the season.
Guests love to come into a home decked out for a special ocassion. Decorating transforms stagnant rooms into fresh new spaces, providing as much of an emotional lift for host as guest. The trick is to avoid turning decorating into a huge, stress-filled production. It doesn’t take a lot of decorations to create a festive mood. A strategically placed floral arrangement and seasonal candles can do the trick. Candles are perhaps the best bang-for-your-buck in all of decorating. There’s even an added bonus beyond the warming glow and seasonal scents: candlelight makes your guests look 10 years younger.

Ginny’s holiday catalog includes 140 pages full of practical ideas for the home, kitchen and beyond, including appliances, house wares, furniture, bedding, accessories, personal care items, electronics, and a wide selection of gifts for men, women and children. There are also seasonal recipes and helpful tips on everything from setting a festive table to keeping children amused on car trips. To request a copy of Ginny’s catalog, log on to Ginnys.com or call (800) 487-9024.

R H Forschner 8-inch Chef’s Knife

List Price: $35.00
Buy New: $20.90
You Save: $14.10 (40%)

The chef’s knife is a kitchen staple, with a wide straight edged blade ideally suited to cutting and chopping fruits and vegetables, herbs, and so on. Some may find the 10″ length too awkward and unwieldy, and for those people we recommend this slightly shorter knife. R. H. Forschner is a division of Swiss Army Brands, Inc, renowned for the Victorinox Swiss Army Knife. These knives are specially ground and tempered so that they can be resharpened over and over again, keeping a sharp edge throughout their lifetime. State of the art technology blended with old world craftsmanship produce cutting instruments of excellent quality, at reasonable prices. Forschner Victorinox Fibrox knives have earned high marks in a well-known cooking magazine which stringently tests kitchen products.

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Kitchen cutlery is a necessity for even the most occasional chef. There are dozens of choices. Length. Style. Material. How can you decide what to buy? Before committing to the purchase of a cutlery set, is there one particular kitchen knife that most experts will agree is a necessity for every kitchen? In this case the answer is yes, and that one must-have kitchen knife is the Chef’s Knife.

The chef’s knife is the workhorse of the kitchen. The go-to food preparation tool that you will use every time you prepare a meal. Chef knives come in blade lengths from 5 to 12 inches. Professional chefs prefer the 8 inch blade length which seems to provide the most versatility and “balance”. Keep in mind that most professional chefs are male and the 8″ blade may be a tad hefty for the more diminutive cook. Don’t worry. There are excellent quality 6″ chef knives too.

The shape of the chef’s knife is what makes it so versatile. Alton Brown’s Angled 8-Inch Chef’s Knife is an innovative design but follows the basic principles of every good chef’s knife. The tip is pointed and just flexible enough to cut around bones. The wide blade is designed for chopping, slicing and mincing vegetable bunches. The better designed chef’s knives are slightly rounded towards the tip so that you can use a continuous rocking motion for chopping. The heel is thick and tough and can be used like a cleaver for chopping through bone or for splitting a raw turnip. The wide, flat part of the blade is used for smashing garlic. Even the non-cutting edge has a function and can be used to tenderize cutlets.

Celebrity TV chefs including Rachael Ray and Ming Tsai have helped propel the santoku, a Japanese style chef knife with a curved spine and dimples to prevent food from sticking to the knife as you slice.

High quality chef’s knives are made from high-carbon stainless steel, which can be sharpened to a razor’s edge and which is easy to keep clean without rusting. The very best chef’s knives are forged - individually hammered from a single piece of steel. Quality chef’s knives are also stamped or punched out of sheet steel. You can tell a forged knife from a stamped knife by the hump or shoulder on the forging where the blade meets the handle. Henckels has a third method and welds layers together, much in the tradition of the Samurai sword. Forged knives are heavier and are generally reputed to have better feel and balance. Forged chef’s knives are the most expensive ($75 to $100+) but if not sorely abused a forged chef’s knife will last for decades.

Handles are 1/3 to 1/2 the length of the blade. They are made from wood or hard composites. The most important handle characteristic is how it feels in your hand. Professional chefs have a strong preference for handles that are riveted through the blade. If nothing else the rivets impart a sense of strength and permanence.

Heft or weight is important. You want the heaviest chef’s knife that you can work with without discomfort. If this seems counterintuitive consider that the heftier the knife the more gravity contributes to the work. A light chef’s knife requires more work from you to chop through a thick parsley bunch or to pound out a cutlet.

The Professional Chef’s Knife Kit
by Culinary Institute of America
Amazon Price:


Customer Review: book does a good job of inititating the user to knife techniques for a someone not attending formal training. Descriptions define the technique quite well, I would have liked to have included more information about the errors students encounter.

Overall a worthwhile book.

Knife Skills for Chefs
by Christopher P. Day, Brenda R. Carlos
Amazon Price: $18.00


Customer Review: I bought this book for my daughter taking culinary arts in college it is a great book it shows you how to cut, dice and make pretty Items to display Great book


Cook tops: celebrity chefs face dual-edged carving knife.(Up Front): An artic…
by Rachel Brown
Amazon Price: $5.95


Culinary Math
by Julia Hill
Amazon Price:


Customer Review: I am a Chef Instructor and this book is been very helpfull. It is very complete from the measurements to the cost control and is easy to understand.


Professional Cooking
by Wayne Gisslen, Culinary Institute of America
Amazon Price:

Technorati Tags: Chef’s Knife