Gifts for Chefs and Serious Home Cooks
One good knife beats a drawer of gadgets. Here are the knife gifts a cook will use, who each suits, what they cost and what a cook must know before using one.
The best gift for a chef is one excellent knife, not a drawer of gadgets: a hand-forged chef knife, a small set in a leather roll or a set of steak knives. Our chef knives cost $99 to $189 and kitchen sets $149 to $669, and each comes with its leather at no extra charge.
Gifts for Chefs and Cooks at a Glance
| Gift | Who it suits | Price band |
|---|---|---|
| Chef knife | The home cook who does most jobs with one blade | $99 to $189 |
| Small set in a leather roll | A cook who wants a matched pair or trio | $149 and up |
| Steak knives | The person who hosts and grills | $99 single, sets $139 to $199 |
| Cleaver or Serbian chef knife | The cook who does everything on one board | $99 to $159 |
| Full kitchen set | A new home or a big gift, two to eight pieces | Up to $669 |
A Hand-Forged Chef Knife
A chef knife is the gift many cooks would pick for themselves and keep putting off. Ours have blades from 3.5 to 13 inches across chef, santoku, kiritsuke, paring, utility and bread shapes, and most are pattern-welded Damascus with the rest forged carbon steel. An 8 inch blade is a common size: long enough for a large onion and short enough to control.
The 8 inch Damascus Chef Knife with a walnut handle has an 8 inch blade, is 13.5 inches overall and costs $149. It has a full tang and a leather blade guard. All of them are in the Damascus chef knives collection.
A Small Set in a Leather Roll
A set fits a cook who owns one good knife and wants a partner for it. Our kitchen knife sets run from two to eight pieces, and every set comes in a single leather roll with a sewn slot for each knife. The 2-piece Damascus Kitchen Knife Set with rosewood handles costs $149, the lowest-priced kitchen set we make.
Bigger sets cost more, up to $669, and are best kept for a new home or a shared gift. The Damascus knife sets collection lists every size. We suggest a small set over a large one for most gifts, since a cook uses three knives far more than eight.
Steak Knives for the Person Who Hosts
A person who has friends over for dinner will use steak knives more than most kitchen gifts. All of ours have plain edges. A single steak knife is $99 and sets start at $139. The 4-piece Damascus Steak Knife Set with black pakkawood handles is $139 and comes in a leather roll. Browse the steak knives to compare four, five and six-piece sets.
A Cleaver or Serbian Chef Knife for the Cook Who Does It All
Some cooks work on one board and want one heavy knife for meat and vegetables. A cleaver or a Serbian chef knife has a wide, tall blade that also scoops food off the board. Ours cost $99 to $159: the pattern-welded ones in Damascus cleavers, the forged carbon steel ones in carbon and satin steel knives.
The 7 inch Damascus Serbian Chef Knife with olive wood is $129 and has a 7 inch blade. It suits a cook who wants a wide, short blade.
Small Gifts Cooks Actually Use
A honing rod, an end-grain cutting board, flaky salt and a cast iron pan are all things a cook uses up or leans on daily. Any of them makes a good companion to a knife. The board matters more than it seems, because a hard glass or stone surface dulls an edge fast.
Carbon Steel and Damascus in a Home Kitchen: What the Cook Needs to Know
Damascus and carbon steel knives are not stainless. Both rust if left wet, so a cook must hand wash the knife, dry it right away and add a drop of oil before storing it. Carbon steel also darkens with use, which is a patina and not damage. Our care guide covers the routine.
A working chef who wants a knife that survives a dishwasher and a crowded line without any care should choose something else. For a home cook who enjoys looking after tools, these are a pleasure to keep. Our guide to what Damascus steel is explains the pattern, and real vs fake Damascus covers what to check when you compare blades.
Ordering: Engraving, Gift Wrap, Timing and Returns
Engraving is cut by machine, as text or a plain logo in one color. It costs $19 a surface on a single knife, and $9.50 a surface on each piece of a set, half the price. You choose it on the product page, and where a page offers it you can pick the blade, the sheath or the handle.
Gift wrap is $10 in the cart, with a message, and shipping is free within the US. Automatic discounts on knives take 5% off two, 10% off three and 15% off four or more, not counting engraving. Every knife carries a Limited Lifetime Warranty.
An engraved knife is made to order, so it takes longer. The product page shows the dispatch time for the choice you make, and delivery takes 5 to 8 business days after dispatch. We do not give delivery dates. A knife without engraving can be returned within 30 days of delivery. An engraved one cannot, unless it arrives defective or not as ordered, so check the spelling first.
