VICTORINOX GIVES YOUNG CHEFS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO GET STARTED IN THE PROFESSIONAL KITCHEN

For any aspiring chef, one of the most important investments at the start of their culinary journey is a good set of knives.

Whether starting catering college, heading out on work experience or stepping into a professional kitchen for the first time, having the right tools – and learning how to use and care for them correctly – forms an essential part of a young chef’s development.

The Victorinox Chef’s Knife Roll Starter Set (link) https://www.victorinox.com/en-GB/Products/Cutlery/Knife-Blocks-Sets/Chef%27s-Knife-Roll-Starter-Set/p/5.4964.1 has been designed to provide the core tools a budding chef needs, bringing together a practical selection of professional kitchen knives and equipment in a single, convenient knife roll.

As part of The Chefs’ Knowledge, The Chefs’ Forum caught up with Michelin-trained chef Merrick Webber and aspiring young chef Riel Farinha to explore what the set includes and why having the right equipment matters when learning the craft.

A professional starter kit

Rather than filling a knife roll with equipment a student may rarely use, the Victorinox starter set concentrates on the fundamental tools that chefs reach for day after day.

The set includes a 19cm chef’s knife, the workhorse of the professional kitchen. From chopping vegetables and herbs to slicing, dicing and preparing meat and fish, it is one of the first knives a young chef needs to learn to handle with confidence.

A carving knife provides the longer, precise blade needed for cleanly slicing cooked meats and larger ingredients, while the serrated knife is particularly useful for tomatoes, soft-skinned fruit and other ingredients where a straight blade can crush rather than cut cleanly.

For more intricate preparation, the paring knife gives young chefs greater control when peeling, trimming and carrying out smaller, more detailed tasks.

Just as importantly, the set includes a sharpening steel. Learning to maintain a knife is every bit as important as learning to use one. A properly maintained blade makes preparation easier and more precise and is an essential part of good professional kitchen practice.

Everything is housed in a professional knife roll, allowing students and young chefs to keep their equipment together, protected and ready to take between college, work experience placements and professional kitchens.

Learning professional knife skills with Merrick Webber

Riel has been using the Victorinox set while completing work experience with Merrick Webber at The Canal Inn, where he has been gaining hands-on experience of life in a working professional kitchen.

For Merrick, learning to use a small number of good-quality, appropriate knives correctly is far more valuable to a young chef than simply owning a large collection.

Merrick said:

“This is exactly the sort of set I’d recommend to a young chef starting out. It gives you the essential tools you’re going to use every day in a professional kitchen without overcomplicating things. Look after them, keep them sharp and learn to use them properly, and they’ll take you a long way.”

During his placement, Riel has been developing his knife skills while learning about preparation, organisation, kitchen discipline and the importance of looking after professional equipment.

Riel added:

“It’s brilliant having everything I need together in one roll. The knives feel really professional and it means I can practise the same skills at college and on work experience that chefs use every day in the kitchen.”

Building confidence from the beginning

Good knife skills aren’t simply about speed. For a young chef, the priority is learning accuracy, consistency, safety and control.

Understanding which knife to select for a particular job, how to hold it correctly, how to work safely and efficiently and how to maintain the blade are fundamental skills that will remain relevant throughout a chef’s career.

A well-organised knife roll also encourages something every professional chef understands: respect for your tools.

For students progressing between college kitchens, stages, work experience and their first jobs, having their own core set of equipment also creates continuity. They can practise with the same knives, become accustomed to their balance and handling and steadily build confidence.

Everything a young chef needs to get started

The Victorinox Chef’s Knife Roll Starter Set provides a straightforward route into professional kitchen equipment without overwhelming a young chef with unnecessary tools. It is a particularly useful option for culinary students, apprentices, young chefs beginning their first kitchen role and anyone preparing for professional work experience.

At The Chefs’ Forum, we are passionate about giving the next generation the knowledge, skills, industry exposure and confidence they need to progress.

And sometimes that starts with something very simple: putting the right tools in their hands and showing them how to use them.

Following his work experience last week, Riel has now been offered a weekend job with Merrick and the team at The Canal Inn and is absolutely delighted. We will keep you posted. Stay tuned for updates!

For more information on the Victorinox Chef’s Knife Roll Starter Set, contact: Craig.antcliffe@victorinox.com

Photography by Carlos Farinha @carlosclickuk