Wüsthof Classic Ikon Panini Knife, 8"

I was recently given the opportunity to test a new knife and review it on my blog. The knife is an 8" Wüsthof Classic Ikon Panini Knife. This knife can be found at gourmet kitchen stores or online at MetroKitchen.com, which has an excellent selection of quality cookware, knifes and other small kitchen appliances.

Typically this knife retails for about $120. If you know anything about German knifes, then you know this is a fair price. You’ll occasionally find it for a few bucks less online, but MetroKitchen.com is the best place to order it online. Not only do they price match, but they have free shipping on orders over $29.

One warning about buying online… make sure you know what you’re buying. There are Wüsthof Panini knifes on Amazon and eBay that claim to be Ikon for $75, but they are not, I repeat, NOT the Ikon model, they are the older, classic Wüsthof style.

Now, on to the knife. This thing is gorgeous. The steel shines. It’s so polished and pure that it made taking photos with my flash quite difficult. Wüsthof claims that it’s durable enough for cutting bread and hard cheeses, yet it’s gentle enough to slice finely through vegetables. And they’re right. 100%. If you look through the photos below you’ll see the knife at it’s finest. We used it on smoked Gouda, soft Monterrey Jack, and the slightly firmer Colby Jack. We went to town on a juicy red tomato with ease. This knife was perfect for preparing everything we needed for our golden Panini’s.

 

The knife is made of a single piece of forged steel, ensuring that you’ll never have an unsafe, wobbly knife. It’s perfectly balanced to give you a comfortable grip without feeling like the knife is lopsided. And boy oh boy is this puppy sharp, so watch your fingers. Wüsthof only makes the finest quality of knives, so always be careful when handling, because they can cut through just about anything.

I could go on and on talking about this knife. Mentioning how well it glides through golden toasted Panini’s filled with melted cheeses, veggies and tasty condiments. But I’m making myself hungry, so I’ll just let the remaining photos do the talking.

This knife is a must have for anyone who knows their way around the kitchen; or anyone who wants a one-stop knife that is going to be sharp, versatile and last them a lifetime. This is definitely a knife to recommend to your friends, and as a knife connoisseur, I recommend that everyone should have this knife in their block.

Enjoy!

   

Sorry kids...

Sorry that I haven't posted lately... things have gotten a little hectic with life and work, but fear not, things are just gravy.

I promise to post more soon, including a detailed entry on the new Wüsthof Panini knife that I've been selected to review. Pictures and lots of info to come.

Also, be sure to check back after the holiday weekend. I'm sure I'll post something about my trip to Vegas. I'm headed out there tomorrow night and will be back late Monday. It should be a good time. Plenty of tasty food and fun to be had by all.

Thanks for checking in. More to come!

I LOVE BBQ!

Have I mentioned lately how much I love BBQ? If I haven't, then here's your chance to read me saying "I LOVE BBQ!"

Today I hit up one of the best BBQ joints on the planet, Oklahoma Joe's. This place is wonderful. This place has the best food. This place is inside a gas station?

Yes, the famous Oklahoma Joe's started in a gas station, and still operates from it today. This place has all the qualities I look for in good BBQ. A great atmosphere, tasty sauce (I could drink this stuff... and I have), and of course, mouthwatering food. My personal favorite is their pulled pork sandwich. The pork is so soft, juicy and it crumbles in your mouth. This is by far their most popular fare, and is typically found on their daily special's menu. In fact, it was today's special, so naturally I had to have it.

Oh, and who can forget their fries. Anyone who has ever eaten there knows that these are the most addictive part of Okie Joe's. These things are amazing. I'm not sure what all is in the seasoning, but I have a feeling it might be illegal and could even hold a street value of immeasurable amounts. I could eat the fries as a meal... they're that good. There is one way to improve the fries however, and that's with the sauce. With a little bit of a bite and a sweet touch on the tongue, their sauce is simply the best. As mentioned in a previous thread, one of their sauces, Cowtown, was even rated as the "Best Sauce on the Planet" in 2001 at the American Royal.

In my book Oklahoma Joe's is one of the best BBQ places you'll find on the face of this planet. But, you don't have to take my word for it... however, I do take the word of the American Royal BBQ Competition... the World Series of BBQ and the largest BBQ contest in the world, where Oklahoma Joe's has been the Grand Champion. Oh, and a little group called Zagat gave them one of the few "Excellent" scores that they hand out in the BBQ category.

Anyway, I'm going to go fall into a food coma and dream of BBQ. Hopefully the rain will hold off this weekend so I can get back to the grill and whip up something good!