House of Knives

Knives

We all have different requirements and budgets where knives are concerned, therefore at House of Knives we strive to give you the choice and advice you need to make a wise personal choice. Our extensive selection covers some inexpensive choices through to the top quality and globally recognised brands. We stock Fr. Dick, Messermeister, Henckels, Wusthof, Sabatier, Arcos, Victorinox and Mundial to name a few.

A recent addition to our knife brands is the world-renowned Fr. Dick range of knives. Founded in 1778, Fr. Dick is an affordable brand made in Germany, and known for both its great knives and its sought after sharpening steels.

Fr. Dick knives are available in several different styles including the '1905' style, which first appeared in 1905 and has more recently been reproduced using modern materials and techniques. This striking design features a black handle with steel rings, and is the very series of knives that our award-winning NZ Culinary Team uses.

Another special series is the WACS knife series. WACS (World Association of Cooks Societies), worked with Fr. Dick to produce a knife featuring a non-stick blade with an imitation mother-of-pearl handle. This is the knife series you will soon see Simon Gault using in an upcoming TV programme, and David Schofield, NZ Chef of the Year 2011, also loves using his Fr. Dick knives.

We also carry several other Fr. Dick ranges to suit various situations.

Not only do we stock kitchen knives; we have specialist knives for professional chefs as well. There is even a range of mezzalunas – the knives Nigella Lawson made 'famous'. The ones with the curved blades.

We also carry several styles of cheese knives from the wide double handled knives small cheesemakers use, to popular cheeseboard styles.

Storage options

There are several solutions for safe knife storage, including knife blocks, edge protectors, magnetic racks and knife rolls, satchel-type bags and drawer inserts (where the blade is held between sprung plastic loops).

Sharpening options

Knives, no matter how expensive or inexpensive they are, need to be maintained on a regular basis.

A selection of methods is available including the normal sharpening steel (which aligns the blade's edge), to Diamond steels, Diamond stones, regular stones, ceramic sticks or stones, and a range of pull through sharpeners.

The most popular pull through sharpeners are the manual Chef's Choice Diamond Hone sharpener Model 440, or one of the electric models available from the same maker – Edgecraft, of USA.

We also have the Lansky sharpening system which is suitable for kitchen knives, but possibly more sought after by those wishing to sharpen sports type knives and tools. Your knives are ready by lunchtime the next day (except for knives delivered on Friday or Saturday. They are ready Monday lunchtime.)

Eurolux Cookware

Eurolux roasters, casserole dishes, frypans and saute pans are now available! This hand-cast cookware is made of high-quality alloy which conducts heat seven times faster than steel or iron, and has a 7mm–8mm non-warp base.

Eurolux is a German / Swiss product with proven Quality and Safety Awards from TUV-Rhineland / Germany.  A titanium oxide finish is applied in Switzerland using high-tech plasma beams to harden the surface before scintering the non-stick carbon fibre surface. The carbon fibre patent is exclusive to Eurolux and guaranteed to have no Teflon (PTFE's), and does not release any chemicals.

The surface is durable, scratch and cut resistant, non-stick and safe. Handles stay cool and are heat resistant to 260°C. The glass Roaster lids can be used as another dish, and the glass lids for the other items have adjustable vented knobs to allow steam to escape if required. These products are suitable for Gas, Ceramic, Electric and Halogen hobs.

Woodware / cutting boards

We carry a range of wooden knife blocks and wooden cutting boards. Much of our woodware is made from native NZ wood and comes in various sizes and styles. Many of our boards are beautiful enough for serving on.

We also have a range of polyethylene cutting boards, and plastic cutting mats.

Leather boots / footwear

We proudly stock the Rossi range of boots designed specifically for the Hospitality industry, but are also suitable for other occupations.

NZ leather is one of the main components for these boots, which have been made by the Rossiter family in Australia, for over 100 years.

We also stock several other styles of footwear including Swedish KONGA clogs used in many commercial kitchens, and also used extensively in European hospitals. In NZ we sell these to surgeons, dentists, nurses, bakers and chefs – in fact anyone who is on their feet for much of the day. Konga swedish clogs are designed to minimise leg fatigue and help to maintain correct posture.

Other ranges include the KORKERS range made in NZ.

Chefwear

We import material and have several ranges of chefwear made in NZ. Our selection covers jackets, hats, trousers, neckerchiefs, aprons etc and as we manufacture here, we are often able to arrange custom-made clothing if necessary. Embroidery can also be arranged if required. The size range of our jackets and trousers is very extensive. Our jackets fit a 67cm chest to 157cm, and trousers cater for waist sizes 68cm through to a 4XL (approx. 120cm).

Our aprons also cover many sizes from short 'bar' aprons to long 'French' aprons and bib aprons. Most come with or without pockets. These aprons appeal to not only kitchen and wait staff, but also to artists, florists, etc.

Small kitchen equipment

You'll find a range of small items for use in the kitchen such as potato ricers, several types of mandolins, pressure cookers, pasta machines, Bamix stick blenders etc.
 

Garnishing / hand tools

We have an interesting array of special tools for garnishing, mostly from Triangle of Solingen, Germany. These include common tools such as zesters, crinkle cutters, channel knives and Julienne cutters to 'cool' tools like potato spirals, radish spirals, orange peelers, grapefruit knives and spoons etc.

Most of these items are inexpensive, simple to use and help you quickly create amazing looking food.

Microplanes also fit into this category and we have both domestic and 'commercial' styles which are razor sharp and produce lovely fluffy parmesan cheese and grated cheddar cheese, zest oranges, lemons and limes in seconds without including the pith, and are great for grating butter, apples, nutmegs, ginger and so much more.

Kitchenware / bakeware / cookware

Contrary to our name, we also stock a good selection of bakeware including a comprehensive range of both square and round cake tins, wooden cake boxes, loaf tins and some commercial baking trays etc.

We have mixing bowls, quiche, flan and pie tins, preserving pans, pots and frypans, and various specialist baking moulds. Often we have moulds in stock for Gingerbread houses, trains and carriages, small cars and the like. These are not always available but are popular when we can get them.

Silicone and teflon baking sheets are available too.

Kitchen accessories

We have a huge range of items that fall under the 'kitchen accessories' category.

Some of these are: piping bags and piping nozzles, gas blow torches for caramelising, can openers (that work), garlic presses, thermometers for meat, ovens, candy etc, peelers, spatulas, rolling pins, salt and pepper grinders, salt and flour dredges, cake boards in silver or gold, round or square, in a big size range (200 – 450mm).

We also have serving utensils, salad servers, pate and cheese knives.

Melamine platters and serveware

A recent addition to our range of products has been the RYNER range of commercial quality melamine platters, bowls and serveware. These are great for both commercial and domestic use. They are considerably lighter than crockery plates and therefore the larger catering-size platters are appreciated by wait staff, and they look great on buffets, for special events or for BBQ/picnic sets. The small Chinese spoons are so popular they are hard to keep in stock, and the small condiment dishes have a multitude of uses. We have a good selection of plain white melamine, and have also added a selection of red, black and lime green items to compliment these. A great selection of sizes and shapes ensures versatility, and the range is all dishwasher-safe.

• Platter/plate sizes range from 250mm x 170mm to 710mm x 405mm
• Bowls (square) and sauce/condiment dishes range from 70mm to 375mm square
• Chinese spoons - great for canapes - when we can keep them in stock!

Table cutlery

We carry a selection of TableKraft cutlery sets in various sizes and combinations from a very basic 32pc set (4 items for 8 settings) to large 58pc sets. A range of designs are available as loose stock to enable customers to make up their own combination or replace lost items of cutlery (like those mysteriously disappearing teaspoons!).

Also stocked, are four designs of Studio William Cutlery by the British designer William Welch, who has won awards for some of his stylish and very modern designs. These stunning sets are all 8 place settings.

Sets of soda spoons, steak knives, fruit spoons, cake forks are also stocked.

Barware

Our barware range covers a selection of wine/waiters' knives, bottle openers, bottle sealers, Hand Jives (speed openers), cocktail shakers, muddlers and muddling spoons, hawthorne strainers, ice tongs and more.

We have a small range of high quality polycarbonate drinkware for the boat, motor home, pool party, picnic basket or BBQ. These very popular pieces are beautifully clear and will change your thoughts about 'plastic' drinkware.

We can also supply/obtain glass hangers and commercial cork pullers.

Scissors

Our scissor range is very extensive and covers not only kitchen scissors, but everything from nail and nose scissors to carpet and kevlar.

Also in this category are items such as poultry shears, dressmaking scissors, paper scissors, hair scissors, buttonhole and embroidery scissors, bandage and pinking scissors to name just some.

And have you also heard about the safe Kid'zors Scissors from Germany? They cut but they don't! That's right, the little ones cannot cut themselves with these safe scissors, but they can still cut paper, cardboard and material etc. We have been surprised at just how popular these scissors have been.

Personal care items

We have always stocked an assorted range of basic personal care items such as nail scissors, tweezers, razors etc but find the selection of these is subject to 'fashion' trends just as much as other items. When we imported a range of illuminated tweezers recently, we could not believe how fast they disappeared! These are available individually, or in a small Beauty Case set comprising the illuminated tweezers, a mirror, a combination eyebrow brush and comb, and a small pair of scissors.

Foot rasps have also been a very popular item. The basic item has remained the same, but each year or so they appear with a trendy handle or in new colours. And we also have a good selection of tweezers with either straight, blunt or slanted tips. One series of tweezers is painted to look like pretty girls - very attractive and perfect for a small gift item! Nail files are also popular as gifts, especially the glass and 'crystal' decorated variety, and the 'rainbow' coloured ones. Our personal care items solve many a gift dilemma!

We have a lovely selection of manicure and shaving items from Merkur, Dovo and Nippes of Solingen, Germany. There are  safety and straight ('cut-throat') razors and leather strops.

Some of the manicure scissors have big finger holes which make them popular with men who have large hands, plus we have a big selection of manicure sets from small purse sized sets to larger sets, in a range of styles to suit men, women or teenagers.

As well as taking care of nails and beards, we have nose / ear clippers to remove hair and nail clippers. Along with these we have toenail nippers for the really tough toenails and we try to keep some diabetic nippers in stock although at times there may be a small wait until the next shipment from Germany arrives. (Diabetic nippers are designed to reduce the risk of piercing the skin with sharp points and leading to the chance of infection.)

Hunting, fishing, sports knives

There is a varied range of these knives both in fixed blade and folding blade styles and fish filleting knives come in varying lengths and degrees of flexibility to suit most fishers.

There are blade suitable for use on the boat and others designed more for kitchen use, and in a wide price range. Fishing knives are often very personal choices, so if buying them for a gift, you may wish to take a gift exchange voucher as well.

Pocket and collectors' knives

We carry a selection of Victorinox pocket knives (and Swiss Cards), multitools (including Leatherman Tools), and several ranges of knives from Boker (Germany), Case (USA), Gerber and Buck (USA), and Puma (Germany).

Some knives have scales of Mother of Pearl or attractive wood and we have a limited number of hand completed Scrimshaw knives from Germany.

Gift vouchers

With such a selection of merchandise from which to choose, you may prefer to give a gift voucher. Vouchers are available in whatever denomination you choose.

Sharpening and mail order service

We have a toll-free number and provide a mail order service. Also an overnight sharpening service is available at a very reasonable cost - knives are ready by lunchtime on the next business day. Guillotine blades, loppers etc are also usually able to be sharpened.

Our demonstration bench gives you the opportunity to gain knife skills, learn about safe care and storage of your knives, and you can often try knives prior to purchase.