rant, and a question about family and sharp knives

Thomas · Dec 25, 2008

On two separate occasions in the last 24 hours I have had the privilege of carving a turkey in someone else's home. On both occasions there was not a sharp knife in the house. These, I'm appalled to say, are relatives. So I butchered the turkey with the best knife I could find and hoped for the best.

Short of holding sharpening classes and buying everyone waterstones for Christmas, I see two options.

1. Bring my own knife to the gathering. ORRR
2. Bring a waterstone and sharpen a knife or three.

I know my preference, and also feel that there's a slightly pejorative tone behind bringing my own knife to a gathering where food is being served, but COME ON already. Which option do you feel is the less offensive to the hosts?

robin · Dec 25, 2008

This is why you gift a nice carving set to bring along with you.

Milhouse · Dec 26, 2008

I gave my parents some nice knives once. I came home for a holiday and caught my mom carving a ham with a beat up and dull old knife instead of the perfectly good knife I gave her.

She was scared of it because it was so sharp.

Huntsman · Dec 26, 2008

I've been in that situation -- I like how you switched to 'butchered,' especially when the bird is a twenty-pounder that had the 275F for 15 hours treatment. Stringy leather. I have one of those little sharpeners that I despise. Handy for a few surreptitious swipes.

Originally Posted by Thomas

On two separate occasions in the last 24 hours I have had the privilege of carving a turkey in someone else's home. On both occasions there was not a sharp knife in the house. These, I'm appalled to say, are relatives. So I butchered the turkey with the best knife I could find and hoped for the best. Short of holding sharpening classes and buying everyone waterstones for Christmas, I see two options. 1. Bring my own knife to the gathering. ORRR 2. Bring a waterstone and sharpen a knife or three. I know my preference, and also feel that there's a slightly pejorative tone behind bringing my own knife to a gathering where food is being served, but COME ON already. Which option do you feel is the less offensive to the hosts?

why · Dec 26, 2008

ELKECTRIC KNIFE isd best for this and one of the few applications its great

Connemara · Dec 26, 2008

Originally Posted by why

ELKECTRIC KNIFE isd best for this and one of the few applications its great
He's drunk again!

Gradstudent78 · Dec 26, 2008

Originally Posted by Thomas

On two separate occasions in the last 24 hours I have had the privilege of carving a turkey in someone else's home. On both occasions there was not a sharp knife in the house. These, I'm appalled to say, are relatives. So I butchered the turkey with the best knife I could find and hoped for the best.

Short of holding sharpening classes and buying everyone waterstones for Christmas, I see two options.

1. Bring my own knife to the gathering. ORRR
2. Bring a waterstone and sharpen a knife or three.

I know my preference, and also feel that there's a slightly pejorative tone behind bringing my own knife to a gathering where food is being served, but COME ON already. Which option do you feel is the less offensive to the hosts?

I'd say sharpen their knives and consider it your way of being gracious towards your hosts.

Thomas · Dec 26, 2008

Originally Posted by Huntsman

I've been in that situation -- I like how you switched to 'butchered,' especially when the bird is a twenty-pounder that had the 275F for 15 hours treatment. Stringy leather.

I have one of those little sharpeners that I despise. Handy for a few surreptitious swipes.

This is a good idea. I've heard of one that is roughly credit-card sized and really easy to use. For a knife that gets used once in a while, and given that I have SO little prep time (turkey's ready - wanna carve it?), this may be a workable solution.

Thomas · Dec 26, 2008

Originally Posted by Gradstudent78

I'd say sharpen their knives and consider it your way of being gracious towards your hosts.

I've considered that as well, but there's a certain part of me that views this in the same light as a territorial encroachment. Like showing a guy how to drive his own car. Also, considering the short lead time of this sort of request, I view it as presumptuous to take the knives and sharpen them ahead of time in the expectation that I would be carving the turkey.

I agree, though - it would be gracious, as an off-season event.

Thomas · Dec 26, 2008

Originally Posted by why

ELKECTRIC KNIFE isd best for this and one of the few applications its great

This is why I

why

Originally Posted by Connemara

He's drunk again!

ORRR:

Google translate has failed him miserably.

ORRRR:

Someone left bourbon out for Santa Claus instead of milk (I know I did)

Manton · Dec 26, 2008

My parents NEVER sharpen their knives. I always have to do it myself when I come, and then my mother complains that I have made all her knives "dangerous".

Connemara · Dec 26, 2008

Originally Posted by Manton

My parents NEVER sharpen their knives. I always have to do it myself when I come, and then my mother complains that I have made all her knives "dangerous".
I hope the auld dame has a knife shelter.

Thomas · Dec 26, 2008

Originally Posted by Manton

My parents NEVER sharpen their knives. I always have to do it myself when I come, and then my mother complains that I have made all her knives "dangerous".

That's the funny part. My dad has a sharp pocketknife, and has all sorts of sharpening paraphernalia (none of which I'm impressed by, but that's beside the point), but kitchen knives are only sharp when they buy them, and even then not so much. For all the take-out and pre-pack crap they eat, I am left to wonder just how they dulled their kitchen knives.

cbird · Dec 26, 2008

I'd add a third option. When you first look over the knife, make a remark to the effect that you think it could use a couple of passes on their knife sharpener (they probably have one of some kind), then give it a quick sharpening. I doubt anyone would be offended by that. Just in case, you could "happen" to have a sharpening stone or something in the car.

Crawford · Dec 26, 2008

Similiar story I'll share:

Asked to carve the bird at my missus' mom's dinner, proceed to search through all the drawers till I find the butcher knife. Seems pretty dull. Find the sharpening rod in it's slot in one of those wooden knife blocks. Pull it out to find it covered in chocolate. Apparently mom needed something to stir the cholocate with as she melted it over the stove.

So I washed the sharpening rod, sharpened the knife and carved the turkey.

rant, and a question about family and sharp knives

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