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| - BOTTOM LINE: Regardless of your inclinations towards cooking, sharp objects or DEXTER, there's a good chance you'll find what you're looking for here!
I've been thinking about purchasing a well-made Japanese knife for a while but it wasn't until I serendipitously walked into Knife's second-year anniversary sale did I finally take the plunge, so to speak.
You're greeted by rows and rows of shiny knives lining 3 of the 4 walls when you enter that illicited in me a visceral reaction of awe, excitement and intimidation. Not knowing what I really wanted or needed, Eugene (the owner) was approachable and matter-of-fact in helping me narrow down my choices. He was also happy to answer random questions about knife care, chopping boards, food preparation, etc.. He holds knife sharpening classes a few times a year and can also sharpen yours for $12. Your first sharpening is free if you purchased a knife from him!
I ended up narrowing my choices to a 7-inch Santoku or Gyutô. While Santokus seem to be all the rage these days, I preferred the curved tip of the Gyutô that allows for a more rocking motion to your cutting. Most importantly though, I ended up picking up the blade that just felt "right" in my hands - this happened to be the 7-inch MCUSTA Hammered Damascus Gyutô (http://www.zanmai-japan.com/products/zanmai_hammeredripple.html). The balance and weight is just right, the craftsmenship is superlative, and it just plain looks bad-ass. :)
I've had a few weeks to test out my Gyutô now and it's been an absolute joy! Onions - cuts through it like butter. Tomatoes - cuts through it like butter. Wild boar sausages - cuts through it like butter. Butter...you get the idea! Whether you're in the market to upgrade your kitchen knives or just curious to see what's out there, Knife's a pretty good place to start.
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