Years ago, I picked up a little folding Opinel knife at some long-forgotten kitchenwares store. I bought it on a whim (driven by a romantic vision of lazy summer picnics), but unlike many spur-of-the-moment buys, this little knife has proved its worth many times over.
In reality, that knife hasn’t been on a great number of leisurely picnics. Instead, it’s been in the food bag for nearly every day-long adventure and road trip we’ve taken over the past five or so years. It has been pressed into service in under-equipped kitchens, has helped divvy sandwiches at rest stops, and has played a role in many an impromptu foraging expedition.
So, when the nice PR rep for Opinel got in touch a couple months ago to ask if I might like to try some of their other products, I sent off a hasty yes. We settled on a little trio of useful tools to feature here. And so, for the last month, I’ve been using their sturdy bread knife, a sweet little spreading knife, and a quick, super sharp peeler.
Much like the folding knife that has been such a workhorse, the knife, spreader, and peeler are simple, well-made, and incredibly useful tools. What’s more, if you’re visiting friends this summer, paired with a jar of jam, the spreader or the butter knife would make a really nice hostess gift.
Thanks to the nice folks at Opinel, I have a the blue-handled set of bread knife, spreader, and peeler to give away to one lucky Food in Jars reader. Here’s how to enter.
- Leave a comment on this post and tell me about your favorite impulse buy.
- Comments will close at 11:59 pm eastern time on Saturday, June 25, 2016. Winners will be chosen at random and will be posted to the blog on Sunday, June 26, 2016.
- Giveaway open to United States and Canadian residents. Void where prohibited.
- One comment per person, please. Entries must be left via the comment form on the blog at the bottom of this post.
Disclosure: Opinel sent me the tools you see pictured above for photography and review purposes, and has also providing the giveaway units. The tools were provided at no cost to me. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
A raft for whitewater adventures! I’m not an impulse person and extremely frugal with most things, but more outdoor adventures is always a good thing. I’ve been looking for a good bread knife.
…it’s not directly cooking related….unless I shoot my dinner
a sweet little point and shoot camera …
My favorite impulse buy was a soup ladle shaped like a dinosaur!
I recently purchased an expensive hair straightener and I love it! My hair has never looked so good.
Marisa,
You’ll think I’m crazy…a long handled 2 oz coffee scoop. My wife and I were talking how in our over equipped kitchen…it is the most used item. I bought it one day on impulse even though we kept a million of the free plastic ones from the market. Its used as a coffee measure, honey measure (2 scoops per 2 liters), sugar measure for kombucha (4 scoops per half gallon), flour measure for sourdough feeding (6 scoops flour+4 scoops water)…well you get the idea.
Marshall
A t-shirt from a coffee shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It has an image of a person sitting in a giant cup of coffee and the name of the coffee shop in Japanese (even though the shop is not at all Japanese), and it was so quirky I had to get it.
75 lbs of hail damaged apricots!
A flimsy single-fold plastic wallet with a picture of a guinea pig made up like David Bowie from Aladdin Sane. I got it specifically for my London transit card a week after I’d left London for good, but I’m still happy whenever I look at it.
I’m a constant impulse buyer! My favorite recent buy is a new heavy maslin pan that has been perfect for my summer jams.
A French cookbook from the 1940s.
I purchased it online before I could really read French. I now cab use the recipes.
A cookbook from Amazon. I paid a penny for the book and $3.99 for shipping!
I’d say, some pretty whimsical knick-knacks I’ve picked up at various thrift stores. Always on impulse, always worth it.
Definitely thrift store and yard sale finds. I never go in with a plan, but always find something wonderful. Oh, and my Le Creuset outlet cast iron skillet!
a new hi-fi
I bought an Instant Pot when it was on sale, after hearing a bunch of people rave about them. I love it!!
A ceramic cat I named Henrietta pussycat, purchased at a garage sale while my husband was away on business.
Ticket to Ride from a thrift shop before I had heard of it!
Plants and yarn! I have a hard time walking away empty handed.
The first thing that comes to mind kitchen wise, is an enameled cast iron dutch oven. Even at half price it was kind of expensive. But I love that thing and have not regretted it. Second would be my traveling knife, recently taken of a 16 day road trip.
I just found your blog and am just learning about canning. Looking forward to trying the emon jelly recipe. Thanks!
A straw hat, that I wasn’t sure I would wear. Now I have it on all the time. I had to buy a second hat to do gardening in.
I like buying lip glosses and lip sticks
Starbucks for a grande iced mocha…without whipped cream if I’m feeling healthly.
Whenever I see a peeler in a shape I haven’t seen before, I’ve just gotta have it!
Most recently, an outdoor sofa for the front porch. You always seduce me, Target, with your amazing clearance items.
Fabric!
A ring! A gift from me to me. I love the design and the nurturing it represents.
55 pounds of sweet cherries. I couldn’t resist the price. I dried them all. We love them on cereal, cut up in cookies and quick breads, and just to snack on. I’m thinking about dipping them in chocolate.
agh! Went to camp with the Grade 7/8’s and missed this! (I’m kinda teary about this, actually). Good heavens – favourite impulse buy? That’s a hard one, because I’m actually not an impulse buyer at all (is it treacherous to admit that I hate shopping). My first teapot – bought at a friend’s pottery sale – still with me 25 years later, and a favourite piece that ended up setting the colour template for most of my dishes!
I know I missed the deadline but my favorite impulse buys are two things: shoes and fresh produce. I tend to buy both on a whim, usually in excessive quantities, when I already have more than enough at home.
Impulse bought fresh local cherries yesterday – delicious!