Ask Me Anything: My Advice for Buying Knives

I also talk about growing cilantro, the best stadium food and my trick for finding great eats in Jamaica.

Happy Friday … or should I say more accurately, happy Saturday! Yesterday was replete with travel nightmares coming back from Atlanta. So here we are, together at last on the weekend.

I love taking your questions! If you’ve got a paid subscription to Spilled Milk, you can leave questions for next week in the comments below. “Anything” means anything: In recent weeks I’ve answered questions about what to eat in Key West, school lunches, Costco bagels and morels.

Let’s get to …

This week’s questions

Susie:

Andrew, I am getting serious about knives. I have bought several in the last two years largely due to social media posts (mistake!)

I purchased two Milk Street knives, they literally fell apart. I purchased two Misen and the blades are disintegrating! I want Shun but have small hands and a limited budget.

What individual knives should I buy as I am moving forward knowing that a set is often more economical…I am cooking five times or more a week in a little bistro and for my private clients, a family of four. I can start over! I need to.

Veronica:

Do you have plans for visiting Guyana!? I would love to see your exploration of the cuisine.

Susan:

Pan seared salmon: what’s your best technique? It feels like it either sticks, gets dry, or too crusty on the outside once you get to a nice medium/medium rare on the inside. I’ve done everything from the cast iron grill pan to non stick pans to straight up all-clad pans.

Jan:

My cilantro opted to be a jerk again this summer and died on me. Is there a better way? I love fresh cilantro. Although it obviously doesn’t love my attempts to grow it in pots. And when you visited the U.P. of Michigan did you eat at Lagniappe in Marquette and if yes, thoughts? I wish we had them here in Bismarck. Thanks to you my 17 year old and I tried soft shelled crab and loved it (Lagniappe’s had it on special).

jahsunn dunkley:

What's your favorite jamaican dish, when only in Jamaica?

Jeff:

Best food you’ve ever had at a sports stadium?

IntranetUSA:

Will you do ever do an AMA on Reddit?