"knife" news and stories

Have you ever seen someone using a fork, knife or another eating utensil in a way that seems incredibly awkward? Because the ability to use a knife and fork is a mark of a well-socialized individual and is a skill that is typically picked up from observing others, it is hard not to wonder they picked up such unusual habits. In Japan, some schools are wondering the same thing and want to make sure that such sloppy, untraditional habits of chopstick use are stopped before they spread any further. The Hisatagakuen Sasebo Girls' High School will be testing students on their skill with chopsticks as part of their entrance examinations. The 10-minute test will require that students "transfer beads, marbles, dice and beans from one plate to another."

Administrators say that the purpose of this test is to show respect for "the Japanese spirit" but, in light of the decline of chopstick use among Japanese children, it also seems like a rather unusual way to make sure everyone has good table manners.

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It appears that this time it wasn't a K-9 unit, but rather a police officer, that did the nose work. After a pizza delivery woman reported being robbed at knife-point, Bartholomew County Sheriff's Deputy Jimmy Green canvassed the Columbus, Indiana, neighborhood to investigate. Green apparently noticed the distinct aroma of sausage and pepperoni at one residence. A search of the house turned up the missing pizzas and cash, a knife, and a phonebook still open to the pizza section, according to The Associated Press. Two young men believed to be the robbers were arrested at the house.

[Via Slice]

Add another product to the list of things that have going pink in support of breast cancer awareness. This special edition set of Mundial knives is a ten piece set and includes seven knives, a carving fork, kitchen shears and the wood block holder to keep everything organized. One of the included knives is a granton edge santoku knife, one of the most popular models available, and this is the first Mundial set to include it.

Even though the set was created in honor of the company's partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the charmingly feminine pink color of the set should make it appealing to many for purely aesthetic reasons. In other words, whether you intend to support the cause or not, a girly set of kitchen knives is a nice change from the basic black of most manufacturers.

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As we wrap up Sandwich Day here at Slashfood (thanks for all the great pics!), I was wondering: how do you cut a sandwich?

I mean, I know how to do it (it involves a knife), but I mean do you cut it down the middle, so you're left with two rectangles, or do you cut it diagonally, so you're left with two triangles?

I think this has a lot to do with our age and the way we were raised. For example, when we're young, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or tuna fish sandwiches and mom cut them for us, she probably cut it down the middle. I'm not sure why this is, but all moms seem to do it. Maybe they think our kid hands can't hold triangles? Or maybe rectangular food is just an easier concept for our kid minds to grasp?

I think that as we get older, something happens where we start to cut it diagonally. Does it happen at around 15, when we're starting to become independent, or does it happen when we're 21, and we actually are adults and we have to stop cutting sandwiches the "kiddie" way.

Of course, I don't have that problem anymore. Some time in my 30s I stopped cutting my sandwiches altogether. How about you?

When school season starts up, kids and parents will find themselves dealing with a lot more cake. Even in the face of various school restrictions, there will be cakes in class when birthdays come up and sheet cakes every few weekends at various parties. This cake knife animal is exactly what it sounds like - a plastic, serrated cutter that looks like an animal - and we suspect that it would be a big hit at kids' parties. After all, it is brightly colored and silly looking, and the idea of some sort of cartoon critter biting into a cake is probably enough to put a smile on any child's face. Because it is made of plastic, it is also safe enough to kids to handle on their own, although you'll probably want to supervise the cutting just to make sure the whole sheet cake doesn't end up in only 8 pieces.

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