Buying a decent chef's knife?

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:41 am

Is there anywhere on STJ where you can buy a decent 8" chef's knife? I'm not talking a Wusthof stainless steel knife, more like a Farberware or Chicago Cutlery with a high carbon steel blade and a wooden or plastic handle. These guys are normally cheap, like $10 to $15. We checked St. John Hardware in August, but not Paradise.

Pet peeve - bad knives at villas. Bad serrated knives that cannot be sharpened. The last three places we stayed had this horrible anti-feature. If villa owners provided a simple knife block with a steel and a sharpening stone than I would be happy.

Cheers, RickG

Wakey · Post by **Wakey** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:49 am

I feel your pain on bad knives. I always bring this.

http://www.amazon.com/Chefs-Choice-2-St ... B00075M2AY

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:57 am

Wakey, I bring a good water stone for sharpening. No joy on serrated knives!

Cheers, RickG

Diana2 · Post by **Diana2** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:02 pm

That's another reason that I can't do carry-on. I always bring knives because I really can't cook in a kitchen without decent knives. Even though my DH always brings a sharpening stone I've learned that I absolutely MUST bring at least 3 good knives or I'll be in a bad mood everyday that I'm there. (not good

) Good luck.

Post by **Anthony** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:37 pm

The knives in self catering apts. and villas are routinely a disappointment - why do you think that is? Definitely a pet peeve of mine too.

benchill · Post by **benchill** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 1:27 pm

Hi Anthony,

From experience, here goes....in order of events:

1. Buy nice Henckels block of knives.

2. Put on counter in villa.

3. Return next month to find 3 steak knives missing.

4 Return following month and find guests used chef knife for screwdriver.

5. Return next month to find property manager threw out block and remaining knives, due to guest complaints, and replaced with $27 serrated set from Cost-u-Less.

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 1:37 pm

Oh gosh, Chills, I believe that's exactly the way it goes! This seems like a natural, for Ruth to stock at St. John spice! Whaddya think, Ruth? I'll bet the foodies that come in for their spice fix would love to buy a good sharp Chef's knife.
That's also the reason we can't carry on. Knives.

Diana2 · Post by **Diana2** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 1:41 pm

I think you're pretty close to correct, benchill. I've been going to STJ for about 20 years now and have only been to 3 villas that had good knives and only one of them had relatively sharp ones at that. I know that if I owned a house down there I'd have my block locked away or they surely would disappear. The last house we rented in June had only 4 teaspoons in the whole house!! Now why in the world would anyone take teaspoons?? It blows my mind!!

benchill · Post by **benchill** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 1:43 pm

I really think guests pack a cooler for the beach and take a knife or cutlery to use for their picnic. Do that often enough and some get lost. I am sure I have been guilty of it before.

Post by **Anthony** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 1:49 pm

That sounds about right I guess

You just have to make sure to stock a nice screwdriver set too!!! (Am I alienating the membership today or what!)

benchill wrote:Hi Anthony,

From experience, here goes....in order of events:

1. Buy nice Henckels block of knives.

2. Put on counter in villa.

3. Return next month to find 3 steak knives missing.

4 Return following month and find guests used chef knife for screwdriver.

5. Return next month to find property manager threw out block and remaining knives, due to guest complaints, and replaced with $27 serrated set from Cost-u-Less.

augie · Post by **augie** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:18 pm

Wacky money raising venture that can be used to contribute to the "Move to STJ and make enough $$$ to stay alive fund" #2462 - Open a gourmet cookware/cutlery rental store to cater to foodie villa renters...

SoulvilleUSA · Post by **SoulvilleUSA** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:29 pm

I used to often rent a cabin in the mountains and turned some of my friends onto it. We started hiding things in the cabin (good soaps and shampoos and toothpastes in the water heater closet, dish soap behind the crisper bottom drawer in the fridge...etc.)
My donation to the cause was very clever, I thought. I bought a couple of strip magnets and mounted them to the bottom of the over the stove cabinets and slapped a few of my older knives up there... you can't see them, but they are perfectly handy when you need them... and only we knew they were there. I haven't been to the cabin in a few years, but a friend has and says everything is still there... has worked for over 10 years now. I too am a knife snob...all our flatware is even henkels... you can cut steak with our butter knife.

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 4:07 pm

Hey Rick - send me your fav knife and I will keep it for you - trust me it will go unused as you know I don't cook (but I gues that will change at the completion of the remodel.....maybe

)

Pia

crasherino · Post by **crasherino** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 4:22 pm

Pia wrote:Hey Rick - send me your fav knife and I will keep it for you - trust me it will go unused as you know I don't cook (but I gues that will change at the completion of the remodel.....maybe )

Pia

You may have just found a new source of income. All you need is a small shed and you can store folks STJ essentials for the low, low cost of $50 per year for a decent size box. Much easier and cost effective than shipping it too.

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 4:50 pm

I'm in

We already store 2 torpedos and batteries (used when they dive) for some friends that we sold a Westin Timeshare to - no charge but maybe we should rethink that

We do have a large area available for storage (well large for STJ), so forumites, let me know if "Pia's Yearly Storage" should open for business

Pia

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Buying a decent chef's knife?

Buying a decent chef's knife?