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Chef David's Recommendations
Shop Chef David’s picks by category
The knives, cookware, sharpening supplies, and kitchen tools our chef recommends to customers. Choose a category, or scroll down to browse every pick.
Knives
Cookware
Sharpening
Kitchen Tools
Appliances-
Mac Professional 3.25 in. (82.5mm) Paring Knife
Unrivaled Control: Mac Professional 3.25 in. (82.5mm) Paring Knife Discover why the Mac Professional 3.25-inch (82.5mm) Paring Knife is our best-selling and most beloved paring knife, consistently favored by professional chefs worldwide. This exceptional tool is engineered for precision and comfort, making it indispensable for a multitude of detailed kitchen tasks. Its razor-sharp blade and compact size are ideal for the delicate work of peeling and slicing fruits and vegetables, executing intricate garnishes, and any precise cuts performed artfully in-hand, away from the cutting board. The knife's exemplary balance and ergonomic design ensure it feels like a natural extension of your hand, providing unparalleled control and reducing fatigue during prolonged use. Crafted with Mac's renowned attention to detail, this paring knife boasts precise construction and a superior fit and finish, guaranteeing both stunning aesthetics and enduring performance. Elevate your culinary craftsmanship with a tool that combines professional-grade quality with an intuitive, comfortable feel. Learn More$64.95 -
Victorinox Fibrox Pro 10 in. Curved Breaking Knife
The Victorinox Fibrox 10 in. Curved Breaking Knife is designed for breaking the primal cuts out of a hanging side of beef. Useful in dressing out wild game like deer and elk. This is also my choice of knives for filleting large saltwater fish. Semi-flexible so you can feel the fish bones without breaking through them, and the shape makes for easy removal of fins and slicing around the gill plates. Learn More$64.00 -
Shun Kanso 8-inch Chef's Knife
Kanso takes its name from the Japanese design principle of simplicity, and the 8-inch chef’s knife is the series’ all-purpose blade. Shun shapes it for push cuts through vegetables, and the blade can also be rocked gently through fresh herbs.Kanso blades are made from a single steel, AUS10A, a high-carbon stainless refined with vanadium for a fine grain and a keen, durable edge. Shun notes that this mono-construction is easier to maintain than a layered blade. The rustic Heritage finish hides the scratches of daily use, and the contoured Tagayasan handle, a dense, dark wood, gives a secure grip. For a cook buying a first Japanese knife, it delivers Shun’s edge and craftsmanship in a plain, practical form, and it also suits professionals who want a hard-working blade.
Kanso AlternativesFor a flatter profile, see the 7-inch Hollow Ground Santoku. The Kanso 3-Piece Starter Set includes this knife. Learn More$144.95 -
Minonokuni Homura 210mm Ao-Ko Wa-Gyuto
The Minonokuni Homura 210mm Gyuto is a beautiful, hand-crafted artisan knife. This knife has an Ao-Ko, Blue, Carbon steel core that has been sandwiched in Stainless Steel for rust resistance and ease of care. Hand-hammered and forged in the traditional sword-making methods this is a true craftsman work of art. Learn More$330.00 -
Wüsthof Gourmet 4-Piece Steak Knife Set
Straight edges and laser-cut blades make Wüsthof’s Gourmet 4-piece steak knife set a non-serrated choice for four. It is the smaller version of the Gourmet 6-piece set and uses the same knife design with a riveted black handle.If you are deciding whether non-serrated steak knives are right for you, consider what you serve. A straight edge glides through tender beef and roast pork and leaves neat slices, and it can be maintained in your own kitchen. A serrated knife suits a cook who never sharpens, since its teeth keep biting after the edge wears. With a hand-held sharpener or a steel in the drawer, a straight edge is the better match.Gourmet knives are made without forging, which keeps them light in the hand at the table. Chef David recommends this set to anyone looking for a cost-effective, functional set of steak knives. For forged steak knives, see the Classic 4-piece set, or the Classic Ikon 4-piece set with its curved handle. Six guests call for the Gourmet 6-piece steak knife set, which has two more of the same knife, and a 6-slot block stores either set. See our knife shapes page for more on blade styles. Learn More$134.95 -
Victorinox Rosewood 10" Curved Breaking Knife
Engineered for the Deck and the Butcher Block The Victorinox 10-inch Curved Breaking Knife (SKU 5.7200.25) is a specialized tool designed for the high-intensity demands of professional meat and fish processing. Originally developed for 'breaking' primal cuts from hanging sides of beef, this knife has evolved into a legendary piece of equipment on the sport fishing boats of San Diego (our original hometown) and commercial fisheries across the West Coast. Its unique geometry allows for the smooth processing of large-game saltwater fish with a level of control that standard fillet knives simply cannot match. Constructed from high-carbon martensitic stainless steel, the 10-inch blade provides a superior balance between edge retention and ease of maintenance. In a high-volume environment where you are processing 40+ lbs of protein, the ability to quickly hone the edge back to a razor-sharp state is critical. The scimitar-style sweep of the blade is specifically designed for long, singular draw-cuts, reducing the need for 'sawing' and ensuring the integrity of the muscle fibers. The handle is crafted from modified maple wood—often referred to in the industry as the Rosewood line—providing a traditional, warm aesthetic without compromising on the rugged durability required for wet environments. The ergonomic shape ensures a secure grip even when processing slick, fatty cuts or working on a moving vessel. This isn't just a kitchen knife; it is a specialized industrial tool built to endure the rigors of commercial butchery and professional angling. Learn More$79.99 -
I.O. Shen 6.7 in (170mm) Boning Knife
This I.O. Shen is longer than most boning knives at 6.7 inches. It can be difficult to find Japanese steel in a Western boning knife shape. The U.S. market tends to use softer steel boning knives requiring regular honing. This is an excellent option for someone who wants better sharpness and edge retention. A unique modified VG10 steel that is tough. I am comfortable recommending this knife for breaking down fish, poultry and meats, removing silver skin, etc. If you are going to be scraping bones for "Frenching" chops and that type of task, go with a softer steel. Learn More$189.95 -
MAC 5-inch Pink Kid's Knife
The Mac 5 in. Kid's Knife is the perfect gift for a child that is interested in cooking. Have them learn to mince, dice, chop and slice with this handy little knife. After use, rinse the knife by hand with soapy and water, and make sure it's dry before putting it away. The Mac kid's knife was designed to provide children with a truly functional knife that has several safety features to maximize safety. The blade is constructed of Mac's molybdenum stainless steel and is quite sharp along the cutting edge. However the tip and heel of the knife have been rounded and dulled to prevent accidental nicks. The handle is oval and thin for small hands, and made of Lamar resin, which is both comfortable and slip-resistant. There is a hollow area designed for the index finger to make it easy for a child to apply the proper downward cutting pressure. Blade length is 5 inches, with a handle length of 4 inches. Of course, these should be used with adult supervision, but this is an excellent way to introduce children to the fine are of cooking in the safest possible manner. We highly recommend this product. Learn More$31.95 -
Robert Welch Signature 9 in. Carving Knife
Master the Art of the Perfect Slice with Award-Winning Ergonomics The Robert Welch Signature 9-inch Carving Knife is more than a kitchen tool; it is a precision instrument designed to move through proteins with zero resistance. When you first grip the handle, the tactile feedback is immediate. Developed in consultation with professional chefs, the ergonomic handle features a unique bolster that provides a secure thumb rest and a comfortable finger guard, ensuring your hand doesn't fatigue during high-volume slicing tasks. The 9-inch blade is forged from high-quality X50CrMoV15 German stainless steel, hardened to 55-56 HRC. This specific hardness provides the ideal balance between extreme sharpness and the toughness needed to avoid chipping when navigating around poultry bones or dense holiday roasts. During testing, the long, thin profile of the blade allowed for long, sweeping strokes that produce uniform, restaurant-quality slices without the jagged 'sawing' effect common with shorter, duller blades. Whether you are carving a delicate smoked salmon fillet or a heavy prime rib, the weight distribution of this knife remains centered in the palm. The blade is ground at a precise 15° angle, offering a level of sharpness that rivals Japanese cutlery while maintaining the robustness of European steel. This is the definitive tool for the host who values presentation and the chef who demands technical reliability. Learn More$70.95 -
Mac Professional 9.7 in. (245mm) Mighty Chef Knife
The Mac Professional 9.7 in. (245mm) Mighty Chef Knife is modeled after a traditional French chef's knife; the tip is vertically positioned at the center of the blade. This is a highly functional shape that creates a very smooth rocking motion while maximizing the amount of contact the knife makes with the cutting board. This blade shape helps the user work quickly, maximizing efficiency, something especially important for professional cooks or anyone processing large amounts of food. This is a workhorse that can be relied upon as your primary knife. This particular model is Meghan's favorite chef knife. The 240mm length is long enough to suitably cut even the largest produce without becoming unwieldy. Although honing is not necessary with this blade, MAC knives can be easily maintained with a steel honing rod which will significantly extend time between sharpenings. We highly recommend this knife and are very confident that you will find it to be a great addition to any collection. Learn More$234.95
