F ounders Harrison Yu and Chris Carey started their Detroit- based kitchen knife company back in 2018 with a Kickstarter campaign. As the brand’s profile has grown in the media, they have also grown their product offerings steadily to chef knives, steak knives, and paring knives. The two founders share a love of good food and a passion for cooking. They also wanted to start a business around the Detroit area. Their research led them to realize kitchen knives are something beautifully cross-cultural. And it was something they could develop and mold into their own in a unique and purposeful way. “Knives are actually like a fingerprint of a country’s cuisine,” Harrison says while offering a couple of examples. “German knives are great workhorses because a lot of the cuisine is big bold meats and potatoes. Japanese knives are very delicate and actually quite brittle; because the typical Japanese cuisine centers around unique textures as well as more subtle flavor profiles.” “Spanish knives are often overlooked, but are the most well-rounded for everyday use because of their designs and materials,” he continues. “Spanish cuisine is so diverse in its use of meats, seafood, and vegetables. The cuisine also ranges from super rustic to incredible molecular gastronomy and the knives need to match!” And these nuances mean that every different culture in the world has its own knife traditions. For those who are looking for a good knife, try to find something with a full-tang and riveted construction from a technical perspective “so it doesn’t snap in your hand when you’re using it,” notes Harrison. Stainless steel is always the easiest to maintain and most durable for
home-chefs in terms of material. However, never put your knives in the dishwasher, as the machine destroys the handle and blades. Other factors, like weight, grip, and blade shape, are all up to personal preference. “I actually prefer a balance that’s slightly blade forward because it glides so much easier for everyday use and is the best for cutting techniques,” explained Harrison. “But I know some people with really large hands that prefer a chunkier handle, while others with smaller hands like a more delicate one. Again, it’s all personal preference.” As with everything else in food, what makes you happy is the most important thing! You can find out more about Alexandrine and Cass knives by following @ alexandrine.cass on Instagram or by visiting them on their website (www.alexandrineandcass.com) of Facebook (www.facebook.com/ AlexandrineAndCass).
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