Food and Drink Articles

There are people who take pride and truly enjoy setting a table with the finest utensils to serve their finest foods. It is not done seldomly and for special occasions. They do it often, and most likely, every day. This article is dedicated to them.

One way to display a tastefully set table is with French cutlery. Traditionally, Europeans have excelled forging steel blades since the days of Robin Hood. Their knowledge and experience with blades for the battlefield was passed on to utensils they use on their every day table. French could not be an exception to centuries-old European traditions.
There are several French artisans working in manufacturing establishments that forge a magnificent cutlery. This article elaborates on only two of them which ~again~ they are not the only ones in France. One is dedicated to complete sets of knives, forks, spoons, and other utensils used when a meal is served. Another French artisans are dedicated to top-notch knives of exquisite quality for preparing food before it is served.

The first manufacturer is Laguiole and the other is Sabatier.
Are their sets and individual pieces costly? Yes, they are. However, their sets and pieces will last a lifetime, and most likely, they will be passed from one generation to the next. Yes, they last that long. Consequently, the author of this article considers that the cost is a “once in a lifetime investment.” After such one time investment, there is nothing else to purchase for great many decades to come and well into the next generation, and the one after that one.
Meanwhile, an entire family, or a couple, or a single person, or the Chef of the family will be enjoying the best that French artisans, their traditions, their steel, their woods, and their attention to details have to offer. Moreover, Laguiole makes exquisite sets that will likely gain value as time goes by as they dress up a table every day. The details, the balance, the weight, the woods used, and handling each piece spells quality all over. One can tell how they send such message when people hold a piece in their hand and keep on looking for quite a while. It maybe that people is not used at holding unique silverware in their hands every day. Likely, a conversation arises out of these pieces that make a table look exquisite.

The other brand name is Sabatier. They make knives for chefs and gourmets all over the world. A reputable school in the U.S.A. chose to exclusively use their knives. It appears that those who are well known and recognized experts passing their knowledge and expertise on to new generations of cooks and gourmets must know why they will not use anything other than Sabatier kitchen knives.

There is something else worth mentioning.
If one intends to go out with the family or to have a picnic in the park with a sweet-heart, the French make knives for this kind of activities. As expected, their knives last a lifetime when cared for. Their name is Opinel, and they are so well thought-out that in 1985 the original Opinel knife was recognized ~along with Porsche 911 and Rolex~ as one of “100 Best Designed Objects In The World” at the Victoria And Albert Museum in London, Great Britain.
One cannot go wrong with the French. Enjoy, and Bon Appetite !

George Josserme - About the Author:

* George Josserme
* Editor-in-Chief
* Fountain of Wisdom

This link takes you to the original article A Fine Teble – French Cutlery.

A complete collection of Laguiole cutlery may be seen at Laguiole of France.
The school using Sabatier chief and knives is Bon Vivant School of Cooking.
The web site for Opinel in North America is www.opinel-usa.com