Wife just got me your Ultimate BBQ Apron with all the gadgets. Awesome!!! Just need some Sun now!
Ricky, Hampshire

Just wanted to say thank you so much for the fabulous 'Ultimate BBQ' aprons. The embroidered personalisation is absolutely perfect. Your customer service is first rate and wouldn't hesitate to recommend your company and products to anyone.
Alison, Reading

The service I recieved was first class and you couldn't have been more helpful when I kept changing my mind, you must have patience of a saint and the delivery was very prompt to.
Gillian, The Borders

Such good quality, brilliant stitching rather than printed on. Really happy, thanks HandyMitts!!
Amy,Somerset

Ordered and delivered just before Easter: Great Service, great product. Left a message and got a call back. Spot On!
Joe, Bucks

For Sunday Roasts and dinner party cooking the HandyMitts apron is just so useful. Moving from hot oven and pans to general preparation and back again is to much quicker and safer. A fantastic product!!
Karen, Midlands

The knife (Henckels Twin Cermax Santoku knife) arrived in time for my demonstration and was unbelievable.
Mike, Berkhampstead

The personalised BBQ apron looks great. I can confidently say it is unique to me. Great service as well. Thanks
Roger, Sussex

Thank you so much for those wonderful pinnies!! They are awesome, and I am so grateful to you, they will love them!
Daphne

I ordered an apron for my husband and had it personalised, the help and quality of service I received was brilliant. I would highly recommend this company, they are extremely friendly, helpful and efficient.
Farida, Leicester

I had given up thinking anyone could make what I was looking for and you did it quickly, easily and exactly as I wanted it. Many thanks.
Clare, London

products > henckels kitchen knives > the miyabi collection

MIYABI - The Beauty of Sharpness

MIYABI knives embody the beauty of sharpness, therefore following the tradition of the famous Japanese swords that were not only unbelievably sharp but also incredibly beautiful.

The authentic Japanese blade design and the extraordinary sharpness of the MIYABI knives will fascinate from the first touch. Lovers of Japanese knives will also appreciate the perfect balance and the comfortable handle day after day.

These knives are manufactured in the tradition of the ancient master craftsmen that once delivered the finest Japanese swords.

Made in Seki

Seki has been the centre of the Japanese sword and knife industry since the 14th century. 1n 2004 Zwilling J.A. Henckels Japan acquired one of Seki’s leading manufacturers of top quality knives.

Today this manufacturer combines German engineering with the finest Japanese craftsmanship. The results are Japanese knives at their best. It goes without saying that MIYABI knives are manufactured to Zwilling J.A. Henckels strict quality standards. MIYABI stands for modern products that build on the knowledge that knife makers from Seki have accumulated over centuries in producing blades that are amongst the sharpest in the world.

Iron Chef - Rokusaburo Michiba

Rokusaburo Michiba rose to fame as the first Iron Chef of Japanese cuisine on the popular television program "Ryori no Tetsujin" (Iron Chef) that started in 1993. In 2005 the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare designated him a "contemporary skilled artisan", an honour given to those who have achieved superior skill in their field of work.

Comment by Mr. Michiba:It is often said that a knife is "the spirit of the chef". With this in mind, the sharpness of knives has been greatly valued and pursued with special care by Japanese chefs for a very long time. MIYABI knives are a revolutionary cooking tool because of their long-lasting sharpness, smooth cutting ability, rust resistance and handling ease. Cooking with sharp knives makes food preparation exciting and enjoyable because food can be cut cleanly and beautifully. I am confident everyone will appreciate the comfortable, sharp cutting edge of these knives.

Professionals and hobby chefs alike are beginning to appreciate the value of sharp Japanese knives for western cooking. MIYABI knives are among the sharpest of their kind. They are knives that will please the most discerning consumers in Japan and all over the world.

ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS and Rokusaburo Michiba jointly developed these knife series. Mr. Michiba advised ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS on all questions concerning the marriage of Japanese knife tradition and western taste.

The MIYABI collection

The MIYABI collection comprises four series that each serves different demands. The unique characteristic of these authentic Japanese knives is their amazing sharpness. The outstanding symbiosis of quality, design and comfortable handle sets them apart. The traditional “D-handle” allows tireless working in all cutting techniques. Here at The Cooks Friend Company we supply two knife series from the collection.

MIYABI 5000S - Simply Practical

Combining authentic Japanese blade shapes and cutting angles with ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS' legendary special formula "No Stain" steel, the 5000S series gives consumers a complete line-up of symmetrical an asymmetrical knives with easy-care materials. Featuring FRIODUR® blades ice-hardened to 57° Rockwell, this series can be honed using a whet stone or a sharpening steel to maintain peak cutting performance. The 5000S series is an excellent entry into the world of Japanese Cutlery.

MIYABI 7000D - Simply Beautiful

The Japanese value aesthetics in all aspects of their culture. With striking splendor, MIYABI 7000D knives enhance the demanding culinary presentation of any Japanese dish.

At the heart of the 7000D series is the resilient core of the CMV60 steel. Cobalt for corrosion resistance, Molybdenum to optimize hardness and Vanadium to bond them, this performance composition delivers a Rockwell hardness of 60°.

The elegance of the Damask blade design is created by wrapping 32 layers of two stainless steel materials around the MCV60 core. These two materials react differently to special grinding and polishing treatments creating one-of-a-kind wave patterns in knives that are exceptionally hard, sharp and beautiful.

Types of Knives

KUDAMONO Kudamono = Vegetable knife Peeling and cutting fruit & vegetables Symmetric blade Blade length: 90mm
SHOTOH Shotoh = Small knife Peeling and cutting fruit & vegetables Symmetric blade Blade length: 130mm
CHUTOH Chutoh = Medium knife Cleaning and carving fish & meat Symmetric blade Blade length: 160mm
GYUTOH Gyutoh = Chef's knife Cutting meat and preparing large vegetables Symmetric blade Blade length: 200 & 240mm
SANTOKU Santoku = Three virtues Cutting fish, meat vegetables Symmetric blade Blade length: 150 & 180mm
KODEBA Kodeba = Small protruding blade Cleaning, boning, filleting and cutting fish & meat Asymmetric blade Blade length: 100mm
YANAGIBA Kodeba = Willow leaf blade Filleting and cutting wafer-thin slices Asymmetric blade Blade length: 240mm

Cleaning

The 7000D series knives are manufactured from carbon steel that is extremely hard but also liable to corrosion. To avoid corrosion, these knives should not be cleaned in a dish washer. Clean knives under running water with a little detergent. Always dry knives thoroughly before storing them in a dry place. To avoid rust of discolouration, do not leave knives wet or soiled for too long.

Re-sharpening

Because of the extremely hard steel and Honbazuke honing the MIYABI 7000D series knives can only be sharpened with a professional sharpening stone. First use a coarse stone followed by a fine finishing stone.

The 5000S series knives, made from high quality stainless steel, may be sharpened with a standard top-quality sharpening steel.

TWIN Stone Pro and TWIN Finishing Stone Pro are whetstones that have been developed specifically for the MIYABI knives.

Guide to Buying Kitchen Knives