The Best French Steak Knives: Laguiole Andre Verdier Debutant Serrated Knife
If you already know about the Laguiole brand of knives, then you must be a seasoned foodie. Perhaps the most famous cheese knives in the world, Laguiole also now make dinnerware such as this stunning set of Laguiole Andre Verdier Debutant Serrated Steak Knives in Cornflower Blue.
Made in Thiers, France’s “knife city” and in small Laguiole, the French village with the same name since 1829, the knives originated as pocket knives but quickly became known as quality, handcrafted artisan knives for home use. See our Dos and Don’t’s of Serving Cheese featuring the famous Laguiole cheese knives.
The Beauty is in the Detail
Look closely at a Laguiole knife, and you will notice exquisite details, each representing a rich history.
1. Smooth handle: The original knives were made of bone, ivory, and its handle, made of beautiful pakka wood. In modern times, this look is re-created but crafted from resin in various colours. I love the vintage look of these knives and how the smooth handles feel in my hand.
2. Weight and feel: The knives are carefully crafted and weighted with over a century of expertise to maintain the perfect cutting angles and position of the blade, giving you a comfortable grip.
3. The iconic bee: This bee was known to be the symbol of Napolean’s army. It always sits on the joint of the knife, as this point was historically where the thumb would rest, while the blade folds out from there. I love that this history remains in each knife today.
4. The wooden block: each knife set comes with a wooden storage block to protect and maintain the lifespan of the blades.
The Secret to Making Your Steak Tender and Tasty
A great steak can be one of the most straightforward and fastest crowd-pleasing dinners. So whether it be for a family barbecue or a romantic meal for two, many of us choose to cook up a delicious and juicy steak. However, often a steak at home doesn’t have that same flair and attention to detail like the ones you get in restaurants.
Here are 3 ways to make your steak taste better
1. Season with a heavy hand: Steaks can take a lot of seasoning, so don’t be shy! Season with salt and cracked pepper before it hits the grill to seal in the flavour. You can even use delicious flavoured salts.Try this: blitz equal weights of sea salt and dried porcini mushrooms in a food processor for the most amazing Porcini Salt that will give your steak so much depth and umami flavour. Or buy a gourmet flavoured salt like this Vintage Merlot Salt from Gewurtzhaus.
2. Rest the steak in butter: Don’t be afraid, just do it! Butter makes everything better. As soon as the steak comes off the grill, transfer to a plate, loosely wrap in foil with a pat of butter on top and give it around 5 minutes resting time
Note: the larger the cut of meat, the longer the resting time. A roast joint of meat should rest for about 20 minutes.
3. Serve it with a sauce: Simple mustard or horseradish won’t do it. Spend some time crafting a delicious sauce that will bring your steak to life. Try the Chimichurri Sauce from our post, 4 Mouthwatering Sauce Recipes for an Aussie BBQ or for something elegant, you can’t go wrong with a beautiful yet straightforward Red Wine Sauce, like this one from The NY Times.
Do you have a special go-to steak knife that you use at home? Share with us in the comment box below. If you would like to see more of Laguiole and its elegant collection of knives, cutleries, serving pieces and more, browse here.
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