A couple of years ago, I got an email from the folks at New West KnifeWorks, asking if I’d be interested in trying out a couple of their knives. Because I’m always on the look-out for the perfect kitchen knife, I said yes. They sent me a chef’s knife and a paring knife from their original Fusionwood line.
Over time, I found that while I really liked the paring knife, the chef’s knife felt a little clunky in my hand. That had, in large part, to do with the blade. It was really heavy and thick. I found that while it was great for whacking through dense things, but it was just too darn hefty for daily chopping.
Recently, I heard from New West KnifeWorks again. They were writing to say that they’ve redesigned their knives to use a “super steel*” that allows the blades to be both thinner and stronger than the previous version and would I be interested in trying one out. I said yes again (I can’t resist kitchenware).
The Fusionwood 2.0 eight-inch chef’s knife arrived a couple weeks back now and it has rapidly become one of my favorite things in my kitchen. That gorgeous grip feels quite natural in my hand, the blade is much lighter and appears to be holding its edge quite well. I’ve been using it everyday and I’m not noticing a diminishment in performance as of yet.
I also really like the shape of the blade. It’s a little narrower than traditional for a chef’s knife and I’m find that to be a positive feature. When chopping dense vegetables like carrots and potatoes, the pieces fall off the blade easily instead of clinging to its surface. A very useful thing as we head into the season of root vegetables and holiday cooking.
I also like the fact that New West KnifeWorks strives to be a conscientious company. Their knives are made in Wyoming and the factory is run on power generated by their own hydropower plant. What’s more, all the knives have a lifetime guarantee for non-commercial use. If you’re unhappy with it, they will replace it. And, if you break a knife through mistreatment (though I can’t imagine any of you responsible Food in Jars readers doing such a thing), they will replace it at half price. In these days disposal everything, it’s truly lovely to see a company making good stuff and standing by.
New West KnifeWorks has given me a second Fusionwood 2.0 eight-inch chef’s knife to giveaway to one of my readers. Here’s what to do to enter:
- Leave a comment on this post. Tell me one thing you’re doing this week to get ready for Thanksgiving (getting your knives sharpened is always good in preparation for a days of cooking).
- Comments will close at 11:59 pm east coast time on Friday, November 16, 2012. Winner will be chosen at random and will be posted to the blog over the weekend.
- Giveaway open to US residents only.
- One comment per person, please. Entries must be left via the comment form on the blog at the bottom of this post. I do not accept submissions via email.
But wait, there’s more! New West is also giving away a four-piece set of their knives on Facebook. Click here to visit the entry page and throw your hat into the ring for that contest as well!
*The official name is S35VN Powderized Steel.
Plan on a quiet, small, family dinner at home. And trying the cranberry apple jam!
well, we are going to a friend’s house so not much prep work. . .love it that way, actually!
Well, I’ll be looking for the perfect coffee bean…
I’ll be making a coffee bean turkey with sweet onion gravy for Thanksgiving this year! How well can the knife cut coffee beans? 😉
I usually get the salad assignment… looking for a new recipe.
I like to make sure that i have all my recipe’s pulled. I like to double make sure that i have all the ingredients!
Those are gorgeous. Aside from deep cleaning the house, I will be canning cranberry sauce soon to enjoy on Thanksgiving and share with family and friends.
Love the neat design on the handle of that knife.
This week, I’ll probably make a final decision on bird size and get the order placed. Oh, and start cleaing-up the house a bit. 🙂
That’s gorgeous! I want it! I agree that well made items designed to last are such a pleasure.
I’m picking up my turkey at a nearby farm & have been roasting pumpkin seeds like a mad woman for a surprise project.
While grocery shopping the other day my husband reminded me Thanksgiving was a week and a half away and I was cooking the whole meal. We bought thanksgiving groceries! I’m also working on gathering everyone’s favorite recipes so we can have a little bit of something (since cooking at home is a new tradition for my family this year) for every individual to enjoy.
Tell me one thing you’re doing this week to get ready for Thanksgiving:
Making a shopping list! 🙂 Checking pantry………..
I’m trying to get ahead with studying for my nursing exams so I can enjoy the time with my family!
This week I’ll be finalizing our travel arrangements to take our 7 year old son to Disney two days after Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving dinner itself? Haven’t even thought of that yet!
What a gorgeous knife!
I’m still looking for a reasonably priced organic turkey for Thanksgiving, but I do have my supplies for pie. I’ve also been browsing blogs and cookbooks for new recipes to try.
Packing to move into our new home. This knife would look great on my Thanksgiving table!
This week will be making cornbread and letting it dry, getting all the recipes together and then making sure I have all the food bought. Turkey is already purchased….just needs to be “harvested” and picked up next week 🙂
I will be finding a pie or tart recipe that will use up my underripe-now pears.
I’m trying to remember all the things that I love but the rest of my family doesn’t care for, so I can make sure to have a section of the dinner table that’s all for me!
This week I’m practicing deboning chicken in preparation for Thanksgiving turducken.
That is a beautiful handle on that knife! I’d love to add it to my small collection. I won’t be doing much this week in preparation for the holidays (except maybe saving $) but sharpening my knives should probably be added to that list!
I am making out my last minute shopping list as I type this. Mostly produce and perishables but I do need to get my knives sharpened as well. Thanks for the reminder!
We are having a neighborhood Thanksgiving a week early, my job is the dressing so I pick up the oysters tomorrow for a nice Florida oyster dressing.
I cooked the turkey already, we had a regular Thanksgiving meal yesterday. Now I plan to pressure can most of the turkey and cook another.
I’m preparing my new house for the holidays. This year Thanksgivkng is extra special because we’re sharing it with our happy baby boy, Monty. Buying a house and having a baby was a crazy experience! Finally, the dust is settling a bit. I would love this beautiful knife to make this Thanksging extra special and to kick off the holiday joy (…and to help decorate my bare kitchen)!! 🙂
Cheers, Bethany
Iam pressing the tablecloth and making shure I have enouf china and silverwere for the whole family.There will be 16 of us! Yikes.
I’m moving the week after Thanksgiving into my first home! So I’m busy packing and getting ready. I’ll be helping my mom out with Thanksgiving at their place this year.
I’m scouring my cook books and food blogs for recipes!
Made 5 pie crusts on Saturday! They’re chillin’ in the freezer waiting for next week!
That is a pretty knife- function and form all in one!
This week I am working on a framed fabric/quilted tree that we will each write our blessing on (one per person per year) that I hope will become a family heirloom. And in the cooking/food prep world i have just talked my bff into dropping off one of her world famous pecan pies at my house on her way out of town to celebrate with her family. Gotta love the bffs of the world!!
Starting to cook side dishes to freeze for easier preparation.
That is a very nifty knife. To get ready for Thanksgiving I am making cranberry salad and doing some house cleaning.
Gorgeous knife!
I’m busy making menu plans and preparing grocery lists for the big Thanksgiving feast!
I’ll be coordinating with my sisters-in-law on what we’ll each be bringing to the table!
Yes, just ordered the turkey and I just called about getting my knives sharpened. Come to find out thatmy local sharpening place closed up shop. I’m so sad. I will have to find another place and soon. These knives look lovely, thanks for the giveaway.
What a gorgeous knife!! I’m starting with the non-food prep – getting the house cleaned top to bottom, and preparing our small house for overnight guests. The cooking begins next week!
I just finished the one thing I will be doing this week to prepare for Thanksgiving, and that was sending an email to my sisters. We are coordinating efforts to put on the show this year. Everything else Thanksgiving related is going to take place next week. Thanks for the giveaway!
We’re moving this month, so we’re shopping for new dishes to get ready!
I am getting ready for Thanksgiving by creating the menu! I like to send it out to my family before the big day – the get their stomachs ready for great food! I also send out invites on Facebook to the family where we keep each other updated on dinner times/issues and what my family members want to bring for the big day.
I love Thanksgiving!
not much- I’ll be making a pate next week, but my grandparents are buying the dinner this year.
Oh that knife is beautiful. My husband is a knife sharpening fiend so my knives are ALWAYS perfectly sharp. However, I do need to test out that gf df pie crust I made last year and try and tweak it just a bit 🙂
Figuring out what day we’ll actually celebrate Thanksgiving, given everyone’s travel and work schedules!
Pies! They always help me get in the spirit.
Today I’ll be roasting, pureeing, and freezing my pie pumpkins for (obviously) Thanksgiving pie and (more importantly) Christmas day pumpkin ravioli.
We’re flying to celebrate Thanksgiving with family for the first time in 20 years. I’m shipping a half case of wine since I’m limited in what I can bring in carry-on luggage.
Gorgeous knife! Wouldn’t that be a joy to use everyday! We had a trial run “fakesgiving” last night with friends. Very fun, but now I need to prep for the 20 family members who will be joining us for the big feast. Lists is where I am at now!
Deciding on what desserts to make – I’m thinking chocolate cake and something else…
I baked a cake yesterday–pumpkin pear cranberry cake. And since I don’t actually have an oven right now, it was a challenge! We are homesteading and saving up money to build a house (with a kitchen.) For now, I cook out of a little camper and outdoors. We had slices after dinner and the rest was wrapped and frozen for next week. http://homestead101.wordpress.com.
I’m canning my own spiced apple rings for Thanksgiving.
That knife is beautiful! This year I’m actually starting Thanksgiving cooking early (instead of my usual mad-dash to cook everything for 40 people starting on Tuesday morning!) so I’ll be making and freezing pie dough and cranberry sauce.
I’m trying out a new pie recipe that may be the new big hit of Thanksgiving!
Today is round 1 of grocery shopping! Getting all of the things I can done – cranberry sauce, stuffing ingredients…very excited!
I’m prepping my shopping list and getting organized. I always take the day off work before Thanksgiving so I have the house to myself and to clean and start cooking prep. I love the rush of going to the grocery store for that one forgotten item!
Getting ready to pick up the turkey next week that we’ve ordered from a nearby farmer. Can’t wait to drive into my family’s traditional PA Dutch potato filling too! Beats mashed potatoes any day 🙂
Well, what I’m doing to prepare this week is getting myself a ride to Thanksgiving! Not as fun as cooking, though.
Making pickled cranberries- ever since I started reading your blog & got your book & followed links to other preserving blogs, I can’t stop! Also making lists for Christmas baking AND working on my second batch of fruitcake (soaking the fruit in rum) after making a whole batch for my son in Maryland last week. I’m exhausted just reading all of these comments! New knives would perk me right up. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Buy a tofurkey!
I just realized thanksgiving is next week! I guess I will have to start planning for it this weekend!
I made 2 quarts of Turkey Stock over the weekend. Getting ready for gravy and soup! Also making pastry dough and picking up all the non perishable goods this week. Next up – cleaning!
I am a “prepper” so I am not only cooking for Thanksgiving, I am checking and re-checking my supplies and canned food rations. For every meal I make, I will be chopping and storing additional food. Also, this will be the first Thanksgiving since my mother-in-law lost her battle with breast cancer, so everything must be perfect. I have no fear. With my new angel and the right tools on my side, everything is going to be just fine.
I’m pondering what to make to take to a friend’s for the big dinner. Probably pie.
Packing! First time I’m getting to go home for thanksgiving in 10 years!
What a gorgeous knife! I have some knitting needles made out a laminated wood like that. I love things that are both very beautiful and very functional!
I just ordered our fresh turkey… now sitting down to plan the rest of the menu and make up my massive shopping list!
I’m starting my farmers market list for Sudnay’s shopping and trying to decide what dishes I want to take.
Planning what I will bring to our family’s first ever pot luck thanksgiving.
Planning what I will bring to our family’s first ever pot luck thanksgiving.
Sweet potatoes in maple syrup & butter. Yummmmmmmmmmm.
I’m throwing my sons birthday this week and Thanksgiving will be a group family effort.
I’m finalizing our Thanksgiving Day Dinner menu. I love doing this!
Thanks for the giveaway.
Trying out a recipe for Poppy Seed Cookies that I found out about on The Salt Blog.
Going over my shopping list, getting out the holiday china.
I’m finalizing my menu plan and picking up our pastured, fresh turkey on Monday. 🙂
Making pumpkin rolls!
We’re figuring at our final menu. And after reading this post, sharpening our knives!
making the marshmallows ahead of time…
I’m getting together with my sisters to find out which of us will be making what side dish or dessert for the family dinner. I’ve been hunting down recipes, so there is much to choose from!
Choosing and testing out recipes. Vegan and gf thanksgiving is presenting a challenge! 😉
I’m looking for Gluten free recipes to try out for Thanksgiving and planning a menu.
I’m sorting out and organizing the kitchen cupboards so I can find what I need!
I’ve making getting together my grocery list! So excited for the holidays
This knife looks amazing. Thanks for the chance to win one. I am shopping shopping shopping. Planning meals out (we have friends staying with us for a week). I am also making pie filling and cookies to stick in the freezer. Yum!
Cleaning out my pantry, working on the menu and grocery list, and cleaning the guest room!
Menu planning with local friends!
I will be stocking up on all of the ingredients that will be needed for the big Turkey Day! Sweet potato, stuffing, pumpkin pie, oh my!
Besides finishing up my grocery list, I’ve decided to make my gravy ahead & freese it. (Talked about on The Chew last week)
That is one beautiful knife! I’m doing laundry to get ready for Thanksgiving, since we’re traveling. 🙂
I got together with some friends to test new recipes. We had some success 🙂
I’m testing out yummy veggie entrees to make for my vegetarian baby sister next week! our best knife mysteriously disappeared a few weeks ago, and I have really been missing it! this give away has me pretty excited!!
thanks!
L.
stocking up on root veg from our CSA!
I am still menu planning, AHH!!!! We’re keeping it small this year though, so less stress. I would love love this knife, thank you for the opportunity 🙂
I’m not doing anything yet; Thanksgiving isn’t a big deal, but I may make a pie or something.
We are flying out East to be with family, and I cannot wait to get in the kitchen with my Aunt and start cooking up a storm.
Searching the internet for vegan recipes to use the produce still coming out of my garden!
Planning what delicious vegetarian entree to contribute to T-giving dinner with my new husband’s family! (stuffed squash? beans and greens? brussel sprouts stir fried with apples? how to choose!?)
I’m pickling my beets this week to be a pretty side dish for turkey day!
Getting my knives sharpened is a great idea! Moving that to the top of my list.
To get ready for Thanksgiving, I’m clearing out my fridge to make sure I have room for the food that will be going in there. 🙂
We are having Thanksgiving with relatives that live 3 days drive away, so I won’t be taking any food with me. I do hope to be a help in the kitchen at the other end. My husband and I are herbivores, so I’m sure I’ll be making some veggie dishes to go along with the rest of the meal. A good knife is VITAL in my kitchen as I do LOTS of chopping. We had a big garden for the first time this year, and I have chopped and chopped. What a joy it would be to have a wonderful AMERICAN made knife. I do so appreciate learning about companies that still manufacture HERE in the USA. Thanks to them. I will be checking out their products.
We go to my in-laws for Thanksgiving, so I am cleaning my house so we can come home to a clean house.
I’m not actually making any preparations for the big meal, besides considering what Indian takeout places will be open on Thanksgiving day. If I end up invited somewhere, I will make a pie probably. But I have too much going on this year and we’re not traveling to see family, so I’m mostly looking forward to a relaxing day off.
Trying to figure a new sweet potato dish- that isn’t casserole and isn’t soup…
I’m calculating how many of my homegrown potatoes we need to take along to my mom’s to make mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving.