Mac the Knife

I've been shopping for a great knife, and have tried a number of the top brands in the process. I'm happy to say that I've found it—the MAC knife. I never knew one knife could make food prep so enjoyable. But you really can't miss when you follow the lead of the man known as America's greatest chef, Thomas Keller. And he's not alone: Other great chefs who have endorsed MAC knives include Charlie Trotter, Charlie Trotters in Chicago, Hubert Keller, Fleur de Lys in San Francisco, Eric Ripert, Le Bernardin in New York City and the late Jean-Louis Palladin, Jean-Louis Palladin Foundation.

Keller's top choice is the MAC Ultimate Slicer (10 inches; $275, macknife.com). As for me, I have the MAC Pro Santoku (6 inches; $120). There's a Newspaper Test and Tomato/Carrot/Potato Tests that will blow your mind. I ran the knife against a piece of paper and gasped at how perfectly and easily it went through. I felt I was using less energy to dice onions and the weight of the knife was perfectly balanced to make my kitchen duties easier. At this point, I love it so much that I gingerly place it back in the gift box it arrived in after each use. It is a pleasure, and worth every cent.

Here's what makes MAC knives so great: The thinner blade allows straighter, more uniform cuts with greater precision and less effort. MAC's blades are not only thin but also flexible, allowing them to glide through ingredients. Others tend to be forged construction, which produces a thick, stiff blade that needs to be pushed through the item. The wider and thicker a blade, the more it experiences the "wedging" effect (think of driving a wedge into a log). The thinner MAC blade displaces less space in the cut and smoothly guides through. The company has an extensive understanding of what make a particular knife appropriate for each task-a longer blade will allow you to cut with fewer strokes; a narrow blade will make a tighter turn; when cutting against a cutting board, the blade needs a slight curve or upsweep towards the handle so that you will not hit your knuckles.

Looking for an extra-special gift for the foodie in your life? MAC is releasing the MKS-105, part of a limited-edition Thomas Keller set ($800). The knife has a white handle and Thomas Keller's signature etched in the blade. If that price tag is out of your reach, the good news is that there's a MAC knife to fit every budget, with prices from $25 to $300.-Denise Shoukas

Denise Shoukas is a regular foodspring.com contributor and is the author of foodspring’s food forager blog.