• Last updated 2/16/10 by JackBlack

Every Cook Needs a Good KnifeKitchen gadgets are supposed to make our busy lives simpler but there are still only two really essential pieces of equipment a cook needs (other than a heat source, of course): a good pan and a high-quality chef's knife. The knife, though, is really most important; there is no other tool in the kitchen that is as useful as the chef's knife.  Sure, other things may look good on a shelf, but all the chrome-plated garlic presses, cobalt blue mixers, and three-speed immersion blenders combined do not compare with the importance of the humble... read more

• Last updated 2/16/10 by ckoetke

Part II Basics with the chef knifeMost chefs would probably agree that the chef knife is their most important weapon in the arsenal of kitchen tools. It is the professional chef's constant companion, a reliable side-kick. Aside from basic workhorse cutting, the chef knife is an extremely versatile knife capable of performing a wide range of different jobs. The chef knife can cut very delicate items as well as break small bones by using different ends of the blade. It can also dice, mince, or if necessary, reduce something to a virtual puree. I have even seen chefs in... read more

• Last updated 2/16/10 by ckoetke

Part I Basics with the chef knifeI teach a lot of cooking classes. Without fail, at some point early on in the class, the following scenario transpires: I pick up my chef knife and mindlessly chop something. Maybe I just roughly chop up some vegetables or possibly reduce an onion to a finely minced mass. I have been doing it for years. . The knife feels comfortably familiar in my hand. My chef knife and I are and have been good friends for a long time. My left hand works in rhythm with the knife as it guides each cut. It's no big deal. Or is it? As I am chopping, the... read more

• Last updated 2/16/10 by ckoetke

In our last class session, we discussed the importance of knives and learned how to judge the quality of a knife. In this class we will look at which knives any well-organized kitchen should have, and how to keep them sharp. A trip to a cooking store will reveal a wide array of different knives. They vary in length, thickness and function. While each knife is valuable, I consider the following 5 knives essential tools for any serious cooking: Chef knife-This is the workhorse knife that chefs reach for the most often, and for that reason it is the most important knife... read more

• Last updated 2/16/10 by ckoetke

The most important tool on the kitchen? Even though chefs disagree about almost everything, most, if not all would agree that knives are the most important tool. Without their knives--their own personal knives--chefs would not perform as well as they do. It's like a professional musician who intimately knows how his or her own particular instrument plays. Knives are the one thing in the kitchen that are absolutely worth spending the money on. A good knife will last decades and may even be passed down to the next generation. But how do you know which knives are the best?... read more

• Last updated 2/16/10 by ckoetke

Chefs get asked all kinds of questions. Recently, I received the following question: "Dear Chef Christopher-- I dream of being a great cook. What equipment should I have in my kitchen so that I can fulfill my dream? I want everything I need to be a great cook." For those who aspire to be the best cook they can be, having the proper kitchen equipment is paramount to maximizing success and limiting the frustration (you know, the kind you get when trying to whip egg whites with a fork and a small plastic bowl, or roast a turkey in a flimsy pan that's plainly too small--all... read more