The last time I invested in a set of knives was about 15 years ago when Nick and I bought a block set of Global knives from a department store in the sales. Roll on 5 years and they got completely battered when we started catering as Hemsley + Hemsley and since then we’ve relied on an assortment of OK knives plus a Misen one that has been pretty much used for everything, even though it’s a big knife so totally cumbersome for many jobs. For the past 2 years Nick and I have talked about investing in a new set — a set we knew was for personal use only and we could look after and only blame each other if they didn’t get the care they needed. We were looking for something a bit different, UK-made, distinct in style and of course a pleasure to work with, which meant quality — and of course by quality I’m also talking about a long-term investment, a more sustainable way of living — the “buy it once, buy it well” approach. That’s when we happened upon Savernake Knives, named after Savernake forest in the Wiltshire area where they are made.

These knives are a game changer. Handcrafted from the best quality materials and designed to give you the finest blade possible, Savernake knives are also endlessly personalisable according to your aesthetic preferences, and of course what you plan on using the knives for. They come individually or in sets like the one Nick and I invested in. They can be engraved and come with a lifetime guarantee. Our set of knives included everything from a “Hook Nosed Turner” (originally commissioned by Tom Kerridge and great for peeling anything soft like peaches and kiwis) through to the impressive but not too big for a home kitchen “Good Chopper” — it looks like a small cleaver but with a slight curve for a rocking motion which is absolutely ideal for vegetables and herbs.

The knives themselves are each unique with each model having a different combination of handle materials or colours. The blade is Swedish Sandvik 14c28n Steel which is used because of its quality. Savernake use a combination of state of the art aerospace technology and traditional handcrafting techniques to make their knives — no wonder chopping carrots feels like child’s play for us these days! The brand’s signature concave blade geometry results in knives that weigh less, cut better and stay sharp for longer.

For the handles, they mainly use three shades of Durat, which is a material made from post-industrial recycled waste which is in itself recyclable — another sustainable bonus. They also use English Walnut veneer from FSC accredited suppliers layered with G . F Smith coloured paper (we chose a lavender and a white) on some of the handles for a 3D textured look that really shows off the handle shape. The magnetic knife rack is made from solid English Walnut. Each knife takes 50 hours to make (!!!!), with 42 individual processes involved. The honing steel (AKA a knife sharpener) is made from English Walnut, Walnut veneer and lavender Durat. The other Durat shades used are white and dark grey. Together the setlooks stylish and coherent without being matchy matchy — and they are so unique that we love looking at them almost as much as we like using them!

These are special objects, which means it’s crucial that we take proper care of them so that they will last a lifetime. The first rule is to never put them in the dishwasher, though if it happens accidentally they do offer a reconditioning service. The wooden-handled ones should be oiled from time to time with Danish oil, generously coated onto the handle for 5 minutes, before wiping off the excess and leaving the oil to work its magic overnight. The knife should be honed before each use using a honing rod, and sharpened once or twice a year using a specialised device like this one. Savernake also offer a complimentary sharpening and edge retention service once a year for the first 3 years after buying your knife.

If you’re looking for some new kitchen knives, I can’t recommend Savernake enough. Find out more about them here.

THE LATEST ADDITION TO MY KITCHEN: SAVERNAKE KNIVES