Help KWilk Pick a Graduation Present - Page 2

Agree with the knife. You'll get to Alinea eventually, hopefully sooner rather than later obviously.

go with the knives. They will carry you into your future and you can bring them to DC for the holiday party and put them to use!

I voted for the kitchen table at Trotters. Upon further thought you should get the knife as you will have it for a very long time. In regards to Trotters...maybe some of the Chicago members will take you . I would pitch in even if I couldn't be there.

Get the knives, eventually they will pay for those tables many times over if you become a decent cheff

Ebay it for <$200!

I voted Shun. I'm kind of biased though as I have one. But also, i figured you can get a good job, work hard with the knife, and then afford your own Trotters' table or grand tour, am I right? Also, Trotter or Achatz will be much more impressed, and therefore more willing to offer you a potential stage, if you are paying for one of those meals out of your own pocket. Maybe. Edit, didnt see the part about you buying the gift for yourself, but I still go with the knife.

Dude. Some people say live for the future, some people say live for now. Each perspective has validity for different people. Who are you? That's the choice you make. Me, I try to live as if each moment was the culmination of a life's work; it reminds me of the depth of moments, to commune both with myself and those who share the moment with me, if only in spirit. A meal can do that (heck, a cocktail can, believe me). A knife most definitely can -- and if I was shelling out $300 for a knife I'd want it to have been as passionately made as a meal at Alinea, i.e., http://www.japanesechefsknife.com ~ H

Are the knives you've got now doing a decent job? If not, get the knives. If so, get cash. You'll need it to help with your slave wages.

Treat yourself to a really expensive meal, I think you will feel satisfied that you did it.

This is a tough poll, actually. Yes, the knife is tangible, but any of those three gifts would be permanent for you.

Alinea's would be pretty akward alone IMO

Aren't you going to be chopping onions and doing sauce reductions in the beginning? What do you need Shun knives for? If you really need a knives, get some Forschner blades. You'd spend less than $100 on a set of 4 and you'd be golden.

A lesser, single course meal would be fine alone but something that is a several hour long process doesnt seem right alone with nobody to talk to.
I'm probably with teger on this one UNLESS your being a graduate of culinary school would convince them to do something special for you. If you could buy yourself dinner at Alinea but get them to let you spend some time in the kitchen, getting to talk with the chefs and observe may well make up for the lack of someone to share the meal with.

1> I have seen people eat at Alinea alone. It is a VERY long meal for that. I eat at nice places alone all the time, but not sure I could handle it. 2> I voted for the Alinea dinner before I realized you were paying yourself. I had some superstition issues with the Knife as a "gift". 3> To each his own, but I like German Knives. I think Globals are cooler Japanese knives than Shun though.... Still, it is probably your best bet to go with a knife you love to start your new career.