Born in Rome and raised in Southern California, Giada de Lauarentiis knows how to cook. Her flair with Italian and everyday cuisine extends far and wide, from the television screen to her wonderfully written cookbooks. Along the way, she has also become somewhat of a role model, a sexy mother and wife who knows how to whip up satisfying dishes for friends and family in a seemingly effortless way. However, Giada has many secrets to her success, not the least of which is her cook’s tool chest.

Accordingly, chefs the world over would probably agree that one of their most essential and important tools is a knife, the right kind, sharp and ready, for each precise job. Chefs and their knives are so inseparable in the kitchen, in fact, that many consider cooking without proper knives nothing more than an amateur endeavor. Thus, it is not surprising that in their and Giada’s arsenal of tools is a very special one indeed, the mezzaluna knife.

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A mezzaluna knife is hardly a household word, but once familiar with using this unusually named kitchen tool, it is one likely to become essential.  In Italian, mezzaluna means half moon, an apt enough description for its crescent-shaped blade.  It is sometimes referred to by English-speaking cooks as a crescent knife. Nonetheless, the design, not the name, is most important to its uniqueness and function. The blade is long and sharpened from end to end, thus its curvature enables one to rock it from side to side and get a clean, precise cut. The rocking motion makes it especially appropriate for chopping, cutting, and mincing foods, otherwise tedious preparation tasks.

While one type of mezzaluna knife is designed with a handle, usually of wood, ceramic, or plastic, extended above the blade, sometimes double, or with a raised handle on either end for control, the Giada mezzaluna does not. Forged from steel, the handle is traditionally attached at the end of the blade, which is high carbon stainless steel.   The entire knife is about 14 inches in length, end to end, allowing it to chop and cut quite effectively. Also, the back of the blade has a thickened design, which makes a good leveraging point, especially important for someone with a small hand. Its cost, a little more than $20, is another great feature of this particular knife, one that Giada has called her favorite gadget of all.

“The Giada De Laurentiis Mezzaluna Knife makes kitchen prep an enjoyable task for even the most amateur of chefs.”

Mezzaluna knives are very popular in Europe, thus if not accustomed to one at home while growing up, it might take some practice to get adept at its use.  Chopping and dicing some carrots or celery first will assist in getting the hang of it and assure more success when actually preparing a major meal.  Any effort expended on mastering this newly acquired skill will pay off in saved time, also nice, neat cubes and dices, minus the usual struggle to achieve clean-looking cuts.

Before Giada began promoting her new line of knives at target she used this Global chef knife exclusively.

Available, too, for some knife models are special cutting boards that have small depressions in them to follow the contour of the mezzaluna  blade. They are well suited for the knife’s usage for such practical tasks as mincing garlic and herbs and chopping vegetables, such as tomatoes, for sauces and soups. Also, a mezzaluna knife doubles as a pastry knife for chopping shortening that has been added to flour for dough making. Thus it is easy to imagine how the mezzaluna knife, with its curvature, soon becomes the knife of choice for many as they apply it to more and more tasks instead of using the usual straight-bladed knife.

There are several brands and varieties of mezzaluna knives on the market, however the same basic features should be taken into consideration when perusing them. These include the quality of blade construction, solidly forged from metal that is good quality. Also, any pits or holes where the blade and handle join are not advisable, as they welcome food accumulation and bacteria.

A mezzaluna knife, further, should not be placed in the dishwasher, but hand washed instead. It should not be left to dry on its own but, rather, dried immediately after washing to prevent rust. While the Giada brand of mezzaluna knife does not come with a sheath, it is easy enough to wrap it in a piece of thick canvas or other such material when storing. Doing so protects the blade, keeping it sharper longer, and it also prevents injuries to hands thrust into drawers where exposed knives often cause damage.

To conclude, for anyone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen like Giada De Laurentiis, or even much less, it is clear that her favorite gadget, the Giada De Laurentiis mezzaluna knife would soon win over most any chef. It represents, too, a change from the usual boring task at hand when it comes to fruits and vegetables, especially, as they succumb to the deft strokes of a mezzaluna knife deftly wielded.

When it comes to fine knives, there are only a few brands that stand out in the industry and one of the leading names would be JA Henckels.  This company is the largest knife manufacturer in the world. Founded in Solingen, Germany in 1731, this brand has almost three centuries experience in making knives making it very well established and reputed in terms of producing high quality knives. This company offers several lines of knives. Every JA Henckels knife set has it own distinct qualities which make them ideal for certain preferences as well as for various users.

Various JA Henckels Knife Set Lines

Click Here For All JA Henckels Knife Set Options

The Four Star Henckel Knife set for instance is fully forged, with a molded handle made of polypropylene and a tang which extends into the handle. Its more recent version which is the TWIN Four Star II set is mostly similar in features except for a stainless steel end cap. Meanwhile the TWIN Select series knives are distinctive for their ergonomic stainless steel handles. The TWIN Cuisine set on the other hand has a fully exposed, horizontal tang embedded in a polypropylene handle. The TWIN Professional “S” set is recognizable for its traditional 3-rivet polypropylene handle.

These various JA Henckels knife sets can also be classified according to the materials they are made of. For instance the TWIN Select, Four Star, Four Star II, and Professional “S” are all forged from a single piece of high carbon stainless steel while the TWIN Cermax series have micro carbide powder steel with clad layers as its main material. The TWIN Cuisine JA Henckels knife set on the other hand is forged from one piece of steel using a traditional hot drop forging technique.  Lastly, the TWIN Gourmet and Signature knives are stamped from a single piece of steel.

When you are searching for the right knife for your kitchen, high quality craftsmanship and durability should be your main considerations. It should be precisely and  expertly crafted, completely safe by providing a secure grip and have correct balance and ergonomic design.  In addition it should last a long time, can resist corrosion and it should maintain a sharp cutting edge for a very long period . The various Henckels Knife set will surely live up to these standards and can certainly give you satisfaction in terms of performance. Let us further look closely at the qualities of these knife sets as a way to help you in deciding which would be suitable for your purpose.

JA Henckels Knife Set Options:

JA Henckels Pro S Knife Set – A Top Pick Here At Best Kitchen Knives Reviewed

This line is the most popular and sought after among  JA Henckels knives.  It is easily distinguished by its 3 rivet handle design.  It features an excellent quality forged blade which is welded to the handle. The blade, though, maybe not as sharp the first time you use it but once sharpened to your desired level, it guarantees to maintain that state for a long period.

Twin Select JA Henckels Knife Set
What knife professionals find excellent about JA Henckels Twin Select Knife set is that it has an all stainless steel look that makes it very attractive. Aside from that, these knives are also praised for its comfortable, ergonomic,  and stainless steel handles, though there maybe some who have difficulty with their grip in situations where they have wet or greasy hands. Furthermore, the blade’s edge of this knife is very sharp however users may have problems with its large bolster since this makes the knife difficult to sharpen at the base.

JA Henckels Twin Cermax Knife Set
This particular Henckels Knife Set is not actually manufactured in Germany but in Japan. They are made as an alternative to the high end Japanese knives which have become very popular these days.  This particular line boasts a very sharp blade and a handle which has an excellent ergonomic design. Many knife experts also praised the outstanding fit and finish of this knife set.  When it comes to price tag however, this set maybe a bit pricey however the quality in performance will surely make up for that.

JA Henckels Four Star II Knife Set
The more recent version of the Four Star knife set, the  Henckels Twin Four Star II features a blade with a handle that has a metal cap. Some experts  however see this extra metal in the handle as a rather drawback on the performance of this knife since it moves the balance point back to the handle making the knife uncomfortable to hold  because the user will tend to fight the weight.

JA Henckels Twin Cuisine Knife Set
This particular set is another replacement to a previously manufactured line by this company known as the Five Star line. The Henckels Twin Cuisine Knife set still features the same blade though but with a another similar heavyweight handle just like the Four Star II line. It also has the extra metal in the handle feature which to some knife professionals makes this set rather uncomfortable to the grip since it lacks the right balance.

Wusthof is among the most reputable and established names in the kitchen knife industry. The company, which is based in Germany, has been in the business of manufacturing the best quality knives for almost two centuries now. This brand is primarily recognized for making precision forged knives that are designed to ensure excellent performance. The forging process has been mainly used in the manufacturing of these knives by skilled workers assisted by the latest technological innovations. This Wusthof knives review will look into the distinct qualities and features of the several lines of products the company currently offers to the market. It will look into the various characteristics which make these knives favorites by professionals and home chefs alike.

Wusthof Knives Review

Wusthof knives can be classified by a number of lines or models. These sets are made and designed to cater to different kinds of preferences and styles of the person using them. Most of these lines of knives feature forged blades and are made with remarkable attention to detail and meticulous hand finishing. They are distinct from each other though when it comes to handle designs. The various models include the Wusthof Ikon Knives, Wusthof Classic Knives, Wusthof Le Cordon Bleu, Wusthof Culinar, Wusthof Grand Prix II and Wusthof Gourmet.  This Wusthof knives review will try to help you select which would be the perfect line for you by discussing in detail the various choices.

Wusthof Ikon Knives
The Wusthof Ikon Knives are forged from one piece of specially tempered high carbon steel and feature specially designed bolsters.  The handles for this line were designed to give comfort and control, have a seamless hygienic fit, triple-riveted handle shells, and full tang. The tapered bolster is specially designed in order that the user’s fingers will be protected from the blade’s edge. Added to that, this tapered bolster will also give the user an easy time while working with this particular knife model.  Sharpening the blade will not be also a problem. Meanwhile the handle is comfortable to the hands with its three rivets design and is well balanced. The polished edge and the sharp edge of the spine on the other hand have been nicely ground down.

Wusthof Classic Knives – *Best Kitchen Knives Reviewed Top Performer*
Wusthof Classic knives are always favored by many because of their right amount of heft, high quality blades, excellently balanced bolster, and handles that are very comfortable. Made for the use of professional chefs and enthusiastic home cooks alike, they are forged from one piece of specially tempered high carbon steel. Their handles have seamless ergonomic fits, triple-riveted handle shells and full tang. The bolster ensures that the user will have a firm grip so chopping, dicing, and slicing will be a precise and simple task.  The first time you use the knife, the blade may be duller however a once sharpened, this knife will be razor sharp and will remain sharp for a longer period than most knives.

Wusthof Culinar Starter Set

Wusthof Culinar Knives*An Absolutely Stunning Knife Set*

Wusthof Culinar Knives are also forged from one piece of specially tempered high carbon steel which like the other models makes it very strong. But what make this particular model distinct is its sophisticated and aesthetically pleasing design, both in fit and finish. This line is totally metal colored and has only one rivet in the handle instead of three. In terms of performance, these knives are exceptionally sharp. However there are users who may find these knives to be rather heavy in the hand and difficult to sharpen.

Wusthof Le Cordon Bleu Knives
Wusthof Le Cordon Bleu Knives are the product of the combined efforts of one of the world´s leading cooking academies and leaders in the knife industry, Le Cordon Bleu. This set is designed for people who prefer lighter weight knives. That is why this particular line is 30 % lighter when compared to the other models.  But like the other models, the knives in this line are also forged from one piece of specially tempered high carbon steel and designed to have the perfect balanced for easy cutting. The full tang handle has a seamless ergonomic fit and triple-riveted handle shells. It as well has a specially designed bolster.

Wusthof Grand Prix II Knives
This particular line is described as bold and contemporary with outstanding performance. Like all the other models, these knives are also forged from one piece of specially tempered high carbon steel. It has an improved handle which makes it perform well along with being comfortable. Users favored it for being hefty but not heavy, it has perfect balance and blade shape, and a good finishing as well as edge.

Wusthof Gourmet - The Lowest Priced Wusthof's

Wusthof Gourmet Knives- Wusthof’s Budget Buy

What makes Wusthof Gourmet knives different from all the rest of the models is that the knives are stamped rather than forged.  They are manufactured from one piece of steel (Chrome Molybdenum Vanadium) and have synthetic and full tang handles. These knives are lighter than the forged kinds and cost significantly less. That is why this is intended for those working on a budget. The performance though is not as good as the other models.

For more information about the top knives mentioned in this Wusthof knives review, check out this Wusthof Classic Knives Review