Don’t be afraid, but I have a thing for knives. I know you know this about me already since I wrote a whole blog post about my love of kitchen knives and even added my obsession of interesting scissors, too. So maybe it comes as no surprise to you that on my recent adventure in Paris, I picked up a few new sharp objects to add to my growing collection.

I’ve been completely obsessed with my favorite tomato knife since I first purchased it two years ago. It’s from a tiny housewares store and cost just over eight euros. The small smooth handle and incredibly sharp blade make quick kitchen tasks a cinch. So this year I picked up an extra so that I can dishwash the used one while always having a spare in the drawer and not have to hand wash mine after each use. Genius, right?

I also found these cute mini cleavers that are terrific. I have no idea exactly what I will chop, slice or dice with them, but the clean lines and small blade were irresistible.

I bought just two sets of silverware from a pattern I loved. Yep only two forks and two knives. Sounds silly but I’ll use them and couldn’t afford the whole set. And it gives me something to look forward to next year. Maybe I’ll add another few forks?? Yeah, right. More knives are surely in my future.

I picked up three pink handled tomato knives. I guess I eat a lot of tomatoes but these babies are just so great for citrus slicing, cutting bread, and creating perfect banana wheels that more is more.

And I found this odd shaped blade with a boxwood handle that I thought would be the ideal spreader and I’m totally obsessed.

Utility knives were so inexpensive in Paris that I picked up two with colored handles. I love when form meets function and I’m a sucker for a pretty knife!


If you’re keeping track that totals twelve. A number I’m both proud and embarrassed by! So when it was finally time for the big month end pack, I carefully wrapped all of the knives in various pouches and in protective coverings and placed them strategically in my soft checkable duffle for the long trans-Atlantic flight home. I have to say that I was a little nervous with all that metal packed into one bag. So to offset the contents, I was able to wrap clothing around souvenir mustard jars and tubes and packed the rest of that bag full of dirty clothes to cushion the breakables. Then I attached my TSA approved lock and sent that baby into the abyss that is checked baggage.


After what has to be one of the longest flights in history (I had that Russian stowaway you probably heard about on my return flight and she delayed our outbound exit by almost four hours!) I happily retrieved my luggage at JFK.

But when I went to pull my duffle off the baggage carousel, I noticed the bag had been opened. And sadly they didn’t just sift through my belongings (which you know is such a creepy feeling!) they also cut and removed my TSA approved lock! Ugh. I didn’t think they were allowed to do that? But apparently yeah.


Once home I fully unpacked. Thankfully nothing was missing. But I would have paid good money to see the look on some uniformed agent’s face while they uncovered twelve different individually wrapped knives and six (yep SIX) types of mustard. All my knives and condiments are happily housed now and I’m super excited to chop and schmear at will.

