Messermeister Oliva Elite 3-Piece Starter Set

This Oliva Elite starter set holds the three knives a new kitchen relies on, a chef’s knife for the board, a utility knife for the jobs in between and a parer for work in the hand. Messermeister puts the chef’s knife to work chopping and slicing and the paring knife on peeling and detail work.

With those knives on hand, a cook can break down vegetables and trim a pork tenderloin without reaching for anything else. Matching olive wood handles give the set a warm, cohesive look on a magnetic strip or in a drawer insert. The wood does ask for more care than a synthetic handle, so this is not a set to leave in the sink. It suits culinary students starting out and couples setting up a first home, and it is a clear step up from a mismatched collection of knives. Additional Oliva Elite pieces can be added one at a time as a cook’s needs grow.

Growing the Set

The 5-Piece Next Level Block Set adds a bread knife and a magnetic block.