Looking for a $200-$250 block set for my Grandma

Macchina

Macchina

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Looks like I get the first "recommend me a..." post in this area!

My grandma's 80th birthday is coming up and she would like a "nice kitchen knife set." She has a lot of nice stuff in her kitchen, so the knives have to be of good quality. She recently bought a single Cutco knife and really likes it. I don't exactly like Cutco (I feel they are overpriced and have a crappy business model), are there any similar serrated knife sets out there? She is not set on Cutco or serrated though, so recommend me anything nice please.

Needs to be:
Nice looking/feeling
between $200 and $250
Block included
Somewhere around 4-6 knives would be nice (no steak knives needed)
 
Buck knives has a new series of kitchen cutlery with dishwasher safe "Paperstone", a composite made of recycled fibers that is supposed to be very durable and ecological. They have a 13 piece set in a block for MSRP for $286. which can be gotten for about $175, at various places. Google
Buck 938 PaperStone Cutlery Set w/ Block

This set (as with all Buck knives) has a lifetime warranty and the company gives great customer servide. USA made.

I haven't tried the Buck set yet but plan to buy a set this year. The stuff I use now is Wusthof from Germany. Great stuff, same goes for Henkels (Germany).

Check out all three makes. You will probably do fine with any of these. All have sets in your price range.
 
Ditch the idea of a block set and get her three or four nice knives and purchase the block separately.

A nice santoku:

http://www.chefknivestogo.com/todpsakn17.html

I'd actually prefer you get a 210mm gyuto...but the santoku shape seems to really appeal to ladies.

A good paring knife:

http://www.chefknivestogo.com/macprpakn31.html

A good slicing and bread knife:

http://www.chefknivestogo.com/macsubrkn.html

A knife block:

http://www.chefknivestogo.com/he10slknbl.html

Should be close to your budget. All are good knives that can stand a little abuse.

BTW, avoid serrated....and avoid Cutco like the plaque. They're shit knives.
 
Cutco knives aren't [explitive deleted], they are actually quite nice. It is a little silly that they sell them like Kirbys, but they're made from good steel by a good company(the same folks that make Kabar and Becker knives :thumbup:). They do make some knives with a straight edge, not that crazy scalloped edge, whatever they call it. They're not for me, though.

Personally, I would go the route watercrawl suggested if you're willing to put in the leg work, but grandma would probably be happy with a nice looking block set from Henckles international or Calphalon or Chicago. Although they are not high end by any means, they are attractive and they won't break the bank.
 
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never too sharp said:
Cutco knives aren't shit, they are actually quite nice.
Click to expand...

No, they're shit!!

I promise to not come over to BF and start a "Japanese knives rule them all" campaign and try to convert everyone at BF to such. However, Cutco is one topic I will not let slide by without comment.

When you combine what they charge for their knives and their performance....Cutco knives are TOTAL shit. Add in their marketing strategies, salesmenship, etc. and Cutco turns into a straight out plaque upon this earth. They pray on the weak (family, elderly, neighbors.....who have a hard time saying no). Yuck!!!
 
That's twice you've called them plaque. :confused:
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You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
Not trying to be a spelling nazi or anything. :D
 
if she's old-school euro, go for upper-shelf wusthof. the handle and weight will feel familiar and the steel is a step-up. if she's one of "those people" who throw their cutlery in the dish washer, get an all-steel model.

cutco seems like gimmick.
 
Gentlemen, this is the kitchen forum, not the bathroom forum.
Please find a better word to describe items of inferior quality.
 
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