Cooking knives

[doki doki]

Where the heck can I get my hands on some decent cooking knives in Beijing?

We've been to local markets, outdoor markets, big name stores like Carrefour and Walmart and NONE of them stock knives! I just need a nice big all purpose chopping knife (not one of those cleavers for hacking up whole chickens). Were they pulled off shelves or are knives just not prevalent? We found a Henkel store by Carrefour, but the knives are a pretty penny and I'd rather find them cheaper elsewhere.

[imron]

I just need a nice big all purpose chopping knife (not one of those cleavers)

What do you mean? Those big cleavers are all purpose chopping knives

[johnd]

Ikea is a good place to find Western-style cooking equipment.

[doki doki]

A good call on Ikea. It's pretty far for a single knife, but maybe it's worth the trip to find one.

I guess the cleaver is fine as well; I was just thinking about cutting an apple with that thing. I'm not the world's best cook, and I'm afriad if I use that, I may end up being the world's best finger-cutter-offer. Where can I even get a cleaver?

[roddy]

And what else could you possibly want to chop up, besides a whole chicken?

I'm surprised you can't find what you want (or at least an inferior version) at a large supermarket. Taobao?

Edit:

I guess the cleaver is fine as well; I was just thinking about cutting an apple with that thing

Correct procedure is to place the apple on a solid worktop, then bring the flat edge of the cleaver down with as much force as you can muster, at about five degrees off horizontal. The apple will roll out of its peel in cored quarters.

Edited September 10, 2008 at 08:50 AM by roddy

[johnd]

Roddy is right, you should be able to find what you need in the local supermarket. If you go to Ikea, it just won't be possible to buy one knife. You'll come back with an apple corer, egg slicer, potato masher, grater ... and the rest.

[roddy]

Hang on - is it possible knives have been taken off the shelves for the Olympics? I know how daft it sounds, but . . .

[mr.stinky]

um, roddy, i think the olympics are over. but maybe you're right and they've taken

knives off the market for the paralympics, supposing the authorities are

concerned the paraterrorists may injure themselves.

[doki doki]

OK, I just went to the Lotus Center which is the biggest supermarket around here in Wudaokou AND I went to the upscale U-Center mall supermarket the other day. Neither has knives. When I ask for dāo and make the chopping motion, I am greeted with a no-no-no hand/head shakes and a smile or laugh. Unfortunately, I don't speak any Chinese, so I can't find out why the heck they don't have the knives there. In Walmart, there was a section for knives, but it is completely sold out/barren, which makes me think something fishy is going on. I can't think this is just a language barrier problem, as I've personally hunted up and down every aisle in a few of these stores.

[roddy]

A lot of measures are still in place. Just speculating, but the OP doesn't seem stupid () and these places do sell knives normally, so . . .

[roddy]

but it is completely sold out/barren, which makes me think something fishy is going on

I'm convinced now this is some daft Olympic regulation. Or just some daft regulation. Make your own, prison-style.

[doki doki]

Me thinks I know what would motivate such a weird move, but I'm not sure if it's kosher to discuss.

Anyway ...

If anyone happens upon cooking knives anywhere in their travels, post it here so I can come stock up my kitchen without trekking out to Ikea (and who's to say they, too, don't have knives). Thanks!

[maximinus]

Strange. Here in Harbin, Wal-Mart and Carrefour still have kitchen knives (although can never find a bread knife, but thats another thing). A reasonable set can be got for 150Y or so.

[doki doki]

Miraculously ( ) knives have reappeared on the scene. They're back in local supermarkets.

[imron]

Yep, Olympics are all over now