This Gourmet Japanese cooks knife, also known as a santoku knife, features a straight-edge blade for straight-down slicing and precision chopping. Rows of alternating hollows in the blade create tiny air pockets, so the knife slides without sticking and even paper-thin slices fall away. The 3-inch parer comes in handy for cleaning prawns, trimming ginger, or creating garnishes. Like other Wüsthof cutlery, this set is safe in the dishwasher, but should be washed by hand for best results. --Emily Bedard