Last Wednesday, I hopped on a double decker Megabus and rode to New York in order to learn about knives. Many months ago, I’d gotten an email inviting me to visit Korin, a specialty shop that sells Japanese knives and tableware and finally the day had arrived for my trip. As a fan of good kitchen knives, I was incredibly excited to learn a little more about the breadth of knives available out there.
Located downtown near City Hall, Korin has been in the business of knives and tableware for 30 years. A family operation, the store was initially open only by appointment to the restaurant trade (they currently work with the likes of Nobu, Grammercy Tavern and Per Se) but in recent years, the shop has been open daily to the public as well.
In addition to selling an incredibly vast array of knives and tableware, they also offer sharpening services using a variety of Japanese water stones. They can sharpen and repair nearly any type or style of knife, save those with a serrated edge.
Having seen what they were able to do with some of my more beat-up knives, I am a true believer as to what a good sharpening can do. There is no one that I know of in Philadelphia producing this level of edge quality. Happily, you can mail your knives to Korin should you not live near enough to drop in for sharpening.
Korin sells Western-style knives, traditional Japanese knives and a Japanese-Western hybrid. The difference between these knives is in the edge. Western edges are sharpened so that they have a symmetrical edge. This offers a blade that is fairly durable and relatively easy to maintain. Japanese knives are traditionally sharpened on just one side of the knife. This makes for an incredibly sharp edge, but not as easy for the home cook to maintain.
Then there’s the hybrid knife. Made of thin, high-grade steel, the edge is sharpened to an asymmetrical edge that leads to a sharper, more durable blade. The only issue with selecting a knife with an asymmetrical edge is if you have multiple cooks in your household who have different dominant hands. These knives are sharpened differently for righties and lefties. Just something to keep in mind.
One of the things that my hosts stressed when showing me through the knives was the fact that in Japanese culinary culture, there are different knives for different tasks. The giant knife with the extended blade in this picture? It is designed for cutting soba noodles. Thicker blades are designated for butchering, while thinner ones are for making more precision cut. Blade shapes also vary depending on region and maker.
One blade that I fell particularly in love with while visiting Korin was the Petty knife. It’s seen as an analog to the paring knife, as it’s both light and highly maneuverable. However, as you can see (it’s pictured below), it’s got a longer blade that you typically find on a Western paring knife. Since introducing it to my kitchen a week ago, it’s rapidly become my favorite knife for quick tasks like slicing up an apple.
If you’re a knife nerd like me, make sure to visit Korin the next time you’re in New York!
Love Santoku knives! And old wood spoons and cutting boards.
My favorite kitchen tool is my immersion blender–we use it at least once a day, every day.
Favorite kitchen tool is such a hard question, but I think I’ll say that today, it is my immersion blender. I adore being able to whip up some mayonnaise in under 3 minutes, start to finish!
I think this Wusthof 14cm Santoku knife is my favorite. After using these amazing knives, I will never go back to anything else!
http://www.wusthof.com/desktopdefault.aspx/52_view-121/categories-121/wlang-2/tabid-75/105_read-946/categories-210
I can’t live without a sharp knife! It’s the first thing I purchased when I moved out of my parent’s house.
My favorite kitchen tool is my kuntz spoon. from working the line, to plating, opening lobsters, and just straight all around fun!!!
My chef’s knife is my favorite kitchen tool. This petty knife could displace it. Watch out chef’s knife!
I can’t imagine life without my kitchen aid mixer. But honestly? My apple peeler. Coolest kitchen gadget ever!
I love my immersion blender with all my heart. Milk (I use almond milk) + 1 Avocado + 1Tbsp sugar = Amazing.
My KitchenAid stand mixer – I coveted one for years before finally being blessed with the gift of one.
My favorite tool has got to be my bright red KitchenAid mixer, I probably use it almost every day. What a great wedding gift (almost 10 years ago)!
I married a Japanese man and lived in Japan for 13 years. While there, I learned to LOVE a good knife. My chef’s knife is still my absolute favorite kitchen tool. I take it with me when I go help friends or family cook, even take it camping! Hubby-san keeps it nice and sharp for me. 🙂
I would have to say that I love my new Kitchenaid. I got it just in time for holiday baking!!
i love my silpat! so much!
love my paring knife from cutco could always use a knife
these days my mandoline is getting a lot of use. just gotta watch that thumb!
My Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker. It’s so versatile. I make my own stocks in an hour and my husband makes the best saffron rice in under 20 minutes. Oh yeah, we can in it, too!
I do love good knives, but aside from the knives and a proper cutting board, I love my spatula that has a sturdy wooden handle, so it serves as both a mixing spoon and a bowl scraper. I stands up to even the stiffest yeast bread doughs.
I love my microplane- or rather I love the smell of nutmeg running over the tiny blades. And parm…. and citrus zest….Yum.
definitely my kitchen aid mixer, or my pink chopping knife that my boyfriend got me for christmas. much higher quality than the cheapo knife set i bought at fred meyers, and PINK!!
Funny enough a really nice paring knife is my favorite tool. Followed closely by a good spatula. Those knives are gorgeous.
I am in love with my blender. It’s burly and hasn’t failed me yet. Everything it pulverizes is so delicious.
I like my food processor. I don’t use it much for regular cooking, but I do for a lot of fun cooking, which is probably why I like it so much. I wish I had a decent knife! When I moved out on my own last year I could only afford Big Lots knives and I’ve still got ’em.
My 8″ chef’s knife. I use it constantly!
I love my cast iron skillet!!
one of our favorite tools is actually a tennis ball that’s been split down the rubber line going around it. the two halves make for great jar-opener lid-gripper things!
I love my giant wooden cutting board. I can cut multiple veggies and just push them to the back while I cut another one. It has so much room!
I have to pick just one? I think knives are among my favorite kitchen tools because I use them so often! Looks like you had an amazing shopping experience! Thanks for sharing!
My favourite kitchen tool is my microplane. I use it regularly for parmesan cheese and grating citrus. Actually, I use it so much it seems dull. Not sure if that’s possible. But, I may buy a new one.
Right now my favorite kitchen tool is my husband’s immersion blender. Once I decided to actually try it out, I was amazed at the ease of using it. My very reliable 30 year old blender is now gathering dust.
I love my different sized ice cream scoops. So versitile! After my mom died, my dad went with one bigger gift for each of us. I got a piece of Lennox for years, and my sister got good knives(at my suggestion!) I live in a cabin in the middle of the woods and NEVER use my dishes, and she uses her knives every single day! I really wish he had given me knives, too!
My big chopping knife wins by a long shot! I actually quite desperately need a small knife though, the big knife just can’t do jobs like slicing rind off citrus.
I love my Vita-Mix!
Knife are the best kitchen tool. Although they might not be the biggest multitaskers, they are the most used tool in my kitchen. The knives at korin are works of art, and I get chills when looking at their collection.
I have two favorite tools. My chef knife and a whisk. I take them with me when we have family gatherings.
Hmm, I don’t know, I think my favorite kitchen tool would be my 2.5 inch chicago metallic pairing knife, I use it for just about everything
I’m not sure if this counts as a tool, but I love my JennAir range. I splurged on it and am so glad I did.
I would have to say the two that the good lord blessed with with. Nothing like kneading bread or work pie crust or working through those choc. chips into the cookie dough. And of course I have a few others but can’t beat those hands.
It is probably be my KitchenAid mixer, but my Silpat and cookbook holder are close behind! So useful, if not glamorous – well, mixer is orange, so that is a bit of flash, anyways.
I love my 10 inch shun chef knife.
Tongs are my favorite tool. When I started using tongs the way I cook changed.
I’ll be a non-techy here: the wooden spoon my father-in-law carved for us. I use it almost daily.
I love my food processer!
What an exciting trip! Thanks for sharing!
In my kitchen, I do not know how I ever managed in my kitchen before my immersion blender! (before, I did a lot of cleaning a traditional blender, or choosing another dish to make, but I truly do NOT want to go back to that!!)
Actually, I love my tongs. I use them for cooking, tossing salads, retrieving things from high shelves, etc!
currently, my favourite kitchen tool is my microplane. There was a sale on lemons at my market a few weeks ago, so HELLO LIMONCELLO. Also, hurry up, spring.
My kitchenaid mixer is my fave tool by far. But that is only because I have never been able to justify a fabulous knife!!!
It took me a long time to find the right peeler. Am now happy with my Kuhn.
I am mad-crazy in love with my kitchenaid mixer. I waited and waited and waited to get one until just a few months ago, and I’m sorry that I did, because I really, really love it.
My most used, hence favorite, would be my wooden spatula. But, a new knife would definitely be my new favorite kitchen utensil!!!