larry_stewart
Master Chef
Each year, at the end of the summer, we rent a condo in Vermont to get away from it all. Its not an all inclusive vacation, so we do our own cooking ( which doesnt bother me at all because I love to cook. But, the problem is the kitchen is fully stocked with the basics.
I never realized how important my knives were to me, until I tried to cut up a potato with the crappy knife provided. I always heard that a cheap knife was more dangerous than a sharp expensive knife. Having my share of incidents with sharp expensive knives, I took this info with a grain of salt. But after this experience, I would have been more successful sharpening a stone , like the Indians, and trying to cook with that. First off, it wasnt sharp at all, so I had to use excessive pressure just to cut through the potato. With all this excessive pressure, the knife blade would actually flex, causing my cuts to be inconsistent and embarrassingly as if it were cut by a child ( inconsistent in size, shape, thickness). Im surprised I didnt cause injury to myself attempting to cut through the potato. Finally, the handle of the knife was like one of those things that were made to fit everyones hand but actually fit no ones hand, causing me to develop blisters.
Anyway, this is just me venting. My knives arent the greatest in the world, but they definitely allow me to appreciate the good from the bad and ugly. Also, I dont expect someone who is renting out their condo to provide exceptional cookware ( although, I know Jacques Pepin rents out his condo in Mexico, and Id be curious to see what that kitchen is like). With all this said, next year my knives are making the trip with me !! Anytime I go to my moms, and she expects me to help out with the cooking, I always bring my knives. Does anyone else travel with their knives when they know they will be doing some cooking elsewhere ???
I never realized how important my knives were to me, until I tried to cut up a potato with the crappy knife provided. I always heard that a cheap knife was more dangerous than a sharp expensive knife. Having my share of incidents with sharp expensive knives, I took this info with a grain of salt. But after this experience, I would have been more successful sharpening a stone , like the Indians, and trying to cook with that. First off, it wasnt sharp at all, so I had to use excessive pressure just to cut through the potato. With all this excessive pressure, the knife blade would actually flex, causing my cuts to be inconsistent and embarrassingly as if it were cut by a child ( inconsistent in size, shape, thickness). Im surprised I didnt cause injury to myself attempting to cut through the potato. Finally, the handle of the knife was like one of those things that were made to fit everyones hand but actually fit no ones hand, causing me to develop blisters.
Anyway, this is just me venting. My knives arent the greatest in the world, but they definitely allow me to appreciate the good from the bad and ugly. Also, I dont expect someone who is renting out their condo to provide exceptional cookware ( although, I know Jacques Pepin rents out his condo in Mexico, and Id be curious to see what that kitchen is like). With all this said, next year my knives are making the trip with me !! Anytime I go to my moms, and she expects me to help out with the cooking, I always bring my knives. Does anyone else travel with their knives when they know they will be doing some cooking elsewhere ???