Showing posts with label japanese chefs knives. Show all posts
Showing posts with label japanese chefs knives. Show all posts

8" Thai Chefs Knife, #21 (Kom Kom)

8' Thai Chefs Knife, #21This is a large knife! It works great for smashing garlic with the flat of it.

This knife is pretty light, but feels very solid when you're holding it. Be extremely careful! It is very, very sharp. If you touch your hand with it, you will slice the skin!

Slices vegetables like a dream! Even good for slicing bread!

Not so good for fresh mozzarella because of the width of the blade, which sticks to the soft cheese somewhat.

Don't scrape with the sharp side use the back or head of the knife for that unless you want cutting board shavings in your food.

I'm very pleased with this knife. Great value for the price and worth the shipping costs!

I really enjoy these Thai style cooking knives. What makes them unique is the thin lightweight blade which is very sharp. The large flat blade face is useful, as another reviewer pointed out, for smashing garlic, as well as for scooping chopped things to transfer to the stove. The knife is large but surprisingly light and accurate. I find this general blade shape to be the most overall useful kitchen knife you can have. It performs most jobs adequately and many jobs exceptionally. I particularly like it for slicing and carefully cutting vegetables. It's also good for slicing fish, decent at cutting raw meat, and the thin but tall blade makes it surprisingly good at slicing fresh baked bread (does not crush the bread and holds a straight line).

For those who use and abuse the venerable 8" Kiwi Chef knife of the same style I'd like to compare the two below:

I got this to accompany my Kiwi 8" knifes. Like this knife, they are extremely affordable yet sharp. This has a full tang (kiwi uses half tang) and appears to be incrementally better in quality. The Kiwi knives do NOT hold an edge for long and you should be prepared to sharpen once a week if regularly used. I don't mind that, but would prefer a more durable edge. So far, the Kom Kom appears to hold it's edge longer though I've only been using it for a couple weeks now. The Kom Kom, while light, is significantly heavier than the Kiwi. I find this, paradoxically, to reduce hand fatigue. The reason being is that the Kiwi is so light that you must push it through your food which can really wear your hand out after a while. The shape and weight of the Kom Kom knife allows a more relaxed cleaving type of cut. Another difference is in the angle of the blade from top to bottom. The Kiwi has a more concave shape meaning that food at the top of the blade can escape completely being cut completely through in exchange for very good cutting performance from the back half of the blade. The Kom Kom knife is still rounded in this manner but less so and tends to cut better along the entire length of the blade. The Kiwi knife is better for some items like soft cheeses, or times when you need maneuverability more than cutting power..it's piercing point is thinner as well and easier for stabbing and splitting pumpkins and squashes.

If all you've tried so far is European or Japanese style chef knives, you should give these a shot. For the price you really can't go wrong.

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I got this for my wife after reading about some reviews in foodie mags about Chefs loving to but Kom-Kom products because of the great price, and stellar sharpness. They weren't kidding, I can give testament to that sharpness. We are big fans of butternut squash, but for anyone that has cut it before, you know the skin and flesh making cutting it a chore. We constantly sharpened our knives, and not junkers mind you, to make sure they were sharp enough to not slip during cutting. They still struggled with Mr Butternut Squash. Not anymore, this thing went through it like butter. I love this knife, there is absolutely nothing it won't cut through. I typically use this for veggies, but we have used it for meats as well when we are trying to cut through chicken, steak, pork and other stuff for stir fry or similar setups. I'd highly recommend this knife, it is inexpensive and handles great.

Read Best Reviews of 8" Thai Chefs Knife, #21 (Kom Kom) Here

A very nice knife indeed. It's sharper by far than any other that we have. The handle is rather cheaply made I believe but perhaps that is part of the design. Well pleased with handling, delivery and everything in general.

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Lets say, I have worked enough in kitchens ( 15 years) to know what tools are convenient, easy and affordable to make job pleasant. If you ever wonder how in the hell this Asian Duds can chop so fast something, well try one of those and you will find the answer. The steel is soft so I would not recommended to be used on bones. The knife is best for chopping, slicing and dicing vegetables and fruits. It is very easy to maintain, I mean sharpness. Bottom line if it really gets dull buy two more they are so cheap. Hope this help.

Oneida Mooncrest 20-Piece Flatware Set, Service for 4

Oneida Mooncrest 20-Piece Flatware Set, Service for 4It's sad. There was a time when Oneida meant quality. Those days are gone--now Oneida is just a nameplate, and its products are manufactured in generic, no name factories in China just like the X brand junk you can get at any budget store.

This set is low quality. The pieces are made from very heavy steel. Why? Because the steel they use is 18/0 stainless, the lowest quality stainless you can get. They have to make the pieces thick or they'll bend. Compare that to my 10 year old Oneida set, made from 18/8 stainless. They're thin and light as a feather because it's high quality steel.

Also, they include an insert in the packaging to tell you not to use these with acidic foods and that they must be washed right away to prevent damage. Why? Because low quality 18/0 stainless will be etched by food, but higher quality stainless (18/8) will not. In other words, don't fall for the hype. If it's cheap junk you want, buy a cheap junk brand and pay a cheap junk price. If you want quality, don't buy Oneida.

The quality and durability is average for sets in this price range.

The appearance is clean and simple.

The soft metal surface does scratch easily. If you have any hard water issues, the smooth surface may show water spots.

If you use any sort of abrasive cleaning, such as a scratch pad, the surface WILL scratch. Hand drying may be necessary.

The knife handles are somewhat heavier than average. The set is heavy enough to prevent bending.

If you are looking for a set in this price range, and avoid the scratching issues mentioned, you'll likely find they are satisfactory.

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These are great if you're looking for flatware to use day to day. They are well made, good esthetics, nice weight and balance, and have an excellent finish to them. I would highly recommend them to anyone.

Read Best Reviews of Oneida Mooncrest 20-Piece Flatware Set, Service for 4 Here

This set is sleek, well balanced, attractive, and actually elegant in that it is highly functional while looking great. And very reasonably priced. I would recommend it highly.

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I have owned this flatware before buying this particular set. The finish stays really shiny even after heavy use. The finish is in no way fragile. The lines of the pieces are beautiful and the weight is just right.

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OXO Good Grips 6-1/2-Inch Santoku Knife

OXO Good Grips 6-1/2-Inch Santoku KnifeI use this knife to cut yams, stew meat, carrots, mangos and everything else. It cuts them nicely. I also use the OXO sharpener with it.

The most important thing is that it fits my small hands. And the Santoku style feels natural to use.

I work in a store that sells many brands of Santoku knives but didn't have anything small enough for me to have control. The knife rep taught us the major high quality brands will last 3x longer. I can see why, but if they are too long and awkward, that doesn't help me.

The grip, as always for OXO, feels very natural. Other OXO products I love are a pot scrubber brush, a wisk, a veggie brush.

Yoshihiro Cutlery Hammered Damascus Petty Chef Knife, 5-Inch

Yoshihiro Cutlery Hammered Damascus Petty Chef Knife, 5-InchSpending almost a month doing research on Amazon's wide selection of kitchen cutlery, I'm so glad I ignored the previous 3 star review on this knife and bought it on a hunch. I think this is AWESOME value for such a great knife. Out of the box, it showed no mercy prepping onions, garlic cloves, mushrooms, carrots and celery with buttery precision. Also, I really love the taper design of these Asian petty knives as it allows me to speed up at the tip for smaller veggies. I think this knife actually looks better in person than the picture as the blade's almost chrome-like finish mingled with the damascus swirls is a testament to the fine finishing craftsmanship of the blade. If you need a small prep knife, THIS IS IT!

Wanted to buy a real Japanese kitchen knife. Really glad that I bought this one from Yoshihiro Cutlery. The craftsman ship and beauity is stunning. The wood handle on the full tang that extends from the hammered damascus blade, has so much depth that no photo can show the full detail. As for cutting, the blade is the smoothest and sharpest that I've ever used. Service was the best, shipped, solidly packed-so arrived in perfect condition. My score is a 5+ as every aspect of this transaction was flawless.

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Out of the box, this is the sharpest knife I have ever owned. Feels great in the hand. Light. Works wonders. Made me order another from the same seller who included a $10 off coupon with this knife. Better than any of my 4 Shun knives.

Read Best Reviews of Yoshihiro Cutlery Hammered Damascus Petty Chef Knife, 5-Inch Here

I just received this product today. The seller was also very quick with their service.

I haven't been able to play with it long, but here are my first impressions:

1. It's well built. No noticeable edges or gaps. The handle feels good. The blade looked good. It looks like like the picture. So, it's obviously a western style handle.

2. The blade is crazy sharp. I only cut carrots so far, but it was pretty effortless. It came with a great edge. I didn't need to fix it.

3. Price is great. I mean, Shun gets all the love, but seriously look at the prices between the two brands for Hammered Damascus VG-10 steel. I actually work in a lab, so if it will fit, I may just get the blade tested in the SEM to verify the material. ;)

I can't wait to cook more things with it. I'm honestly just looking for excuses to use it. I'll update more later after a week or two of use.

11/12/12 Update. Just was cooking chicken breast in the pan and I had to butterfly the chicken breast to cook it all the way through. This knife cut it like butter. I never have used a knife that cut so well. I applied almost no pressure. Very easy to control the cut.

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I bought this for general prep work. The edge was razor sharp right out of the box! The knife is extremely well made and has good balance.

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Ulu Knife Sharpener

Ulu Knife Sharpeneri havent tried this product yet but it appears that it should do a good job. i would recommend this product to anyone who is trying to get a good edge on an ulu knife.

Chef's Choice Multi-Edge Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener

Chef's Choice Multi-Edge Diamond Hone Knife SharpenerBought one of these recently to replace an older model that had been well-used. (These do need replacing every once in a while, as the diamond grit wears down.) Thought I'd share some tips here.

First, let me point out that the turning wheels in the center are a guide to make you hold the knife upright. The wheels may not be turning throughout your "swipe" if you are using a thin-bladed knife.

Second, you should use a feather-light touch when "swiping." The cutting edge of the knife is very thin, and you do not want to push it down in the groove and damage it. Use a long, sweeping stroke, light and smooth.

Third, to get the best use of this sharpener, every so often you'll have to clean out the metal dust that collects in the grooves. If the bottom of the groove is silvery-shiny when you look down at it, take a small, stiff, clean brush and whisk the groove until the original gray appears again.

I believe that the two slots on this sharpener correspond to the last two (and most gentle) slots on the manufacturer's three slot electric sharpeners. Thus, the first slot sharpens and the second slot hones. The first slot won't be used as often as the second slot.

The edge you get with this gizmo probably won't be as nice as the edge you'd get from an expert hand on the whetstone, but it will keep the family kitchen knives cutting well for many years.

I'm hopeless at knife sharpening, so I was shopping for something idiot-proof. I decided to go with the model 460 because it can sharpen serrated knives. Although the logistics of this didn't make a lot of sense to me, I went with it on the general principle that more features must be better.

Now that I have it in hand, though, I'm fairly certain I will never use the serrated feature. So I'm left worrying--what's the difference with this model? If I'm only going to do straight blades, would I be better off with the 450? Does this model compromise in some way to accommodate both types of blades?

Even for straight blades, it's not as easy to use as I expected. I thought it would be a simple matter of drawing the blade smoothly through the slot a few times. In practice, though, the blade catches and doesn't pull smoothly at all (although it did get better after many passes--you should definitely practice with a cheap knife before working on the good stuff). It's also difficult to keep the blade in the proper position. Or, I THINK it's difficult--according to the instructions, when everything is working right the little wheels will turn as you pull the blade through. At best I get one to turn at once, and even then it's usually stop and start. The instructions are hazy on whether this is a problem.

Actually, the instructions (and the company website) are hazy on a lot of things that seem like pretty reasonable questions. For instance, it says stage 1 and stage 2 sharpen at different angles, but nothing tells you WHAT angle, or says anything substantive the "arch-shaped" edge it creates. I'm left wondering if that's something I really want--it just seems to create a "fat" rather than razor edge, sacrificing maximum sharpness for durability.

It says that very dull knives may take many strokes in stage 1, but doesn't tell you how to know when it's ready for stage 2, other than it will be "sharp enough to cut through the skin of a tomato." I should keep tomatoes on hand for this?

Finally, the curved tip of the blade is extremely difficult to sharpen. At that point the rollers are no longer useful as a guide. The instructions offer no hints on how to deal with this.

It's definitely not the easy solution I was hoping for, and I still have a lot of questions about it. But, if you're not going to put in the time and effort to learn to use a whetstone properly (and I already know how much damage I can do with one of those), I'd say it's the best option.

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I'm an avid semi-professional cook/chef and have an extensive collection of knives and sharpeners, including an electric Chef's Choice. I bought this sharpener as a gift and had to try it out first (against my wife's express order). I sharpened one serrated and one regular knife just to see if this would do a good job. Today, I'm ordering another one to send as a belated Christmas gift to my son since I kept the one I tried out. If you need a sharpener, buy this -you will not be disappointed. It's easy (fool-proof!) to use, doesn't take up space, and puts on a razor-like edge in seconds (OK, maybe a minute or two). If your knife has a decent edge already, it hones with just a few strokes. This is a winner.

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I bought one of these for my mother in law as a Christmas present. Her knives were so dull that you couldn't cut hot butter with them. After a few strokes, what a differece. Her knives sliced thru a ripe tomato with ease. She has trouble using the simplest of tools(she refuses to read or follow directions), but this was so easy, even she could sharpen her knives with ease. I was so impressed that I bought one for my self. I keep an edge on my good knives, but this helped with some of my old knives that were beyond using on a steel. I definitely recommend this product.

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Maybe this sharpener isn't as foolproof as I'd like it, and I admit readily to having two left hands, but my knives didn't come out razor-sharp, at all. They come out sharper, that's a fact, but I wanted more. Maybe my knives (a Japanese chef's knife, a Spyderco with half-serrated blade, a Herbertz with a 440 blade) were too dull to begin with.

The tool itself is nicely constructed. Even though it's made of really light plastic it's stable enough, and easy to work with.

But I wonder about the two rollers that supposedly guide your knife. After sharpening, it was pretty obvious that the blade was sharpened unevenly (certainly those of my pocketknives). The rollers, of course, are fixed, and thus don't allow for varying thicknesses. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong (although I'm following instructions to a T), and I'll keep trying, but so far I'm not wildly enthusiastic about this tool.

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Wilton Decorate Smart Small Cake Leveler

Wilton Decorate Smart Small Cake LevelerWhen I first tried to use this product I was very disappointed. The metal string in the middle broke off while i was adjusting it. I wished the ends were more durable! Then when i went to walmart i noticed there was the same product for $3.

I read the poor reviews regarding the wire/cutter breaking but thought I'd take a chance on this tool because if I could make it work and hold up it would be incredibly accurate and a great time saver.When my wife and I removed the tool from the box to inspect it I started to pull on the tab on one end of the wire in order to adjust it to a higher level. Almost immediately I realized a great deal of pressure would be needed to get the needed slack to move the wire to a upper notch and also this was the wrong way to adjust it and additionally was why folks were breaking the wire.

The best way we found to adjust it was to place a damp dish cloth at the front edge of the counter to prevent slipping, point the open end of the "U" shaped tool toward the rear of the of the counter and hold it exactly vertical, rest the bottom leg on the counter and in about an inch and then press down on the top leg this will give the necessary slack to adjust the wire without straining the connections.I find it impossible to understand why these instructions were not included either in or on the box a diagram and a few words certainly seen necessary and would be much easier to understand than what I have written here.

We also found the best way to cut through the cake way to use a sawing motion with short strokes.

With the use of this tool I cannot imagine a professional doing any better [cannot get better than perfect].

For us this another great and convenient purchase from Amazon.

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I didn't even get a chance to use this product. As soon as I opened it and tried adjusting the height, the wire popped out. We tried putting the wire back, but it was useless. Do not buy this leveler. Spend a few more dollars and get one that is designed such that the wire doesn't pop out so easily.

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Cake leveler was what i expected. the packaging was secure and arived in a timely manner. i would orderfrom this customer again.

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easy to use, reasonably priced. Simple to adjust and clean, cuts smoothly but use a slight sawing motion. Probably could use on oversized cupcakes if need be.

Proteak Teak Cutting Board Rectangle 20-by-14-by-2-1/2-Inch with Hand Grip, End Grain

Proteak Teak Cutting Board Rectangle 20-by-14-by-2-1/2-Inch with Hand Grip, End GrainThis cutting board was beautiful right out of the box I oiled it up before use with mineral oil as I would with a normal wood cutting board, but it hardly needed it (but of course still do this occasionally for maintenance). I bought this for my parents, and was debating between this large, beautiful board or a smaller, more portable one (this is HEAVY). I went for this one and am so glad it is very nice to have the extra chopping space. I was also skeptical, since in my family if we don't use something often, it gets put in cupboard somewhere and generally forgotten about. Nope this one stays on the counter (which is saying something, because it does take up a fair bit of space). My mom is a food-sanitation fanatic and so I gave her a spray bottle with vinegar in it she sprays the board and wipes it down with a paper towel after each use (this keeps her from dunking it in the sink with the other dirty dishes, which would cause it to crack). So far (6 months later) the vinegar has not changed the appearance of the board at all. You can hardly see the knife indentations, for that matter ... it still looks new.

After having this cutting board for a few months I can honestly say I enjoy using it. That said, it does have some problems.

My background, I'm a professional chef who uses this board at home.

First the bad:

-slightly warped. It's not bad enough to notice while cutting, and has not gotten worse since it arrived.

-odor. It has an odor to it. Some of that is from the garlic and onions I cut, but I've used wooden boards that don't smell as much as this one.

-heavy, large. Makes cleaning more difficult. I'm not knocking the score because of this, I expected it to be harder to handle.

The good:

-solid knife strikes. This board absorbs my knife strikes solidly.

-blade friendly. The main reason I wanted an end grain board was to prevent premature dulling of the blade. It has not disappointed.

-heavy. It doesn't move around the counter while cutting our kneading pasta dough.

I keep it oiled with the recommended oil and hand wash it with a small amount of soap and gentle scrub pad. I use the sprayer to rinse it and dry it right away.

My biggest complaint is the warping. It arrived that way and I was tempted to return it. I decided to keep it since I couldn't be sure a replacement wouldn't be worse. It doesn't move while cutting so it isn't too big of an issue. However, for the money, I expect it to be better quality.

Buy Proteak Teak Cutting Board Rectangle 20-by-14-by-2-1/2-Inch with Hand Grip, End Grain Now

This was a gift and was exactly what they wanted and expected , they have not had a chance to use it yet .Even if this was never used it is beautiful just to look at !

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Wow, all I can say is this is perfect. so heavy and nice. Oiled up great and it is like a work of art. You will not be disappointed.

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There wasn't a 20 x 14 x 1.5 at amazon so I'm putting my review here. I went to the Proteak site to see if there was a board I would rather have since 2" and above thickness was too thick for me. I found it with this board. I like the thinner board, yet it is still thick.

This is a gorgeous product. I imagine any board from Proteak is just as beautiful. If you love wood like I do, you will appreciate the variations in color...both light and dark. This is the only product that I found that has this natural coloring. It's truly beautiful and from all the reviews I read about Proteak, I would imagine it's a long lasting and quality cutting surface. You have to follow the directions for seasoning the board and treatment. If it's not seasoned correctly or treated the way the manufacture recommends, it can crack and deteriorate and lose it's beauty and function. Seasoning, from what I've read needs to be done as soon as you get it with mineral oil. 4-5 initial coats is recommended. This also brings out more beautiful luster. i just got the board so I will post another review after I've had a chance to use it and see how it holds up but I feel very good about it. The 20 x 14 size I believe is just right for my kitchen island. not too big but big enough to accomodate the cutting of more than one thing. The larger size would probably be the best if you use your board for alot of cutting, but the size does not fit into standard sink for rinsing and cleaning and this size does so that is why I got it. Plus it will stay on my island all the time and allows room for other things. Do your homework with choosing a board. They are not all created equal. Teak is very durable and attractive. I checked out all of the board sites I could including the John Boos and this got better reviews than Boos did all the way around. I don't want to have to buy another board for a long time so I hope this is as durable as everyone says. I will post an update after a few months to let you know how it is holding up.

Update: It's been a few months and the board is beautiful and stays on my island all the time. I oil it about once a week. You can tell when it's looking a little dry. Since it is a cutting board, you will have the wear of cutting marks, but you can't really tell that much with this board. Maybe after a few years, but so far I love everything about it.

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Old Country Roses 20-Piece Flatware Set

Old Country Roses 20-Piece Flatware SetThese pieces are for a formal setting and larger than typical silverware. We are returning only because we were looking for something a little more casual.

Beautiful to look at and heavyweight. Makes my tablescape/setting so pretty. I use them along with my Old Country Roses china service.

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This was a gift for my mom who still loves to set a table with a lot of fuss and flair. This flatware is touched with gold roses, its very pretty and it has a nice weight to it too. The Old Country Rose pattern is beautiful. She is happy with the continental style of flatware and can't wait for her next dinner party. If you like casual dining, this set is not for you.

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These are wonderful my wife said. They are classy and they have a great look to add to the decor of a beautiful setting in a home.

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Good price for this addition to my daughter's silversware set. Bought as gift; only negative was the box it came in was beat up pretty bad which was annoying since I was giving this as a gift. But silverware itself was beautiful!

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Gibson Sunbeam Ridgeline Stainless Steel 7-Piece Cookware Set

Gibson Sunbeam Ridgeline Stainless Steel 7-Piece Cookware SetReally good set for the price ! I have paid around 25$ and they are really nice ! I recomand it !!

Thanks

Average. Good Workmanship. Decent Materials. Metal is a thinner guage for the price trade off, but acceptable. Did not see a better deal is this price range. Typical outstanding order ease, customer service, and shipping by Amazon. Happy with my purchase decision.

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This purchase was not worth it. Cheap quality and not worth the bother. Better to invest in a quality set of cookware.

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It is cheap but still not worth the money. The handle of the pan got broken at the first use...

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I purchased this for my new home. Im happy. The price was right. It arrived sooner than I exspected. No complaints here.

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Montecristo Kitchen Knife Set 7PC/Set

Montecristo Kitchen Knife Set 7PC/SetGot this set as a gift. Great quality with a heavy feel and very well made. I have been wanting a good set of knives and this set does the trick. Beautiful box and limited edition set. One of the best gifts I have ever received. Love using them and I don't have to sharpen them every time I use them. Can't go wrong for the price. I'm a chef and have spent thousands on my tools and this set fits right in. If you want a great set of knives for yourself or as a gift this is the set. You won't be disappointed.

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WMF Vino Ultimate Waiter's Friend Corkscrew

WMF Vino Ultimate Waiter's Friend CorkscrewObviously designed by some one who never uses a corkscrw in a professional setting. The knife is on the same end as the boot and very close to the worm, it is counter intuitive and clumsy to use. Can easily cut yourself. Also, since when should a waiters' key be a heavy piece of steel? If you work as a wine steward and open dozens if not hundreds of bottles per night you need a reliable, light weight tool.

Relegate this one to the corkscrew curiosity collection, there have been many over the past 100 years.

I have been bartending for 12 years, that being said I have used and come across many wine keys, corkscrews in my day. This particular opener appealed to me for my home, having friends over and entertaining. After receiving this product, this is my professional opinion. It is a well made, well constructed product. It happens to look and feel as good in your hands as well as it's made. The one issue I might mention is the screw is a little stiff and hard to pull out, that may loosen up over time with usage. If you are looking to purchase this as a tool for work, I would probably steer you in another direction. There are lighter, easier to manipulate corkscrews than this one. They may not be as well constructed or look as nice as this one, but at work I prefer function over form.

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I have many fine and some disappointing WMF bar tools. This one is poorly conceptualized and executed. The knife/foil cutter as someone wrote prior is uselessly dangerous. The rest is standard fare and too weighty.

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Lamborghini of all corkscrews it is fun, it is joy, it is power. This unit is definitely the Ultimate and Finest Corkscrew I ever used. It is so simple and so finely made it is amaizing. No item in WMF family is made so well as this unit. No compromises, no cheap materials, no shortcomings. Just perfect, all I can say about it.

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Very, very solid product that works perfectly. I can understand how this could be too heavy to lug around if you are a waiter, but for home use it is excellent. Ordering a second one for our bar.

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BOSKA Holland Taste Dutch Mahogany Cheese Board

Boska Holland Mahogany Dutch Cheese Board and Knife SetSaw this in a store and got a good deal through Amazon. This is a very top quality piece of equipment and can slice cheese razor thin. Be careful the blade is super sharp. Neat looking too.

the easiest and most elegant way to cut cheese. This is a must have item especially for cheese lovers who also enjoy entertaining! Be careful though, the knife is very sharp...

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Catskill Craftsmen Over-the-Sink Poly Cutting Board

Catskill Craftsmen Over-the-Sink Poly Cutting BoardThe only way that this cutting board fits my sink is vertically rather than horizontally, and this direction is not stable. So, I will not be able to use this board over the sink. As the other reviewer noted, the handles move very easily, too much so, in fact, so that they slide too much, which is the reason why I cannot use the board vertically in the sink. That said, there are other positives. The handles come all the way off, which is a plus; I know from prior experience that these wire handles do not fare very well in the dishwasher because the coating wears off and the wire then rusts. I actually purchased this board because it was the size that I wanted to use, just as a board, without the handles, and I was taken in by the idea of it not dulling my good knives. I have used it twice and like the surface for chopping and slicing vegetables. Note that this board does not have a trough for collecting juices, and it is exactly the same on both sides.

Here is the product information from the label: (1) dishwasher safe; (2) microwave save; (3) easy to clean; (4) knife friendly; (5) durable non-stick surface and (6) manufacturer's website provided. It is made in Taiwan, and there is no expressed warranty with this product. In my opinion, the price at $10.50 for this is a little steep, notwithstanding the super saver shipping and 4 for 3 promotion. I will revisit this review once this board has been used a few months and run through the dishwasher several times.

I do have an oversize sink, I like this style; had a wooden one for years that finally gave up the ghost. The board is OK on a flat surface, but over the sink it flexes so, that I wouldn't trust it for cutting anything harder or heavier than a ripe pear, with a sharp knife. I do use it to seed, peel, and chop tomatoes, where the over-the-sink idea is especially helpful. Bigger and thicker would have been better.

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So nice not to have to worry about stuff draining onto the counter. I can put heavy slabs of meat on here and cut without it feeling like it is going to cave in and it does not slide around. It fits across my double sink but if it were not divided I would have to put it from front to back and that would not be as useful since it would narrower. I would not recommend it if that is how you have to use itunless you only want to cut small things. I find it easy enough to clean the cutting surface but not thrilled that the handles will come all the way out rather easily. This does not happen while I am using it so it is only a minor annoyance.

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Grapevine Breeze Tuscan Tempered Glass Cutting Board

Grapevine Breeze 15 x 11.5 inch Tuscan Tempered Glass Cutting BoardThis cutting board is really pretty but the texture makes it difficult to cut up fine things like herbs.

Cutting board was just as attractive as I hoped it would be and it arrived faster than I had anticipated. This was a great transaction!!

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I'm loving this cutting board. So easy to keep clean and a pretty addition to the kitchen.

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Great product. Exactly what I wanted. will order more when I want different scenes... Looks great in my kitchen..thanks again

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I loved the beautiful art work on the tempered glass. It is very practical as well as utilitarian. I have received many compliments about this cutting board.

Swissmar 7-Piece Bar Set

Swissmar 7-Piece Bar SetI purchased this as a gift for my husband, but it is going back. It feels really flimsy (not high quality) and some of the pieces in it are plastic! Yes, plastic with silver coating.

Now to find something to replace this set!

I ordered this set placing faith in the picture being accurate. It isn't what I received at all. The set that was sent is much cheaper. It had different tools and the most flimsy base I have ever seen. I threw out the base as some of the tools didnt even fit in it. You can probably get the set they'll send you for about $20 elsewhere.

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I bought this bar set as a gift for my daughter's boyfriend. He and I were both impressed with the quality. It is beautiful stainless steel. It almost looks like a work of art. He was thrilled to get it. He was a professional bartender for many years and appreciates the quality, beauty, and functionality of this item.

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Victorinox Cutlery 10-Inch Round Tip Slicing Knife, Black Fibrox Handle

Victorinox Cutlery 10-Inch Round Tip Slicing Knife, Black Fibrox HandleI have ,as a professional cook,done a lot of banquet and buffet duty using the 12" Granton edge version-rosewood handle. Cross rib,Prime Rib,tri tip,turkey,ham,the Forschner was up to the task. A couple years ago..I picked up the non-granton 12" for myself at a yardsale. At home,I rarely roast anything that big...so it didn't get used really until I wanted to slice a potato VERY thin. I was surprised...this second hand knife with it's over-long blade easily made potato chip thin slices and I'd never even properly sharpened it.

Inspired....I gave it a little tuneup on the steel...went to town and got some fresh salmon and wasabi and had a Sashimi binge. I was rather surprised how well it was working and just kept slicing thinner and thinner pieces. Sweet.

The blade is thin..a bit flexy,quite sharp with no drag. As a Sashimi knife...I think the round tip will get reshaped,but in case I need to fillet a salmon or carve a roast-I have plenty of faith. I'll be taking it to work after the holidays to fine edge it on the nice stone there.

For home....10" is plenty long,and if you can do slivers of raw salmon...a roast beef is way easy. Forschner's Fibrox handles don't look as good as the rosewood-but are less apt to get slippery. You can spend more for cosmetic reasons....get a brand with a more artsy looking handle. I'd rather be more fussy about the food and use one of these to get beautiful thin slices...like the pros

This knife is perfect for slicing meats. I'm a BBQ fanatic and I haven't found a better tool for briskets. The Victorinox brand has a long history of using good quality steel, so I expect to have this knife around for a LONG time. For the price, you really can't go wrong.

One small suggestion...if you're looking at this for slicing bread, get a serrated edge version. What works with meat does not work on bread and vice versa.

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I needed a new carving knife and chose this one based on the excellent customer reviews it had received on Amazon. I couldn't be any happier with my purchase! The knife arrived the day before Christmas and I used it to slice the butterflied leg of lamb I made for Christmas dinner. I was amazed at how sharp this knife is! As an experiment, I tried to see how thin I could slice the lamb with this knife. I was surprised to find that I could actually cut thin "shaved" slices of meat. I have not been able to cut meat that thin with any of the older Hoffritz knives I have, even right after sharpening them. I can only imagine how great this knife will be for thinly slicing tomatoes, potatoes, roast beef, and anything else I can throw at it. For the price, I doubt you can find a better carving knife. Highly recommended!

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What a great knife. Slice paper thin strips of meat...slice through soft veggies that ordinarily crush....and dishwasher safe.

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This is a really reasonably priced slicing knife. I bought this after reading Cook's Illustrated review. It's comfortable to hold, and does a nice job. I wish the blade were a tad heavier.but for less than $30, I am happy!

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Barenthal Laquiole 6 Piece Steak Knife Set Stainless Steel Designed in France

Barenthal Laquiole 6 Piece Steak Knife Set Stainless Steel Designed in FranceI had bought 4 steak knives similar to these quite a few years ago but needed more for when company came for lunch. While these are satin-finish and the others are glossy, they are exact matches and will use them proudly for guests.

Picnic Time Duet Insulated Wine and Cheese Tote

Picnic Time Volare-Duet Insulated Wine and Cheese Cooler Tote, MokaI received this tote as a Christmas gift, and now I'm buying one for my sister's birthday present. The construction is very sturdy. The vertical design makes it easy to schlep around, and fit into tight places.

I use it for beer. It accommodates 4 beers,2 good size ice packs ( we like our beer cold), and 2 coolie cups. It would hold more if I needed.

The outside pockets make supplies easily accessible. As you can see, it comes with a cutting board ( thick and sturdy), combination bottle opener, and a cheese knife.Very well insulated. I really like it.

This is a great deal for under $30!!!

This wine tote is perfect for our weekly neighborhood "driveway parties". The corkscrew, cutting board and cheese knife are nice accessories. The tote's utility could possibly be improved by making it leak proof to allow including ice to keep white wines chilled longer.

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Weekend rendezvous, two fine bottles and good company. Very eell made, room for small ice pak for whites but wish the board, knife and opener were under a flap for cleanliness and safety. Small point too, the corkscrew works but small lever operated one would be a plus. I bought one and placed it inside with bottles.

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I really like this compact picnic bag! I will probably carry only one bottle of wine, leaving enough room for food for 2 for a picnic or concert, e.g. a block of cheese, bag of crackers, 1-2 sandwiches, some fruit, and stacking wine glasses (not included.) There is about 5" X 5" X 12" of space for food or a second bottle of wine. This is not the hulking picnic bag you'd need to pack a big spread for a major outing, but it is the perfect size for an impromptu, shorter outing for 2, or for carrying 2 bottles of wine, some cheese and crackers. It appears to be well-made and well-padded. It is neat and attractive in the wine color. There is a padded divider that can be removed for alternate wine/food/beverage arrangements. This will be useful for a variety of small-scale food and beverage portage needs.

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Good looking. It does let melting ice leak threw. It is insulated but not moisture proof. I used it on a summer day, put on top of rear seat, and it was very wet when I took it out of the car. It does carry wine bottles very well.

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