Knifes, Towels, and more.....

[Triathlon13]

HI!

I need some ideas and this is the perfect place to get it. I am moving and want to update a few things for my great new place.

I have a great chefs knife, but my other knifes are "so-so"-I want a nice paring knife-what brand do you recommend? Also, what other types of knifes are faves and which ones do you use the most (and brands). Do you sharpen your own or have someone do it? I'd like to do it myself, but I don't want to ruin the knives either.

Also, I am looking for cute dish towels for the kitchen and can't seem to find any-if you know of any send me the links:^)... We have a dark wood kitchen with dark granite counter top and stainless steel appliances-so I'd like light most likely flowery or such towels. And my bf is Italian so any good Italian decorations or items would be awesome-send some ideas our way!

What other kitchen items are needed for a brand new kitchen.... we are getting a magnetic knife strip, I have a season rack and food processor-I am going to get a toaster oven - probably the Cuisinart 195 TOC (or something like that) if you have one you like better send it along. We are also going with sort of a Red these-love red! Any ideas for pretty items in red?

Basically any great ideas you all have-I'd love. We are super excited and can't wait to be all set up!!!!

Thanks so much!!!! :D

[Natasha]

Hi Michelle,

We have a few Grohmann knives and a set of Paderno knives and are very happy with all of them. I know knives are so subjective, though, so you may not find the same. We held and looked at quite a few before buying them.

http://www.grohmannknives.com/index2.html
http://www.paderno.com/

Good luck!

[Jessica]

Crate and Barrel always has cute dish towel and cloth sets in their catalogs. I have some older dish cloths from C&B and they've held up well.

[Canice]

When I replaced my paring knife I chose to go with this fluting knife from Wusthof instead. It fits perfectly in my hand, and the blade is small but substantial, and precise. It's great for tasks like hulling strawberries, trimming radishes, peeling garlic, or any trimming done in hand.



http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii116/canicef/d343ebcea2a3e629f6eda7893e7d7de7.jpg

[jmarie]

Not sure what you are looking for in dish towels....I have fiesta dishes and so last year I hunted for bright plaids in oranges and greens....but I can't remember where all I found them.:o This website has a lot of bright colored dish towels.
http://www.thefind.com/kitchen/info-plaid-towels

I found some really nice cotton dishrags at Cracker Barrel.

I purchased Breville® The Smart Oven™ Convection Toaster Oven...love it!

Isn't planning a new kitchen so much fun? I hope that you get lots of fun ideas!

[Andrea_2]

When I replaced my paring knife I chose to go with this fluting knife from Wusthof instead. It fits perfectly in my hand, and the blade is small but substantial, and precise. It's great for tasks like hulling strawberries, trimming radishes, peeling garlic, or any trimming done in hand.



http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii116/canicef/d343ebcea2a3e629f6eda7893e7d7de7.jpg

I had this same knife, and I really liked it! I need to buy a new one though, because mine did not survive my husband's attempt to use it as an oyster shucker. :rolleyes:

[Canice]

I had this same knife, and I really liked it! I need to buy a new one though, because mine did not survive my husband's attempt to use it as an oyster shucker. :rolleyes:

Ack! :eek:
I recently bought one as a gift, and the recipient loved it (even if he did call it a "prison knife"). I prefer to buy my knives from a little independently owned knife shop but they were out of this one, so I was able to buy it guilt-free online for about $40.

[jmarie]

Oh, and I use JA Henckels 5 star knives. I love the way they feel in my hand. My husband sharpens them for me, thank goodness...Like you, I am afraid I will ruin the blades.... Besides, he has always sharpened his hunting knives.

[jabelt]

I've got quite a few of the higher end brands of knives (and they are great!!), but I must say that I love, love, love Rada knives, especially if you are on a budget.

I first got a tomato knife as a gift a few years ago. My MIL picked it up shopping in a small tourist town in Vermont. I would have sworn it cost a fortune, but when I ran across them this summer at a flea market in Florida, I couldn't believe how cheap they were. I also have a chefs knife that is wonderful! Highly recommended!!!

[Peweh]

I have Wusthof knives and love them but they're in dire need of re-sharpening by a Professional as I haven't kept up with periodic honing.

Since you're in Boston, if you like vintage kitchen items I'll shamelessly plug my shop in Pembroke, you can check it out at www.salvagechicantiques.com. The website features predominantly furniture but we have TONS of kitchen items for the retro/vintage fan, including linens/dishcloths.
Happy Browsing!

Christine

[Robyn1007]

I was at Anthropologie tonight and they had some nice looking towels.

[Canice]

I have Wusthof knives and love them but they're in dire need of re-sharpening by a Professional as I haven't kept up with periodic honing.

Sorry to flog a dead horse, but honing doesn't replace sharpening.
I shamelessly refuse to hone because, because...I've seen how useless I am at it (I am notoriously uncoordinated!). So I just use until I feel the need to have them sharpened and leave it to the professionals to fix my bad habits :rolleyes: .

[Peweh]

Sorry to flog a dead horse, but honing doesn't replace sharpening.
I shamelessly refuse to hone because, because...I've seen how useless I am at it (I am notoriously uncoordinated!). So I just use until I feel the need to have them sharpened and leave it to the professionals to fix my bad habits :rolleyes: .
Hi Canice, wasn't trying to imply honing replaces sharpening, just trying to underscore why mine are in DIRE need of professional sharpening. I think honing correctly can ward off sharpening a bit.

[Canice]

Gotcha. Actually, we were probably saying the same thing, given my aversion to honing :p