How Sharp Are You?

   I have just finished revamping our knife section and it got me thinking about how rarely I see really good home cooks using decent cutlery. I am talking about friends and relatives who really love to cook and and take great pride in their skills and are able to put the proof in their puddings.
   Yet there they are laboring away with tools that should be embarrassed to be in the service of such fine workmanship. So...this gives me the idea, next time I am invited to the home of one of my favorite cooks, I am going to skip the wine and flowers and instead bring a gift that not only will endure but that can turn a chore into a real pleasure, ...oh yes and hopefully get me invited back.
   If you have ever used a really fine knife then you know exactly what I'm talking about. There is nothing like slicing veggies with a really sharp  Wusthof 8" Cooks Knife. Last Thanksgiving my dad got me a 12" carving knife from "Chef's Choice" This is a great knife at a great price. Chef's choice is now making their knives right here in the United States. They use the German methods of fine cutlery making and for the moment they are one of our best value propositions.
   Far and away our most exciting new line is Kikuichi. This group of knives is definitely on the pricey side and is only for those of us who are really into the art of cooking. However, setting aside the craftsmanship only found in a family that has been producing sword grade steel for 700 hundred years, these pieces are truly works of art. Worth their price simply for their beauty, these kitchen tools can really make the experience of preparing a fine meal a joy from the start.