CHEFS Catalog

Incredible kitchen knives are made all over the world. Still, ask most professional chefs where the best kitchen knives in the world are made and you’ll virtually always get one (or both) of two answers: Germany and Japan. It’s not just geography that separates a Zwilling J.A. Henckels or Wusthof knife set from a Shun or Miyabi set. In fact, it’s arguably barely geography, as there are Japanese style-knives made in Germany and vice versa. It’s that by forging technique and design, there are generally Japanese-style knives and German-style knives. So, what are the differences and which style is best? The Shape of a Chef’s Knife German knives traditionally have more curve than their Japanese counterparts. That curve facilitates the style of chopping referred to as “rocking.” Rocking is the motion you’re either familiar with or have likely witnessed from professional chefs who chop vegetables into perfect little segments faster than seems possible. The shape of a Ger...

It may not seem like the seasons would necessarily have specific cookware associated with them. After all, cooking is cooking regardless of what the temperature is outside, right? Actually, that’s not really the case—just tell that to a barbeque! There are a few other season-specific items of kitchenware, cookware sets , and cooking accessories that either have summer-specific uses or make the most sense in warm weather. Take a look at these if you want to step up your summer food game. Better Grilling on Grill Pans No doubt the most obvious of the cooking that requires good weather (without being miserable) is grilling. There’s something about cooking over coals that simply seems to improve the flavor of everything the heat touches. Case in point is the grill pan, terrific for a number of reasons. They allow you to grill (on open flames outdoors or on your stove) smaller foods that would fall through the grate, keep foods prone to burning away from the open flame, ...

Despite all the work involved, there’s something appealing about throwing a dinner party. Whether your dinner party in question is likely to be more jeans and joking than tuxedos and martinis, who doesn’t want to impress their friends with a beautiful spread of amazing food? To ensure that your dinner party, whether formal or casual, goes off without a hitch, make sure you have the kitchen gear you need to properly execute dinner party prep work. The following is a selection of some of the culinary equipment that can help. A Zwilling Smart Ridge Chef’s Knife For chefs, their knives are as close to sacred as anything in the kitchen can be. They are the most important tool for pre-cooking prep work and are treated with the reverence their importance earns them. The most important of these knives are the chef knives (not to be confused with the chef’s knives collectively). A chef’s knife is generally 8-10 inches long and is used for most of the preparatory cutting, ch...

A great Japanese santoku knife is like a copper cookware set   — it’s not like terrific cooking can’t be done without one, they just make cooking that much better, easier, and more professional. Santoku knives have become as popular as they are because they’re perfect for making thinner, precise cuts of meat, fish, and vegetables. They are also known for world-renowned craftsmanship. The 7-inch santoku from the Miyabi Artisan 10 Piece Knife Block Set is the example that will be focused on here as it’s a blend of traditional, artisanal Japanese knife-making and modern material and technology. The Japanese Santoku Blade-Forging Process There are three famous, historical centers of bladesmithing in the Western world: Toledo, Spain; Sheffield, UK; and likely the most distinguished, Solingen, Germany—The City of Blades. For the Eastern world, there’s just one—Seki, Japan—where blades have been forged for samurai for generations. Miyabi’s knives are hand-forged in Sek...

Chefs may not agree on whether a santoku or a chef’s knife is preferable for cutting beef, or whether Wusthof knives or Miyabi knives hold a better edge. But you’d be hard-pressed to find one of them that didn’t passionately extol the virtue of good tools and lovingly describe the virtues of their knives. Part of the reason for both those disagreements and their loyalty to their knives is the sheer variety of extremely high-quality kitchen knives available and the innovations continually improving them. So, if you’re passionate about cooking, take a look at the following innovations in culinary cutlery and consider choosing one, or more, to begin or improve your own set of cherished knives. Respect the Ridge For much of the culinary community, the seemingly-simple innovation brought by the Zwilling J.A. Henckels Pro 8-inch Smart Ridge Chef’s Knife sparked a collective “Why hasn’t anyone thought of that before?” As the name suggests, that innovation is a ridge in t...

It’s tempting to buy fancy kitchen tools and novel accessories, but when it comes to setting up your very first kitchen, it’s best to stick with the basics and first purchase long-lasting, high-quality, reliable essentials. Once you have all your essential tools dialed in, then is the time to go about expanding your collection to include a milkshake maker and a sous vide cooker, and so much more. For now, let’s look at 10 must-have kitchen items that you need for your culinary creativity to flourish. Chef’s Knife If you only use one knife, choose a perfect chef’s knife that fits you like a glove. It’s designed to perform many different tasks, including mincing, slicing, and chopping. A premium-quality chef’s knife can handle everything from garlic to veggies to large cuts of beef with ease. Cookware Set An excellent cookware set is both versatile and durable without compromising on style. When you already have the essential cookware pieces, then buying others ...

Congrats to all of the happy couples out there getting married this year! You probably fall into one of two categories when it comes to wedding gift registries: You’re excited and know exactly what you want on your registry. You’re overwhelmed and indecisive about choosing the right things.   Whichever category you fall into, every couple needs essential items for the kitchen. So, whether you are currently customizing your wedding registry or buying a wedding gift for someone else, here are seven kitchen items that are bound to get a lot of use in the years to come.   High-Quality Knife Set    Great knives are essential tools in a proper kitchen. If you go with a knife set, choose one from a premium and well-known brand, especially for couples who love to cook together. At the very least, the kitchen needs a three-piece set—including a paring knife, cook’s knife, and carving knife—such as a Wusthof knife set . You’ll want to expand your col...