Japanese Cutlery - Centuries in the Making

People are always asking me what knives I use in the kitchen. As a professional chef for over a decade I have tried out all sorts of styles, sizes and materials of cutlery . I have used German manufactured knives, as well as French and Japanese knives. I have grown a fondness towards Japanese cutlery due to the fact that they have been making knives/swords for centuries and have pretty much perfected the art.


Japanese knives use only the highest quality materials to produce the sharpest and most durable knives available on the market today. I can talk about all the different manufacturers that create their own unique style of knives and the latest technology that go into each knife until you beg me to stop. I will not bore you with all the minute details. My point of all of this is that you need to understand the basics before you purchase your new knives.

The knives that I sell on my site (http://www.thechefstableathome.com/) were tested by me in a professional kitchen to ensure that I would be able to give my customers the information they needed to make their purchasing decision.

I might as well start out with the Rolls Royce of knives, the Haiku Pro Carbon knives. The Haiku Pro Carbon Knives (http://www.thechefstableathome.com/ProductList.aspx?hd=118) are incredibly sharp and durable, but also require the most attention for upkeep. Each Haiku Pro Carbon knife is handmade in the same traditon as Samurai swords were made centuries ago. The benefits of Carbon steel is that it creates an extremely hard and durable knife that keeps only the sharpest edge. Our Haiku Pro Carbon knives are given an anti rust treatment and then wrapped with an anti rust paper. The Pro Carbon knives will begin to rust if you don't take care of them after each use. Your Pro Carbon Knife will last you a lifetime if you take care of them you should never wash your Pro Carbon knives in the dishwasher to ensure the integrity of the blade. These knives make a great gift for those who appreciate the finer things in life or for the professional chef who needs (or wants) it all.

My choice of cutlery for the everyday chef and home cook is the Chroma Type 301(http://www.thechefstableathome.com/ProductList.aspx?hd=2) knife collection designed by F.A. Porsche ( yes the same guy who designed the cars). This collection is truly like the Porsche cars, with their perfect balance and a beautiful contemporary style. Produced from a single piece of Type 301 steel, this sleek design offers the user great control, balance and feel. Type 301 steel is considered one of the highest quality Japanese steels available. You will instantly fall in love with these knives. I highly recommend the Chroma Type 301 knives over the more well known Global knives. Chroma knives are better balanced and have a more ergonomic handle that leaves you with a more natural fit in your hand giving you more overall control of the knife.

If you are looking for a more traditional style Japanese knife then I would recommend the Haiku or Haiku Damascus knife collection (http://www.thechefstableathome.com/ProductList.aspx?hd=47). These knives are known for their simplistic design and overall function. The Honoki wood handles form to the users hand over extensive use which gives a true custom fit allowing for increased comfort and control. Haiku Damascus knives are 33 layers of stainless steel, only center layer acts as the cutting edge. The layers of the Haiku Damascus knives are repeatedly folded together with different types of stainless steel forge welding until you have 16 thin alternating layers. This allows for an exceptionally sharp edge.

Like I said before I could continue down this path for ever. There are a lot of choices to make when decide to buy a knife. I am here to answer all of your questions to provide the information you need to make the right choice.

Please check out the website (http://www.thechefstableathome.com/) or call me at 1-866-709-2433