Though stocking stuffers have officially passed us for another year, we feel the need to name a couple gifts that might come in handy next year or can also be considered an ideal present for those who have upcoming birthdays or special occasions and appreciate the parade of uses.
Wenger is known for their swiss-made knives as they made Swiss Army back in 1893. They have branched out and recently we had the pleasure of utilizing the Nomad Compass watch. It had a mulitude of endeavors and was another triumph for Wenger. Though knives are their first love, they have already taken a thoughtful and clever approach to their “Evolution Series” knives which we were first introduced to in 2005. Their natural outlook appreciates the environment with an effort in conservation. Waste material, in this case; walnut, that otherwise would have been disposed of has found a second life as a pocketknife. In this case, the EvoWood 11.
The EvoWood 11 boosts innumerable uses starting with a 2.5” Blade that doubles as a Phillips screwdriver, cap lifter, wire stripper, nail file and cleaner, keyring, and awl. The natural walnut is stained to a dark finish and is a multi-purpose knife that can help with all sorts of trickery. As of press time, the “EvoWood 11” is out of stock from Wenger, but you can purchase from the Swiss Knife Shop for around $52. And Wenger also makes several other models in the line with additional features and implements- 16, 18, and the full S557.
Switching to a German-made product, Wusthof has brought the best to the table with their kitchen knives that please use everytime we use. The “Classic 6-inch Utility Knife” is the ideal partner for slicing fruits and vegetables.
Some background might help you understand Wusthof’s preparation in knifemaking. The Wave knife is forged from one sheet of high-carbon, no-stain steel, and though the handle is made from polypropylene, the construction is literally seamless. And the look is therefore fairly classic- a knife that wouldn’t be out of place in any traditional black-and-silver kitchen, but with a very modern appearance of the blade itself.
While making a chicken stew, I was pleased to ignore my mediocre knife collection that can barely cut into a sweet potato. Preparation was quick and painless as the classic utility knife easily peeled and chopped my vegetables. The fruit salad had the same, expected results we’ve come to welcome from Wusthof. In the past we have utilized the 7-inch Classic Wave Knife and was adept at cutting bread into well…pieces.
We were able to purchase the Classic 6-inch Utility Knife from Amazon for under $80.
