Never a Dull Moment: How the Pros keep their Knives Sharp

For this article, CTBites spoke with many of Fairfield County’s top chefs, butchers, and professional knife sharpeners. These pros were very blunt about the knives used in most home kitchens: they are dull.  Especial fancy “trophy-ware.”  

“A cook with a dull knife,” suggests Fairway’s top butcher Ray Venezia, “is like a sharpshooter with a water pistol.”  

Much like a gun slinger out of the Old West, this modern-day Paladin has Knives and Will Travel.  He carries his complete cutting arsenal in a sleek case … but all that's inside are just two gleaming Victorinox Forshner rosewood knives -- a 6" boning blade and a 12" cemeter –  a steel and whetstone. 

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HUGE WUSTHOF Inventory Sale in Norwalk

For cooks and home cooks looking for great deals on fine cutlery, the Wüsthof Outlet in Norwalk is having their bi-annual inventory sale, from Thursday, March 22 to Saturday March 24.  You’ll find knives, knife sets, and accessories. 

At last Fall’s sale, I fell for the Culinar line of stainless steel handled knives – basically forged from a single piece of steel – as beautiful as they are high-quality.   

Be careful while checking things out.  Despite a dozen signs warning customers to be careful amongst the hundreds of sharp knives, I, of course, speared myself and had to deftly pay with a single hand while keeping a sliced finger in my pocket, rather than bringing embarrassment upon myself, in the store. 

Selection was great in the Fall (if you’ve never been to the outlet, it’s worth a stop under any circumstance).  Regular discounts on the store models, overstocks, and discontinued models are 40% to 70% - with an extra 20% for the sale. 

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Great Gear: Navigating The Cook’s Nook

The Cook’s Nook in Norwalk couldn’t be more aptly named. Twisting through its adjoining rooms, filled to capacity, brings you from one alcove and surprising find to another. As you step into the door, you are faced with a navigation decision: the room straight ahead or to the right? It’s not the last time you’re made to choose, but take heart, there are no bad choices here.  Like being lost in the streets of Paris, winding your way from one enchanting street to the next, your shopping experience is more adventure than errand.

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Shout Out: What's Your Most Essential Kitchen Gadget?

Whether you're a chef or a home cook, I'm sure you have an arsenal of kitchen tools and gadgets you simply can't live without.  Alton Brown favors multi-taskers. Some favor a broader approach of single use gadgets (my favorite being the cherry pitter).

What is the one kitchen gadget you can't live without?  

We've posted some of our favorites over in our Gadget Guru section, but we want to hear from you.

Post your comment below!