Essential Kitchen Tools the 2024 F&W Best New Chefs Cant Live Without [Video]

A chef’s job is hard. The right tools not only make their jobs a lot easier, but they’re often critical to a chef’s success. So, we asked all the 2024 Food & Wine Best New Chefs about the products that helped make them become a better chef. From favorite cookbooks to indispensable kitchen equipment, these are the essential tools that our Best New Chefs can’t live without.

“I use the standard Microplane for everything, like grating garlic into a dish. I feel like I always have so many garnishes that are grated on at the end, whether it’s cheese, bottarga, or lemon zest. It’s a good utility.” — Mary Attea, Raf’s and The Musket Room, New York City

“I bought Jikko Crator Kiritsuke’s Blue steel Santoku from Kirei Knives. It has a good weight, it’s comfortable [to use], and the tip is pointy and very versatile. I use it to train people; I use it …