Here at Chow Bella, we understand how important it is to give (and receive) the perfect foodie gift. So this season, we're helping out by offering 21 food- and drink-focused gift suggestions, one each work day until Christmas, from a local business or provider. You get scads of rock-star ideas, the dollars stay in the Valley, and we get to go shopping -- win, win, win!
17: Blades of Glory: Lee Zierten Artisan Knives
Holiday gift ideas for your favorite cook just not cutting it? How about something truly unique: custom cutlery from a Valley craftsman.
Phoenician Lee Zierten, 68, has been crafting cutlery since he bought a knife-making kit from a magazine in 2004. Today Zierten, a cook himself, has made hundreds of custom knives, each a testament to balance, weight, grip, and cutting angle. And since they range in price and style, there's a blade or two for everyone.
Read on for details.
Practical Art is the only shop in the Valley that sells Lee Zierten knives, which range in price from approximately $60 to $125 each, and are available in styles such as steak, paring, filet, sandwich, chopping and santoku. Zierten also gives a lifetime warranty on his knives, but says the lifetime is his, not the customer's.
And for those who want to take this sharp-looking gift up another notch, all of Zierten's knives can be made to order.
Miss a Gift?
21: For the Gin Lover: John's Premium Tonic Syrup from Tuck Shop
20: Wrapped Goodness: The Twelve Tamales of Christmas from Los Sombreros
19: Kitchen Confidence: Cooking Classes at the Classic Cooking Culinary Institute
18: For the Grillmaster or Aspiring Chef: Artisan Sea Salts from Go Lb. Salt
