Any Chefs out there? Need to give good knives as a Christmas gift...?

Question

My daughter's sweet little hippie boyfriend is a culinary arts student working in two restaurants already... want to get him some good "tools". Suggestions? I don't mind spending money on them.

Answer 1

You're definitely going to be spending money if you want to gift a chef with good tools.
Japanese "Global" brand is a favorite with professionals (from around $90 US for one knife) Cromova 18 stainless - Dimpled grip, feels good in the hand, beautiful balance, good looks, lightweight and a long lasting edge..

Misono or Kershaw Shun from Japan are good also - can set you back more than $100 per blade.
VG-10 super steel overlaid with sixteen layers of high-carbon stainless steel.

Wusthof from Germany - from $50 per knife - very nice, tough, durable - does not hold it's edge but is easily sharpened. Carbon steel. Messermeister from Germany is also very good.

Sabatier (France) from $50 per knife - nice, but high maintenance - all carbon steel, so does not hold an edge and is easily damaged.

Good article at Epicurious
http://www.epicurious.com/bonappetit/tools_of_the_trade/knives

Hope that was of some use to you. Happy Holidays!

Answer 2

You have no idea what a wonderful gift you have planned for this young man. Chef's knives are expensive, and a very personal tool.

I would call the school and see if they have a knife program. It's likely that he can get good knives through the school for less than retail...and the selection may be better than the retailers in your area offer. Based on what you learn from the school... a gift certificate would probably be best...as the weight and grip varies among brands and even lines within a brand. You want him to have a perfect "fit". Put the certficate in a card with a humorus poem so he knows it is for purchasing knives. Here's an example:

A cutting edge is soon in sight
Since Santa's made his yearly flight.
Your skills are tops, a sure bell ringer,
Please be careful and don't lose a finger.

Every chef needs a good knife
before he can properly take a wife
A blade or two, for you from me
when you use it well, you may take a knee.

You can probably make something more personal, but you get the idea. Kudo's to you...it's a lovely gift idea.

Answer 3

Steve G. is right on this one. At a certain level of quality most knives are pretty much equal and it becomes a matter of personal taste and hand feel.
I personally like Messermeister knives but when I was in school I used a 10" Dick . The school got a great deal on Frederick Dick knives .The students got a good German knive at a great price and a great one liner - priceless !
Watch out for Henkels. They make some really good knives and they make some real junk. Apparantley their marketing people told them that if they place a high quality name on a low quality product nobody will catch on.
I think that the best way to do this is see if you can get him a gift certificate at a good restaurant supply store. Your money will actually go further because he will get a professional discount.
If you still want to buy him something at the same restaurant supply store, get a pro quality five or six tool garde manger set. - pronounced
guard mon- jay

Answer 4

Pampered Chef has some remarkable knives with a life-time guarantee. they have a clean sturdy cutlery line. The Chef's Knife is $seventy 5 and the Paring Knife is $29. in addition they have yet another line that is composed of a self sprucing case. those also have a life-time guarantee. The Chef's Knife is $26 and the Paring Knife is $15. those are actually not poor high quality knives. they're marvelous and shrink very correct. in simple terms sharpen them each few makes use of. in addition they have severalnice reducing boards. One has measuring cups in it. i'm hoping this facilitates.

Answer 5

Contrary to one answer. Do not get a ceramic knife. They are very delicate and break under professional usage. Henkle and Wustof are great knives. As a professional chef, knives are very personal. Get your daughter's boyfriend a gift card to Macy's. They have a great selection and he can see how they feel. If your daughter and her boyfriend respond with less than excitement about a gift card to Macy's explain to them an Executive Chef (former hippie) from a 4 star restaurant told you, your future son in law will find the knife of his choice there. He will enjoy it the rest of his life. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Answer 6

The best thing I think is to let him pick out his own. Each person holds a knife differently. He should make his own choose when it comes to fit and balance. You can't be at the top of your game just because you have "a" tool, you need the right tool, As a student he'll really only need 3 knives, a 10" Chefs, a boning and a parring knife

Answer 7

If you are looking for a good knife for home use than I recommend the Chicago Cutlery as well. It is a good quality and will not break the bank, I use them myself and love them. You can find a pretty good quality at Kohl's. Don't forget to have him give you a penny. You don't want the blade to cut the ties of friendship! Just an old tradition.

Answer 8

Best swords...I mean, knives for culinary art would be probably a steel folded knives. Anyways, I've searched net and I found this site. This might help you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitchen_knife

Good luck!

Answer 9

Henkels and Wusthof are the generally recognized "best". You might look for Messermeister-they are excellent and less expensive.

Answer 10

Henckel or Wusthof carbon steel are the best, take the best edge when sharpened.