My little Nora knife is a beast of a knife. You can immediately feel the quality, workmanship, and degree of skill with which the knife was made. After winning the Impossible Meat challenge with my Impossible Asian Inspired Wellington, one of the prizes was a Nakiri knife from Dani & Steve Jenkins at Nora Knives and Cutlery. Every Nora knife is handmade, unique, and numbered by Steve and Dani in their home-based shop located in Southern California. I fell in love with this little guy from the moment I picked him up; you can say it was love at first sight. A Nakiri knife is a Japanese-style knife that is specifically designed to excel at cutting and prepping vegetables and greens. This particular Nakiri is a custom profile, #1296, and was made with the line cook in mind knowing that they work within a fairly small area and do a large amount of prep. The length of this Nakiri is a nimble 6 inches, but the height of the Nakiri allows it great versatility in cutting both large and small items.
What a piece of art! What makes me really, really happy is the fact that the knife is handcrafted from CPM-M4 Carbon Steel. I absolutely love carbon knives and for me, hands down, M4 is the best carbon steel ever. Because Nora knife blades are made of carbon steel, they require a bit of care. But if you’re willing to show it some love and care, you will end up with one of the best knives ever. There are some basic rules on how to handle carbon knives. I have one piece of advice, wipe off the blade after every use, especially if you deal with acidic foods like tomatoes and lemons, etc. After you’re done using your knife, wash it immediately in warm, soapy water, and never ever put your knife in the dishwasher.
What a screamer of a knife! I love the razor-sharp 6-inch blade made with a handle of Mexican Cocobolo wood, Red G10, custom poured resin, black G10 liners, and copper pins. FYI, Cocobolo wood is one of today’s most prized lumbers for its outstanding color. Kind of explains why it’s also in relatively high demand. One more interesting fact about Cocobolo wood given its incredibly high density, Cocobolo weighs twice as much as cherry wood and sinks in water. The knife is not too heavy and feels just right. A really cool design with quick razor-sharp cutting actions, #1296 was custom laser engraved with the actual chemical breakdown of Heme which gives the plant-based Impossible Burger its meaty taste.
There are many gadgets for chefs out there, from a fancy garlic press to avocado knives, all kinds of stuff that you do not need. I know one thing for sure, a sharp knife and a solid cutting board are a necessity in every kitchen. I know you will agree, a razor-sharp knife that feels great in your hands makes your life so much easier.
My Nora Nakiri knife feels great and secure in my hand and it is truly an exceptional tool for any chef or inspiring chef. Super sharp and a dream to handle. Perfect weight and feel and awesome looks with breathtaking sharpness. So, if you want to handle some sexy steel – look at a Nora Knife, it will definitely be one of the best knives of your life.