022 Show Info – Chef Craig Kuhns

Show Topic: Chef Craig Kuhns

Overview:  Our first show with with a chef!  Chef Craig drops a TON of knowledge on how chefs and cooks in professional kitchens use knives as well as some of his personal preferences on knives.  This show gives a cool behind the scenes look about how food is made in the kitchen.  A place that most of us never see when we go to a restaurant. 

Sponsors

• Dragonfly Blade Works
  • Very unique handle pin out with small ⅛” pins on the top with one larger one usually at the bottom belly of the blade.
• Dogwood Custom Knives
• KH Daily Knives 

Dealers

• Olde Towne Cutlery
  • Dogwood Custom Knives
  • KHDaily Knives
  • Dragonfly Blade Works
• Knife Center
  • Dogwood Custom Knives
• The Knife House 
  • Dogwood Custom Knives

Stay in Touch with the Podcast / Hosts

• Knife Perspective Podcast
  • Website: www.knifeperspective.com
  • Connect with us on Facebook / Instagram
  • You can find the podcast on: iTunes / Spotify / Google Podcast / Stitcher / TuneIn Radio
• Dogwood Custom Knives
  • Website: www.DogwoodCustomKnives.com
  • DogwoodCustomKnives on Facebook, Instagram
  • Email: [email protected]
• KHDaily Knives
  • Website: www.KHDailyKnives.com
  • KHDailyKnives on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
  • Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Shout Outs / Gear Talk 

• Weller Special Reserve
• The Knife House Strop

Fundraiser Announcement!

• 50.50 Forge
  • Lost 2 joints of his right hand index finger
  • Makes some awesome damascus
• Tickets can be purchased at https://www.knifeperspective.com/product/50-50forge/ 
• KH Daily Knives – 7” Santoku in 154CM with Deep Sea Shokwood Handles and Thorn Filework
• Dogwood Custom Knives – Vulpine Fang in CPM154 Campfire Plantstone
• Dragonfly Blade Works – Sidecar in Aeb-l and Bocote
• G.L. Hansen and Sons – Micarta Blocks
  • Oreo (Black and grey), Natural “Popcorn”
• JW Stabilized Woods – Stabilized Handle Blocks
  • Yellow Cedar Burl, Purple Buckeye Burl, Black Ash Burl, and Hornbeam

Interview

Early Years / Family

• Where did you grow up 
• What was your first knife 
  • First kitchen  knife 
  • How are you able to balance  family with the crazy and conflicting hours from the kitchen
• How did you meet your lady and where does it fall on the Kyle / Dan scale

Education

• Apprenticeship, self taught, classes
  • Advantages to school VS just getting in a kitchen 
• Is there anything you would do differently 

• If someone wanted to start in a kitchen what is the best way
  • What should they expect 
  • Time to progress
  • Work life conditions  
• Where was the first kitchen you ran  
  • The Palmetto Cafe
  • Charleston Grill
  • Thoroughbred Club 

Kitchen knives 

• What are the top 2 go to knives  in a chefs role
• What should everyone have in their roll 
  • What is a roll and Why do chefs have a one
  • What are some things to look for in a good roll / good brands
• What are the common types of kitchen knives and how are they used  covering 
• What are the differences between french (western) knives and Japanese (asian) 
  • How do they affect the way they are used
  • What are the advantages/ disadvantages
  • How hard is it to change style – go between knife styles
• How important is the handle shape to muscle memory  
• How common are hybrids is that something you have to go to a custom maker for 
• Carbon Steel VS Stainless 
  • How important is it
  • How have modern steels changed the rules    
  • Bottom line what should people look for in a kitchen knife 
• How important are cutting boards      
  • What should they be made of             
    • The end grain cutting board – Getting a bad reputation as holding bacteria, Myth?
  • How do you care for them
• Papa bear design what was inspiration 

Knife skills

• What are some of the most common miss conceptions about using a kitchen knife 
• Grip, ice pick, pinch, 
• Feed hand (how to not cut your finger tips off (get alex to shoot video)
• Balance of the knife
  • Where should it be
• Care and maintenance  
• How do you take care of the blade 
  • Sharpening (auto sharpener)
• Care for handles 
• Dish washer?

Misc / End of show  

• Where do you think the knife industry is going for the professional chef and home cooks

Where to find Craig

• Topsoil in Travelers Rest SC 

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