5 ms·

Developer : Keyboard :: Chef : Knives

by 54mf 15y ago

tptacek 15y ago
Home cooks are way more fetishistic about knives than cooks are.
- matwood 15y ago
  Not in my experience. When I worked in fine dining the chefs were fanatical about their knives. Later in life I've become friends with some professional chefs who also are particular about their knives. Now, they don't go around announcing to all their friends about what kind of knife they use (like many home cooks), but they do care about their tools. Personally I just want knives that are sharp. I view them a lot like wine. There is a big jump from the $2 bottle to the $8-$20 bottle and then not so much from there. Buying the middle ground makes sense.
  - tptacek 15y ago
    I probably know fewer chefs than you do, but the ones I know make fun of the ultra expensive Williams Sonoma knives home cooks buy. What part of fine dining did you work in? Any kitchens I'd have heard of?
    - matwood 15y ago
      Keep in mind I didn't mention anything about the price, just that they had tools that they liked much like I am about my computers. They each had what they liked and that's what they used. The thing is, unlike home chefs, the pros didn't care what anyone else used or felt the need to talk about their knife being better than some other knife. They just found a knife or set that had a good weight and fit their hand well. When I worked fine dining it was at the Mills House [1] over 10 years ago. Sometimes I miss the days where my job ended as soon as I left work with a wad of cash :) [1] http://www.millshouse.com/amenities/dining.html http://www.millshouse.com/amenities/dining.html
- bhousel 15y ago
  I knew a left-handed cook who was very particular about his knives - but yeah, most professional cooks just use whatever is supplied by the restaurant.
  - tptacek 15y ago
    ... don't know that that's true either... I think cooks do carry their own knives! I was just under the impression that most of them used (pricingwise) mid-range knives. I know one who uses Victorinox stamped knives, for instance.

Developer : Keyboard :: Chef : Knives

by 54mf 15y ago

Developer : Keyboard :: Chef : Knives

tptacek 15y ago

Home cooks are way more fetishistic about knives than cooks are.

matwood 15y ago
Not in my experience. When I worked in fine dining the chefs were fanatical about their knives. Later in life I've become friends with some professional chefs who also are particular about their knives. Now, they don't go around announcing to all their friends about what kind of knife they use (like many home cooks), but they do care about their tools. Personally I just want knives that are sharp. I view them a lot like wine. There is a big jump from the $2 bottle to the $8-$20 bottle and then not so much from there. Buying the middle ground makes sense.
- tptacek 15y ago
  I probably know fewer chefs than you do, but the ones I know make fun of the ultra expensive Williams Sonoma knives home cooks buy. What part of fine dining did you work in? Any kitchens I'd have heard of?
  - matwood 15y ago
    Keep in mind I didn't mention anything about the price, just that they had tools that they liked much like I am about my computers. They each had what they liked and that's what they used. The thing is, unlike home chefs, the pros didn't care what anyone else used or felt the need to talk about their knife being better than some other knife. They just found a knife or set that had a good weight and fit their hand well. When I worked fine dining it was at the Mills House [1] over 10 years ago. Sometimes I miss the days where my job ended as soon as I left work with a wad of cash :) [1] http://www.millshouse.com/amenities/dining.html http://www.millshouse.com/amenities/dining.html
bhousel 15y ago
I knew a left-handed cook who was very particular about his knives - but yeah, most professional cooks just use whatever is supplied by the restaurant.
- tptacek 15y ago
  ... don't know that that's true either... I think cooks do carry their own knives! I was just under the impression that most of them used (pricingwise) mid-range knives. I know one who uses Victorinox stamped knives, for instance.