My old Saboteur Chefs knife has been well used and abused for many a year and it was time to retire it to filleting fish (they are excellent for this!).

But which brand of the many should I choose and how much should I spend? I’m not one who will buy cheap in the hope it will stay sharp, so I started looking at my top end of the brands.

There are few in this price bracket (£60-£70), I.O. Shen, Miyabi, Wustof, Global etc. and I spent any chance during my infrequent shopping trips to check out kitchen equipment shops. After handling a few of these, one immediately just sat in my hand and felt at home, the I.O. Shen Chefs Knife 8”. These knives are super sharp because they are made with an inner core of extremely hard steel and this is protected by softer steel on the outside.

So I dug my hand in my pocket and purchased it (thanks for some great advice from Owen & Simpson – Dorchester)

Now preparing food is now a delight, the blade just glides its way through onions (to finely dice is now a doddle!), tomatoes, root vegetables and is amazing when chopping herbs – thankfully I have managed to keep the blade well away from my fingers!!

For more details on the I.O. Shen range (there is a lot!) I would recommend visiting Owen & Simpson, Antelope Walk, Dorchester and trying one out for yourself.

I.O. Shen Knives – the best there is.