Being a cook or chef means having trusty knives and tools at hand, and I'm on the hunt for a new trusty knife. Tired of the poor selections of kitchen knives and accessories at House of Knives and Ming Woo? Lets give a warm welcome to Knifewear and their vast selection of Japanese knives and expertise.
Knifewear is tucked away in the same plaza as the Vancity on Main St. just a block up from King Edward. There is very little storefront presence, other than a nice flag and sign that says "Knifewear" hidden behind the shrubbery and greens infront. Inside is open and spacious, with knives and display cases lining more than half the store, and kitchen accessories in the other half. Knifewear specializes in Japanese knives, which differs from the typical european knives we in North America are accustomed to such as Henckels, Wüsthof, etc. If you think european knives are expensive, then you'll be in for a big surprise when you look through Knifewear's inventory. most petty/paring knives are priced around 100+, with chef knives averaging 200-300+ easily. What sets the Japanese knife market and European market apart is the broad range of brands and smiths available in Japan, versus the large conglomerate companies like Henckels & Wüsthof. Many Japanese brand names, especially small shop smiths have several centuries worth of history and expertise, ranging as far back as the 1300s.
Peter, the sales associate who helped me, was very knowledgeable and proactive in recommending me knives based on my needs and budget. He didnt bring me just 1 knife, but atleast some 10 different knives and asked me to test them all out and for my thoughts. Everyone who works at Knifewear are industry professionals, so they know their way around the various types and steels used in knife construction; something you dont get at ming woo or house of knives. Even though my intent for the day was to browse and ask some questions, at the end of the day, I fell in love with a 350$ knife that i swore Ide return for eventually.
If you are an industry professional, aspiring cook, or a hobbyist looking for a new partner in crime, I'd definitely recommend visiting Knifewear and browse their vast selection.
A Sharp Five, out of Five. read more