Still made in the USA, Nambé's signature metal alloy is liquefied, poured into a hand-made sand cast, and the resulting piece repeatedly polished and smoothed by hand. Exceptional gifts for the most special of occasions, Nambé metal bowls and accessories are now joined by porcelain and crystal pieces, each flawlessly crafted. Nambé ware has won numerous design awards, has been shown in or recognized by nearly two dozen museums worldwide, and is part of the permanent collections of many, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. -Ann Bieri.

When purchasing cutlery and cooking tools for their kitchens, discerning consumers and professional chef's are looking for quality and features first, and this is why Messermeister forged cutlery is recognized by culinary professionals and cutlery enthusiasts alike as the finest forged cutlery on the market.

But it also means they are perfectly shaped and fit handles seamlessly. And the blades' high-carbon stainless steel is identical to that of Wüsthof's premium knives, only thinner. The bread knife has a raised handle for comfort when slicing through crusty loaves, making it easier to cut cleanly through the bottom crust. The knife is dishwasher-safe, but hand washing is recommended to protect its edge. -Fred Brack.

The longer of two bread knives in the series, this one features a nine-inch blade and a distinctly sharp tip for piercing or spearing. Uses for the knife are many; in addition to bread and tomatoes, the serrated blade slices easily through large cakes, fruit cobblers, or quiche. An excellent gift for any baker or home cooking enthusiast, the knife is covered by a lifetime warranty and is dishwasher-safe, though Wüsthof recommends washing and drying its cutlery by hand. -Ann Bieri.

Founded in 1731, the J. A. Henckels company is not only one of the world's oldest cutlery manufacturers, it's also one of the most well respected, creating best-selling knives guaranteed to last a lifetime. -Kim Harwell From the Manufacturer First introduced in 1976, the Four Star® Series is one of the world's most popular knife lines. Four Star® knives were designed and developed in close cooperation with renowned professional chefs. The result was a fully forged knife with a unique molded handle. The Four Star® line contains knives for all tasks, and includes the following open stock knife types: parer, bread, peeling, sandwich, utility, carving, chef’s, granton edge slicer, santoku, and others. Four Star® knives are also available in a range of block sets and gift sets. A Higher Standard in Knife Construction Four Star® knives are precision forged from a single piece of exclusive-formula, high-carbon, no-stain steel under the all-new Sigmaforge standard. As a result, Four Star® knives have improved quality consistency, lasting sharpness, and perfect geometry. Sigmaforge one-piece construction also provides high precision and improved stability of the blade and steel structure, thus improving cutting-edge retention for lasting sharpness. In addition, Four Star® knives use J. A. Henckels’ Friodur ice hardening for corrosion resistance, a process that also contributes to cutting-edge retention. It's All in The Grip: The Four Star® series features high impact polypropylene handles that are permanently bonded to the knife blades without any gaps. These comfortable handles are break-proof, sanitary, and colorfast. In addition, the super bolster provides weight, insures safety, and adds balance. Features: SIGMAFORGE 1-piece, precision forged construction: Provides perfect geometry, high precision, and improved stability of the blade and steel structure, thus improving cutting edge retention for lasting sharpness. Laser controlled edge: Is sharper and stays sharper longer. Has a more consistent blade angle. Friodur ice hardening: Maximum no-stain properties and more blade strength. Improved resistance to corrosion and pitting. Super bolster: Provides weight, insures safety, and adds balance. Full rat-tail tang: Provides a proper balance and greater strength. High-carbon no-stain steel, an exclusive J. A. Henckels formula: Non-staining, non-rusting. Hand, precision honed blade: Is sharper and stays sharper longer. Bonded polypropylene handles: Comfortable molded handles and food safe Dishwasher safe: Easy care (Although hand-washing is recommended by J. A. Henckels). Full warranty: J. A. Henckels stands behind all its knives.