Lenox Continental Dining Stainless-Steel 5-Piece Place Setting, Service for 1

DETAILS:

Being permanently disabled with arthritis & fibromyalgia, and having been displeased as a very avid home chef, with about two dozen various brands & makes of flatware at all prices over the years, I decided I would look high and low for the best flatware set made today at any cost. I did not look online, by pictures, or by catalogs to compare, but rather I spent a lot of hands on time searching for just the right set over the course of several years in person through many, many hundred of designs from dozens of stores and brands. Having searched quite vigorously and purposely, I have found what I believe to be the BEST SET OF FLATWARE MADE PERIOD.

While at first glance the design seems simple and undecorated, but I feel this set is the best from a practical and useful standpoint, and even more so from a quality standpoint. Generally there are three issues that I have had with flatware. The first is the long time issue of the neck of the utensil, where you will find lesser grade flatware having been made of either a separate handle & action portion (eg. the actual blade, bowl or fork tines), and then fitted together but eventually loosening over time and use. Or, being made of one piece of metal, but almost always a stamped out piece of thin sheet metal and easily bendable in the neck portion like you see in all the poor grade flatware you find in restaurants today. Anything having such a design was immediately rejected.

Second is the problem of overall design. I honestly and openly admit that plain patterns are just that, plain! I really do! But I also feel that some patterns of silverware can clash with the plates, settings, and even the décor of the dining environment. I myself would much rather prefer to host a party with a set of plain pattern flatware and elegant dinnerware, food, embroidered napkins, flowers, etc., versus clashing patterns any day as with this set I don't have to buy several silverware patterns or risk having a set of silverware clashing with the food and other dinnerware. For example, a set of Victorian era styled silverware does not in anyway, no matter what Martha Stewart and others may say, go with a contemporary plate setting with modern/new age/fusion style food, no matter what anyone says! It's always good to have one set of silverware, or your one and only set, that can go with anything, especially if you don't want, don't have space for, or can't afford to have multiple sets of flatware.

Third and last is the quality, reputation and pattern longevity, and all are intermingled. Some brands and styles come and go, and usually for the better, but others have been here longer than most people would guess. The Lenox brand, while not the most nor the least expensive, is a great brand and the pattern of these flatware are timeless. Something to consider if you plan on adding to your set down the road. And no, like all my reviews, I'm not affiliated with or compensated in any way by the company or seller of any product I do a review on I'm just well pleased with my purchase.

IN SHORT:

The handle size and ergonomics are outstanding, and the flatware are very tough and well made. These are solid, not hollow, not stamped, but forged high grade 18/10 high carbon stainless steel, just like the cladding layers of the renowned All-Clad cookware of great fame and esteem. This is a set that will last for many generations, if not forever, and it's quality can never be shown to it's fullest without actually seeing it in person. While not a glamorous design some would say, philosophers would agree with me in that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the simplicity, quality and function of these flatware are second to none. I guarantee that you will be pleased once you try them and your guests will comment highly about them. They have grace, quality and value. Three things that are getting to be almost impossible to find now-days.

NOTES: Made in South Korea of solid 18/10 Stainless Steel. Laser etched on backside with name, origin and material.

I have tired spoons that break at the neck and bent flatware. After looking for something that was affordable, with simple classic lines, I decided on this patttern. I love love love this flatware. The design is clean, simple, and dresses up or down. The weight of this set is substantial. The length each piece is a little longer, thus the "Continental" designation. The pieces feel good in the hand, and seem to make eating food a more intentional activity. No troubles in the dishwasher either. They come out fine, with the occasional water spot for which I do not blame the flatware. I love the way they look on the table.

I would highly recommend this particular dining set.

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We registered for these for our wedding. I saw them at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. I have this thing about making sure the forks are really pointy. These really were. The ones we got are too! I love this abut them. They are really pretty out of the box and have a very simple style. When opening them I noticed that they were made in Vietnam (in case this is an issue for anyone). It has been about two months since we started using these. The one thing I don't like is that the knives are starting to loose their finish. I was expecting better quality given how much these cost. However that was not meant to be I guess. The rest of the silverware is doing just fine, but I don't know why the knives are this way. Hope this helps!

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RSVP International Onion Goggles

Well, I used to look absolutely ridiculous, and now I look slightly less ridiculous. A la "Diva," an '80s French cult film with a guy who chopped onions wearing a mask and snorkel, I used to tromp into the kitchen with mine because my eyes bothered me so much when I'd chop onions. Enter the Onion Goggles! And yes, they really DO work. You do NOT have to have your nose covered, as I'd once believed. So far I've bought a pair for my son, myself, my brother, and a friend. The only downside is that they don't fit over eyeglasses, but since I'm not terribly farsighted this isn't a problem for me. If your eyes are sensitive to onion fumes, try these. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Some people have remarked that these onion goggles are a cheap rip-off. I recently received a pair of these from my wishlist as a birthday gift. The quality seems very good to me. I think that, perhaps, RSVP must have changed manufacturers for a while during 07 to 08, realized they were crap, and found a better manufacturer. I have not seen glasses from prior to 07 to be able to compare today's goggles with them, but I do know that the product I received is of a good quality.

The glasses are shaped like wrap-around sunglasses, curved to fit the shape of the face. Behind the frame that surrounds the lenses is a light foam material that creates a seal with your face. This foam has a layer of material (a little like a very thin black polyester flannel) that covers the part of the foam that touches your skin. This material makes the foam more comfortable, as well as strengthening the foam's edge--which without the support looks like it could easily tear. There are no ventilation holes cut into the foam.

Just like many wrap-around sunglasses, the fit of these onion-goggles is pretty snug. If you have a large head (like I do), don't expect to be wearing these for a long period of time (like for dry eyes.) While the fit is snug on me, (23" circumference head, size large hat) I find that I can wear them for at least a half an hour without discomfort--plenty of time to chop a lot of onions.

As the foam creates a seal between the nose and eyes, I did not have a problem with fogging. The foam seems porous enough that some circulation of humidity could occur. Interestingly, though, this did not seem to allow the onion fumes in.

The fumes. I could still smell the onions. The fumes still irritated my sinuses. But interestingly, the fumes did not affect my eyes. While I could feel a little burn in my nose, I had none of the tears (and consequently none of the runny nose) of cutting onions.

Fact: As long as they create a seal against your face, they work.

The glasses come in a soft plastic glasses case, which you can keep them in for storage. The case has a magnetic closure, which is nice when your hands are covered with meatloaf and you don't want to grab hard at the plastic to struggle with a snap.

Why did I give them only 4 stars? According to the Vision Council of America, 64% of adult Americans wear glasses. There is absolutely no way to fit a pair of glasses beneath these onion goggles. If you have a pair of contacts you can switch into--great! But good luck taking the contacts out after you've been cutting onions. It's clear that it would be difficult to create a good seal against onion fumes around a pair of glasses, but if ski-goggle manufacturers can do it, couldn't the onion goggle people? They could offer it as a separate product.

My prescription is around -2.0. I had no trouble cutting onions without my glasses on. But if your vision is worse, do a test drive at home, cutting onions without your glasses on, before you buy these.

I have not tested these goggles to see how easy they are to clean. I suspect soap and water and a gentle touch with a towel.

Last note: my cousin, who rides motorcycles, was at my birthday party. She commented that these looked almost exactly like motorcycle glasses. If you have ski goggles, motorcycle goggles, or a gas mask, give them a try. (Don't laugh--my dad was in the military and my mom used to use his old gas mask.)

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These goggles really work.....I put them on then chop onions...no tears! And, they actually improve my vision a little, so I would highly recommend to people sensitive to onions.

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These are worthless. Too narrow to fit my face. It's not flexible and does not conform to your shape of face. You really are better off buying a cheap pair of swimming googles or ski googles, I wish I had.

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I haven't used these to cut onions. I actually bought them for my girlfriend to wear to Burning Man. These are great for the desert and far superior to regular sunglasses for keeping dust out of your eyes (although, they don't block the sun, if that's a concern).

They could fit just a bit more snugly, and i've seen larger ones elsewhere that probably provide better protection, but these are worth considering for Burning Man aficionados or, I suppose, people that cut a lot of onions.

Five stars if you're cutting onions at Burning Man.

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Montana Knife 10" Cook's Knife with White Poly Handle

Good balance, resharpens easily, fits hand nicely, great value for the price, hard to find any knives at all in this size.

This is the knife used in professional kitchens, that do a lot of good serious, unpretentious work. No frills. Great steel.

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I just received my knife. This is a BIG knife and I have small hands, but I found it very easy to use. It feels good to cut with and it cuts easily and well. The handle feels secure. The blade is thin but does not feel flimsy at all. Supposedly the knife is dishwasher safe; I rarely use my dishwasher but I haven't ever seen a new stainless steel object emerge from a dishwasher the same as it went in. The hardness is good, hard enough to hold a fine edge but soft enough to retain some flexibility and not resist sharpening. Do not put this knife in a drawer with other knives; even if that is what you do with your knives, this knife is too big. Put it away carefully by itself or on a magnetic rack.

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Wusthof Classic 4-1/2-Inch Steak Knife

Firstly, a knife has to cut, or what is it for? These knives take an excellent edge, as is generally true with the forged Wusthof lines. (note, I own about a dozen Wusthof knives, Classic, Gran Prix and Culinar) They easily cut any meat, and as another reviewer noted, they serve well as a utility knife too. It has been my experience that any knife that says "never needs sharpening" is probably a piece of junk. So, yes, once in a while you may need to sharpen your steak knives. Fact is, those cheap serrated knives tear the fibers of the meat, and the moisture quickly runs out, leaving a less succulent steak. It's a trade-off I'm not willing to make.

The handle of this model seems just right to me. It's not slender or delicate, feels sturdy, but it's not clunky or awkward. The blade is sturdy, strong and true, and should last a lifetime. As a nice bonus, they look great, elegant and clean.

I must admit, I've never owned a dishwasher, so I've never been tempted to put fine knives in one. If hand-washing your knives is too time consuming for you, then you may not find these your best choice. On the other hand, if you enjoy working with quality tools, and don't mind the extra care that they require, these knives are a pleasure to use and own.

As a chef, I put my full faith into Wusthof knives and I love the Wusthof Classic. Although I have at least one or more of Global, Shun, Henckels and Mac knives, my wusthof knives get the most use. To each their own with which knife feels the best in their hand when in use, but I'll swear up and down about the Wusthof Classic handles. These steak knives are lightweight enough to use easily, yet have enough weight that you're unlikely to get careless.

Although these steak knives shouldn't replace a paring knife, they double up as one for the larger fruits/veggies and make slicing an ease.

If you're looking for knives at a low end of expense and don't mind buying new ones in a few years, look elsewhere. If you're looking for great steak knives that will last you a lifetime with numerous uses, look no further! They're worth every dime.

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We've had these for about 4 or 5 years but still haven't used them! Why 5 stars? We've had them in the open about 3' above the ocean the entire time & there's not a speck of corrosion! Handles feel very comfortable & if our others ever give out we'll gladly use them.

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Victorinox Kitchen Utility Shears with Bottle Opener

I own four (count 'em, four!) pairs of these shears, purchased from other vendors, but am posting a review here to add my voice to the chorus of admiration for this product.

I purchased these shears for use in the kitchen, even though they lacked what I thought was the critical feature of take-apart capability, because I was unable to find kitchen shears that otherwise fit the bill. I subsequently found shears that do come apart for cleaning that I prefer to use in the kitchen, but these shears still remain in constant use in many areas of the house.

I keep one pair in my knife block to use in cutting open packaging in the kitchen when food contamination is not an issue; the shears' sharply pointed blade tips make them excellent for dealing with plastic packaging of all types. I keep a pair in my bedroom nightstand, a pair in my desk, and a pair in my car. (It's amazing how often I use them in the car!) I plan to buy another pair to keep in the garage.

The shears are sized for general kitchen use, being neither too large nor too small, and are amazingly lightweight. The handles are extremely comfortable in my average woman-sized hands; they fit either the right or left hand. The blades are sharp and tough; they have a Rockwell hardness score of 55. (See info @ .) The blade action is extremely smooth and the sharp blade tips make the shears useful for a myriad of kitchen tasks. Unfortunately, the danger involved in cleaning these bad boys without being able to separate the blades, and the extreme caution I prefer to take with regard to contamination, rule out general kitchen use for me. But if you're less squeamish than I am on these subjects, go for it.

I own a pair of Shun kitchen shears for meat/poultry trimming and feel that they're the only shears to use for that purpose (see my review at Shun Kitchen Shears), but the Victorinox shears would be excellent for all other jobs in the kitchen or anywhere else in the house, garage, office, shop, RV, etc. They're available from Amazon on their 4-for-3 promotion if you can think of as many uses for them as I did.

I would like to be neutral like the Swiss, but I can't in regards to these shears. They are awesome and are perfect to use with my other "outdoor" cooking implements with my grill. Victorinox is one of the best brands out there. Buy today.

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For the price, they are sharp, durable, and fit my average male hand well. Would buy again.

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My initial impressions were great. The shears were sharp and the handles fit my hand, but then they started to rust at the pivot. I've always hand washed these shears and dried them with paper towels. I've never had any of my knives or shears rust before, so this is a complete surprise. Needless to say, I'm unhappy with this product.

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As with all Forschner/Victorinox products I have purchased, what you get is exceptional value and high quality. Simply one of the best product lines in existence.

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Messermeister Pro-Touch Teflon Spatula

I ordered a bunch of spatulas at one time. Can't say I have used them equally, so it's not a scientific test, but the head of this spatula has separated from the handle already--looks like it was held on with just a bit of glue. I will try to reglue it, but thought I would provide the feedback.

This is one of the best spatulas I have used

The material is great dies keep the shape under hig heat and is confirtee to work with.

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ok my husband and I argue over the spatula...I love its length he doesn't but then I don't get how he can use a broken one when I bought this great one!

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I wish it were a bit smaller which would make it easier to flip pancakes. Otherwise, I feel safe using it on my teflon frying pan.

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The description for this spatula on the Messermeister website claims it has a "stainless steel neck and Teflon spatula head." That got me interested, since Teflon is far more heat-resistant than the nylon these spatulas are normally made from. I've been irritated/annoyed by how easily nylon spatulas are damaged by the heat of normal cooking, and thought that Teflon would be a very sensible material to make spatulas out of.

I was skeptical that the Messermeister spatula would really have been made of Teflon. I felt it was far more likely that it was just another nylon spatula, and that the person who wrote the description didn't know anything about plastics. Still, I was willing to give it a shot.

Well, I was right. The Messermeister spatula is made of nylon, not Teflon. It melts at normal cooking temperatures. It is an okay spatula for its type, but no better than hundreds of other cheap plastic spatulas. I'm giving it two stars because the description is confusing at best, deceptive at worst.

My search goes on for a good heat-resistant spatula. There are very heat-resistant plastics out there that could be made into spatulas, but they are more expensive. You would think that premium cooking supply houses would offer at least one high-end plastic spatula, but nobody seems to have one. Looks like there's a business opportunity for someone who wants it.

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Wusthof Silverpoint II 10-Piece Knife Set with Block

Granted, I've owned these knives for almost a week now. However, I have been finding reasons to dice everything just to get a feel for them. TRUE, they are very light and thin. However feel very sturdy at the same time. German engineering I supposed. I was trying to bend the blade and it feels very solid despite it's light weight. I can understand people thinking that light would correlate to weak and or flimsy. But, these are actually the opposite of that. So far I have been able to slice through bagels and all sorts of fruits and vegetables to create paper thing slice. All of them clean, easy cuts. My last set of knives were from Chicago Cutlery and these knives put them to shame. Hopefully I'll feel the same a year from now, however my first week I can't be happier with this purchase.

My wife and I got these knives from Macy's the day after Thanksgiving for a super deal of 80.00 and we have loved them ever since. I had two Chicago Cutlery sets that these replaced. They are excellent knives 5 months later still very very sharp and cut with ease I was able to slice flat iron steak almost paper thin for fajita. I would highly recommend these. They are light in the hand and pretty well balanced. The Santoku (spelling?) and the Chef knife are easily my favorites. These are the best knives I have ever used. Now to get the matching steak knives.

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We've had these knives for a couple of weeks now and my wife really is impressed. They are VERY sharp and well balanced. She keeps talking about the knives and was somewhat resistent to my wanting to buy them. I suggested we keep them in the cupboard but she insists on keeping them on our kitchen counter top in full view. They do come with a very nice knife block made of hardwood. Well, as long as she's happy, everybody is happy.

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What a piece of garbage. I just could not believe that well know brand like wusthof would make something like that. I only paid 100$ for these knives so I did not expect top of the line product however the quality compared to .99$ cents store special ...

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The seem to be very durable knives. Came very sharp and is able to cut a tough steak very easily. Although they seem durable now only time will tell. Great value .

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Rada Cutlery Cooking Essentials Gift Set, 3 Pc Knife Set, Made in USA

These knives are economical and fine quality. They do need to be sharpened eventually, but initially are extremely sharp. to keep shiny, do not wash in the dishwasher.

I bought these as a gift after receiving some myself. This is a great gift set for anyone who cooks. The knives are very sharp and easily cut through fruits, veggies, and meats. This particular set has the dishwasher safe handles. And they are made in the U.S.A!

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Quite sharp. I got these because I read a realsmipe magazine article detailing how we really only need three knives in the kitchen. I think that these make nice knives per table setting and that may be a wise investment in the future (depending on the types of meals served), but I ultimately want this number of knives but physically larger.

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My husband and I received a set of Rada knives as a wedding gift over 20 years ago that are still going strong. We like our Rada knives so well that we have given many sets of these as gifts to friends and family over the years. They are always impressed with the quality of these knives as well and usually call us up wanting to know where they can get more of them. Rada knives sharpen easily and stay sharp longer that other knives. They are THE BEST knives we have ever owned, they are a great value, and best of all they are made in the good ole' US-of-A and come with a lifetime gaurantee. Once you have owned and used Rada knives you will find anything else to be subpar.

FYI from the maker's website Rada Cutlery is proudly manufactured in Waverly, Iowa. Rada Mfg. Co. has been making kitchen knives and utensils since 1948. Rada blades are hand sharpened for a razor sharp edge. They are made of surgical quality T420 high carbon stainless steel and hollow ground to ensure a precision concave surface for maximum edge retention. Lifetime Guarantee: "Rada Mfg. Co. will replace any product manufactured by our company returned to us due to defects in materials or workmanship."

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These knives are very bendy and I am afriad that I will cook myself with the blade. I guess it will work with a filet but for regular stuff, no way.

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Kuhn Rikon Kitchen Shears

My favorite thing about these shears is the spring action that makes cutting easier for me. The blades are very sharp and fit closely for a clean cut without too much effort. In addition to kitchen tasks, they do extremely well on paper and ribbon, even many thicknesses, and were heavily used during package wrapping season. I use them often in the kitchen and in the utility room, however when making holiday wreaths (cutting wire and small but tough branches) I prefer the Wusthoff come-apart shears (Wüsthof Come-Apart Kitchen Shears) because it's easier to wash the sap off and if the blades get nicked, it's easier to sharpen them, plus they have the 'bone notch' that works well with branches. I got a nick in one of the blades of these shears and although they continue to cut fine, I don't feel the nick going away through the self-sharpening action. Maybe it just takes more time. Still, I can't complain about the sharpness of the blades.

I also like that the blade tips are narrow enough to get under a sealed box flap for opening shipped packages and they cut cardboard easily. They do well opening other packages too. Although I love the Wusthoff shears, the bone notch limits their ability to cut paper and cut open plastic packages as effectively as these shears do so I have both available.

There is a bottle opener at the bottom of the blade, but I've never used it, in part because I don't keep the shears in the case, but rather hang them by the hole in the handle. As a result holding them closed during the bottle opening exercise is a little awkward. I also found the herb stripping slots too sharp to strip the leaves without cutting the stem, but that's not a problem since fingers work pretty well for that task. While those extra functions don't add value, in my opinion, the sharp spring action scissors themselves are worth having to compliment whatever else you use as kitchen shears.

These shears cut through everything in the kitchen and many other things around the house, especially that difficult-to-open plastic packaging like that surrounding batteries. Highly recommended! I would recommend model #2710, though, above these, the #2706, as they're a bit larger and more versatile.

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I bought thes shears to replace an aging pair of Pampered Chef shears. They are much better than the Pampered Chef even when new. A very high quality product.

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Everyone needs utility shears. Whether it's outside gardening or inside for a piece of cardboard, carpet or chicken. But you want to pay about $10. So two years ago I got a well-known brand in that price range, and the handle broke, not to mention that they didn't cut, they pinched things until they gave in or not. The Kuhn Rikon shears are sharp, cut, and the bright handle makes them easy to find. It would be better to have a way to keep them closed without the protective cover. They should just go in your pocket. Otherwise they are great and well worth the investment.

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These are tough kitchen shears. I find they are good for cutting up meat, slicing through packaging, etc. Great all around. I like the spring action handles and the self sharpening blades. Highly recommended.

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Starfrit Gourmet 80912-004-0000 Five Inch Ceramic Blade Knife with Protective Cover

I would have given 5 stars but had to return the first one because of a defective handle. I does work well, however. I would consider purchasing a larger one.

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8"osaka Yanagiba Knife

This is a very nice slicing or carving knife. An Asian sashimi or yanagi knife has a single bevel edge either on the right or left side of the blade used for preparing sushi. When I saw the nice wooden box which contained the knife the label described the knife as having a Euro grind. After examining the knife it does have a european double bevel edge. The knife is extremely sharp and with a 50 rockwell hardness scale should be easy to sharpen and still be durable and not as fragile as blades with a hardness in the 60's. The blade has the appearance of Damascus steel, but doesn't say it's made from Damascus steel. The blade is VG-10, 67 layers which are forged together which make the blade the strongest you can buy without have a custom made knife.

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BergHOFF Gourmet Line Santoku Knife, Black/Silver, 7"

As soon as I received this item, I started using it to cut Steak, Potatoes, Carrots and other veggies. I was amazed how little effort was required to slice these. The cuts were so precise that the cut portions stuck to the knife blade, so one has to develop a technique which slighly pushes the cut portion away as the knife descends through the meat or whatever you are cutting. Just be very very careful since this knife has a surgical-quality blade and you want to keep your fingers intact ;-)

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Kyocera Adjustable Mandoline Slicer with Handguard

I use my chef knives for much of my food slicing but when I need a lot of uniform slices I like to use a mandoline. I have a professional model but I was looking for something for small jobs, like a few slices of carrots, potato or garlic. I like the idea of a ceramic blade so I decided to give this one a shot.

I liked this slicer okay but it could be better built, even at this price. I decided to make a video review in order to show it in action. Even though my mandoline is Black I decided to review this one as well since they both work the same way. I hope that you find it useful. Thanks!

Note:

I guess I forgot to turn my remote mic back on for the Bron mandoline piece. Sorry about that.

Bron Original Stainless Steel Mandolin Slicer

CUT RESISTANT GLOVES-100% KEVLAR®, Heavy Weight Textured Blue Latex Coated,large, (1 pair)

I use my chef knives for much of my food slicing but when I need a lot of uniform slices I like to use a mandoline. I have a professional model but I was looking for something for small jobs, like a few slices of carrots, potato or garlic. I like the idea of a ceramic blade so I decided to give this one a shot.

I liked this slicer okay but it could be better built, even at this price. I decided to make a video review in order to show it in action. I hope that you find it useful. Thanks!

Note:

I guess I forgot to turn my remote mic back on for the Bron mandoline piece. Sorry about that.

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Although I also bought a "professional mandoline", I thought this would make a handy little item. Boy was I right! I use this mandoline more than the professional. Why? It is convenient! It's very sharp (the porcelein blade is much sharper than metal), the hand guard is comfortable and easy to use, the whole device is dishwasher safe, and it takes little counter space and little storage space. I use it to slice veggies for everything from sandwiches to tostadas to soups to breakfast burritos. Here's what it does not do: Although the blade is "adjustable", only the biggest setting works correctly. The smaller settings makes mush of your veggies. Also, it is not quite wide enough. At the thickest part of a big round onion, it would have to be turned sideways. Finally, it only has 1 blade and so it only does the one style of cut. I highly recommend it. It is so easy to use that you will use it frequently. In fact, when you think: "Should I drag out the big mandoline?" You will say "No, I'll just use my little one (the Kyocera)".

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The Kyocera adjustable mandoline slicer is an excellent product! I have used mine for almost 1 year and have no major complaints, the only one being that Kyocera could have designed the guard to snap in place covering the blade for storage. I keep mine in the plastic "dome" that it was packaged in. It is definitely VERY SHARP, so use the guard. It will effortlessly slice any vegetable: onions, cucumbers, potatoes, carrots, etc.. Easy to use, no assembly, etc. Highly recommended.

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2 great points about this mandolin: ceramic and dishwasher-safe. It is not the most aesthetically pleasing mandolin, surely the shiny metal ones look more professional and flashier. However, for the home-chef who favors functionality over looks, you won't be disappointed with this model. It also has a lip on the bottom making it easy to fit over the edge of a bowl.

One of my biggest pet-peeves about metal mandolins is that they are so difficult to clean. With all the nooks and crannies food gets stuck in and the risk of rust, you have to invest a comparatively significant amount of time in cleaning.

The ceramic blade stays sharp and is superior in my view to any metal blade: you won't have to sharpen it and it does not rust. The only drawback to ceramic is that it is fragile, so you may want to be careful where you store this tool. Haphazardly tossing it in the same drawer you throw your meat tenderizer might not be the best idea.

At ~20$, this tool is a great value. You will spend more on a quality metal mandolin and it will rust. Additionally, if you do happen to accidentally break the blade, it's only 20$ to replace.

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Orbital Rotary Blade Sharpener-

This item doesn't work as well as i thought that it would. It doesn't sharpen used blades that well

I had such high hopes for this. I'd tried several other sharpeners over the years with no luck, so I splurged on this. No matter what I tried, the blades actually got duller. I started with blades of various brands that were still usable, just not as sharp as they had been, and ended up with blades that didn't cut even a single layer! The people at the company were pleasant and sent out some new parts, but it didn't make much difference. I've resigned myself either to having my blades sharpened professionally or to biting the bullet and stocking up on sales.

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After using this sharpener for the first time, I am dismayed at the results I got. A slightly dull blade, after being sharpened following the package directions was completely useless. I finally got a sharp edge by using my old blade sharpener.

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I put it in the garbage. Sorry, but this is a dud. Don't buy it. Could not get the blades sharp after several tries.

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All this sharpener did, no matter how many times I have read the directions or how many times I've tried them, is make my blades even more dull. Greatly disappoionted.

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Harold Imports Stainless-Steel Multi-Blade Herb Scissors

To my surprise, this herb scissors works great and is easy to clean--just rinse under the kitchen sink. The efficacy of this tool has broadened my use of fresh herbs in my food preparation. This item is priced just right.

Regular scissor really work just as well for snipping herbs. These don't always cut all the way through, plus bits of herbs get caught between the blades making them harder to clean. Nor did I find them to work well for shredding paper as another reviewer suggested they don't cut through even a single sheet very easily.

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I use the scissors to chop up my perrsonal information on bills and such. Works fine on 3 or 4 pages. Creats less mess that a shredding machine.

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I had high hopes for these scissors. Unfortunately, they do not work at all well. The don't cut through all the way--takes several tries. Very disappointing.

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I thought I could get away using these to shred credit card applications and the like as they came in the mail. No dice. These are too dull for paper and jam up easily.

I guess they're called Herb Scissors for a reason.

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Shimomura Left Handed Deba Knife 150mm #6281

A $50 "japanese" type knife. Came with huge gaps between the blade and handle, which I think is pine or a lesser quality wood. The handle is also held on with a drop of wood glue which came off after 5 mins of use. So after

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Victorinox Cutlery 4-Inch Utility Knife, Black Polypropylene Handle

I've been using Victorinox/Forschner knives since I was given my first set at cooking school (Cordon Bleu) They are light weight and sharp. I still am using my original knives now 25 years later. They are cheaper and better than anything out there.

Victorinox makes a really great knife for an affordable price. Their knives quickly sharpen to a razor edge with little effort.

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Sharp, light weight and effective everything you need in a good knife at a great price. A wonderful complement to my Shun knives at a fraction of the cost.

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I have now replaced all my cutlery with Victorinox, an my friend who is also into cooking was surprised since he spent hundreds, and mine seem to cut better than his.

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A handy knife that can do most things in the kitchen.

The guys at work saw me using one, and i had to get

them each one.

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Wolfgang Puck Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set

I received a set of Stainless Steel Wolfgang Puck pans from my parents as a gift two years ago. They figured I would enjoy some high class cookware especially since it came with the extra cooking utensils. I was so excited to have designer cookware, and I have been repeatedly disappointed in so many ways. I'll spell them out clearly so others can make an informed purchase:

1) This cookware starts out looking great, but after a few uses on a gas stove, the pitting and discoloration of the steel is terrible. I read all the instructions and cared for these pans with much effort handwashing, gentle cleaning, etc. They have been so pitted and stained after the first month of average use that I'm embarrassed to use them when other people are in my kitchen because they look downright dirty. I even tried gentle silver polish, overnight soaks, and just good ole' elbow grease without success.

2) Uneven cooking. I have been cooking for over 15 years, and some of that has been in professional kitchens. I routinely find that these pans heat unevenly causing food to burn in certain spots. The burned areas then stick to the pan. Forget trying to make delicate things like an over-easy egg. Almost every time I cook something using a dry cook method, it stick badly. I routinely break egg yolks, have well-buttered grilled sandwiches stick and then fall apart upon turning, and even less delicate things like 'hamburger helper' dishes have burned, but only in spots. Thank goodness I don't have kids in the house that might require 30 seconds away from the stove because cooking in these pans requires constant attention. Now, please assume I've tried adjusting the heat and stirring thoroughly and frequently. The same dishes I've made for years in other pans has ended up burned in these pans. I've even had the stove replaced over the past two years, and nothing has helped this issue.

3) Skin Burns! Stoves are hot so sometimes handles heat up on any cookware, but the handles on the pots, and especially on the lids seem to heat up much more than I'd anticipate. Steel is a conductive metal, so I'd expect some heat, but I've burned my hands more than a couple times by simply lifting a lid without a potholder. Actually grabbing the side handles of a pot could cause serious burns even after only a few minutes on the stove. This is just unsafe and poor design. I've also had friends who have cooked with me in my kitchen comment that these pans/pots 'spit'... what I mean is that if I'm heating water in the small saucepan, as I pour the hot water from the pan into a cup, the water spits and sputters (often onto the hands causing burns) as it contacts the heated edges of the pan when pouring. I've had this happen a little with other cookware occasionally, but it's a large problem with this cookware. Again, the heating qualities of these pans causes the areas not in contact with food to heat up very quickly.

4) Rivets are dangerous. To anyone shopping for pans, please take this point into consideration. When a rivet is exposed to food, such as they are with this pan, you set up a recipe for disaster. Food can become wedged in the small spaces around the rivets which makes cleaning very hard. Additionally, if those areas aren't cleaned properly, lodged food can grow all kinds of nasty food borne illnesses which are directly transferred to food next time you cook. Yes, heat kills bacteria the next time you heat up the pan, but it doesn't always kill the toxins that the bacteria produced while it was alive and well before heating. The toxins are what make you hospital-worthy sick. With these particular pans, they cut some corners with the rivets also, and they look as if they're oxidizing and beginning to break down. Again, disappointed.

5) The larger pots do not stack. Have ample cupboard room because even my small set takes up more space than it needs to. Poor design.

So, I'm stuck with a set of cookware that looks bad and cooks poorly. Who cares about the price or how good of a deal you're getting if you're food is sticking and your hands are burning? My recommendation: save your money and buy something else.

I purchased this set after I had cheaped out on two separate sets I had purchased from Big Lots and Target. Those sets started to fall apart after two weeks and couldn't withstand repetitive, long-term use (I make a lot of stews and slowly cooked items). So I opted to purchase this set with the only expectation for it not to fall apart.

This set has remained resilient for me. Easy to clean, easy to cook in, and considering the frequency of usage, it still looks great. Nothing is peeling, falling apart, and the handles are still sturdy. I also appreciate the variety of cookware, allowing me to cook beyond my stews. I might not know much about gourmet cooking, but personally I found this to be a prudent investment and would recommend it to anyone.

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I purchased this set from Ross for $69.00 and it was a steal. This is my first purchase of a stainless steel set. I have used Calphalon and Circulon before and liked them also-but they were nonstick.

The secret to using these pans seems to be to heat them up with nothing in them to not much over a medium heat before cooking in them. Then reduce heat to what is needed. I have a gas stove and these pans DO NOT require high heat to get the same heat as you would with other pans. NOTHING sticks to them so far. They clean up beautifully with no stains, discoloration or pits. Because you don't need high heat from your stove the handles are easy to handle. The lid metal does get too hot to handle without a pot holder-but they do cool off quickly.

If you keep the heat on the pans to med high at best and probably lower, your handles can be held with bare hands. The heat seems to stay in the heavy bottom of the pans.

Before purchasing these I read a lot in chats about using stainless pans and several experienced cooks seemed to say the same thing: heat them without anything in them before you cook in them, then reduce and cook. It works!!!! These are fantastic pans and I am sold on having stainless-especially these pans of such great quality.

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I have had Wolfgang's cookware for 10 years now and it is as shiny as the day I bought it. I do not put it in the dishwasher, and to remove stains from the bottom of the inside of the cookware all I use is white vineger. enough to cover the bottom, and warm it. Let it stand for 10 mins and rinse. thats it.

I have never used polish on these pots and pans as its not necessary.

The only complaint I really have it that the rivets on the inside, some are pitted and some are not, but thats because at one time or another I was cooking above the cooking line.

I have been cooking for 21 years, and professionally for 16. I think this cookware is great, you just have to use some common sense in caring for them. With good cookware there are certain things you have to do to take care of them.

Wolfgang Puck 20 Piece Cookware Set

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I wish I had the same thing to say. I have the 10 piece set also. I think it is cheap due to the studs (that connect the handle to the pot). They look horrible after cooking in them several times. Im not sure why. But they all look that way. I havent seen any other set do that. My old cheap Wearever set didnt do that. I will buy Calphalon the next time. Im burnt on Wolfgang Puck. I do like the untensils alot

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OXO Good Grips Professional 4-Inch Mini Santoku Knife

This has become our favorite kitchen knife. Super sharp, keeps a keen edge. Somewhere between a chef's knife and paring knife in size and shape and multifunctional. We reach for this one when in doubt about what knife to use. The longer version is better for slicing big roasts, bread loaves, etc. but this is perfect for working with fruits, veggies and meat portions. So well priced in comparison to similar knives.

I recently bought this knife along with some bigger, or longer Santokus. If you have never used a Santoku, I highly recommend them over any paring knife for smaller jobs, and the larger ones for just about anything else. Their design is perfect for either chopping, dicing, or doing just about anything else with your various herbs and veggies that comprises the greatest amount of work you do with a knife in any kitchen. And, the cleaver like design makes it a fairly efficient chopper for anything that requires that kind of muscle. The larger Santokus can cut any roast or piece of meet down to size.

At 4 inches, this Oxo model is just about the smallest Santoku you will find on Amazon. But size certainly hasn't come at the disadvantage of strength and quality. This knife blade is a thick as they come full tang design that holds a fine shaving worthy edge easily and quickly with just a hand held sharpener. And at a full 7/8 of an inch diameter, its handle is as big, round and solid as any I have ever felt. It gives the user of this knife absolute command over any job of slicing or chopping that you may require of it. The quality of this knife is so fine that you may find yourself using it for every job in the kitchen that you would need a knife for. I particularly like its 4 inch blade that is much more versatile than a 6 inch, or even the 5 inch model. If you do a lot of cooking with fresh ingredients that need slicing and dicing, than you already know the advantages of a knife that is just right in its design, length, and balance. This knife is superior in all three of those categories. The only thing I may mention as to recommending this knife is that if you are someone with very small hands, you may find the handle a little hard to grip, or comfy. It really is a very solid handle that most people with average to large hands will find a pleasure to use.

In conclusion, although their are many Santoku style knives being offered on Amazon in sets, this is the best one that I own that came alone. I have three other Santokus of different sizes, and this one is not only my favorite but most versatile as well. I highly recommend it for your very own gourmet kitchen...

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Don't even hesitate, this is a great knife for the money. Good balance, perfect fit for your hand. Slicing and chopping is very easy work thanks to this knife.

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This product does all it claims. I have arthritis in my hands and usually find it difficult to chop veggies, etc. This knife makes chopping quick and easy. With a gentle rocking motion of the blade, preparing a salad is no longer a "big deal."

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As long as a knife is sharp and has a good feel, I'm satisfied. I've never felt that a particular knife was my "favorite." But that's changed with the OXO Good Grips 4-Inch Mini Santoku Knife.

It's razor-sharp, has those indentations that help things not stick to it, a very good rocking curve on the blade, and a grippy handle with a very pleasing shape. But the best part is the proportionately very wide blade (1 5/8"), which gives you great control. You can cut a truly straight line through anything, for example an onion or tomato or salami, where a narrower knife, say a paring knife, might veer off. The Japanese-style blade is also thinner and has a more acute angle than a conventional knife, which allows you to cut very thin slices.

And the price makes it a bargain.

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