The art of the table occupies a special place in the hearts of the French. French gastronomy is not just about the menu, but also the elegance of the table. While tablecloths and plates are a matter of personal taste, cutlery demands a certain standing. A good table knife combines a sharp blade with an ergonomic handle. Is that enough? Artisan knives reflect ancestral know-how. Regional knives showcase local materials. Such is the case with Morta knives, which combine quality steel and a passion for cutlery with an exceptional wood. Oak from the Brière marshes, it has been waiting 5,000 years for the cutler to extract it from the peat. Will he be able to make the best French table knife? The answer is up to you. But here are a few well-honed clues.
Why is a good table knife essential in the kitchen?
A tasting experience
Providing your guests with quality knives demonstrates the importance you attach to them. It also means offering them a fine cutting experience. Imagine a good Charolais entrecôte steak coming off the coals and not slipping under your blade. Wouldn’t that be a shame? A sharp blade allows you to appreciate the meat’s tenderness and mellowness.
The knife’s balance (i.e., its ergonomics) determines how pleasant, natural and delicate the cut is.
As for durability, need we say more? Would you like to sit down at a table and find a worn knife, a dull blade, flecked with rust, a cracked handle? Of course not! A quality table knife adds cachet and enhances the tone of your meal.
Remember to sharpen knife blades before setting the table.
A beautiful table, French refinement
French elegance also applies to table setting. Entertaining guests with a beautiful table is a sign of attention and respect for others. Table linens, tablecloths, napkins and placemats define the theme: chic, bucolic, festive and so on. Modern or classic plates reflect your identity. Finally, cutlery should be arranged in a precise, “French” manner.
Forks on the left, points in the air.
Knives to the right, blade towards the plate.
Spoons to the right of knives.
Dessert spoon between plate and glass, handle to the right and hollow underneath.
Place cutlery in order of use, with the first one on the outside.
Arrange glasses in descending order of size, from left to right.
Tip 😉
Finish your presentation with an authentic table runner: fir or holly branches in winter, spring flowers, even sunflowers for more light. A planty note will sublimate the handle of your morta knife. Nature recognizes its own kind 🌱.
The different types of table knives
🔪 For a meal à la bonne franquette, the bread knife is placed on the table, on a cutting board. Its serrated blade is long enough (around 20 cm) to slice back and forth, whatever the size of the loaf or boule. At a fancy dinner party, the bread knife stays in the kitchen.
🔪 The steak knife accompanies carnivorous meals. It offers a perfect cutting experience and adds character to your table.
🔪 The paring knife doubles as a breakfast knife. Versatile, choose its size according to the diameter of your plates for a harmonious place setting. Available in standard or XL sizes. Blades measure 9 cm and 12 cm respectively. It cuts vegetables, as well as starters, fruit and meat. It’s the essential, the indispensable.
🔪 Whether for a festive meal, Christmas or a seaside get-together, the oyster knife: a must-have to place next to the glass of dry white wine. Not on the table, but in the kitchen. Yes, wine can also be enjoyed by opening oysters, and why not?
If the menu keeps to the same theme, a fish knife will be necessary.
🔪 Finally, the butter (or spread) knife is characterized by its round tip. Cheese knives are smaller. Their pointed end allows you to grab the cut piece to serve yourself without getting your fingers dirty or looking rude. These two knives remain in the cheese board. One paring knife is enough for each guest.
Caring for your Morta table knife
Which steel to choose for a table knife blade? Our cutlery advice
At Couteaux Morta, we like to point out that the steels usually used in cutlery are all of good quality. It’s the way in which they are worked that influences the efficiency of the blade. For our part, we use several.
🍴 Sandvik 14c28n steel is a stainless alloy containing 14.5% carbon, which increases its hardness. Nitrogen contributes to its strength.
Find it on the paring knife, the oyster knife, the chef’s knife and the entire Morta massif range.
🍴 90mcv8 steel is a carbon steel appreciated for its hardness and strength. Discover it on the Brut de Forge steel range. An opportunity to sprinkle your table with authenticity.
🍴 RWL 94 and PMC27 steels make up the famous Damascus with its moiré and artistic reflections. They are used in particular on the 6 Prestige table knives.
🍴 X50CRMOV15 stainless steel adorns the sets of 2 table knives or the box of 6 table knives.
Stainless steels are water-resistant. However, the wood of your table knife handle requires a dry cloth. If you’ve opted for a Morta knife (a very good choice 😉 ), maintain it exclusively with a dry cloth. Avoid the dishwasher and all detergent products.
🔪 All our steels offer a minimum hardness of 59 HRC on the Rockwell scale. For a good cutting experience, do not buy below 56 HRC.
Handcrafted table knives: displaying strong traditional values
The authenticity of craftsmanship
With a handcrafted knife, you’re adhering to strong values, and you’re showing it. The industry mass-produces knives of average quality. They use basic materials and processes to cut costs. There’s no need to judge: budgetary constraints are sometimes inescapable.
However, if you want to add a touch of style to your table, the artisan knife raises the bar. Hence the success of the regional knife. You like authentic products and French manufacturing. Your table proves it. A traditional knife, made from local wood, adds an ecological and eco-responsible dimension to your cutlery.
French craftsmanship: French excellence on your table
Are you one of the many French people who are turning to short-distance purchasing? The craftsman obtains the material and manufactures the final object, which he sells directly. At Couteaux Morta, we also design our own knives. Always on the lookout for new challenges, we are proud to present one of our latest creations: the Morta Pompe Arrière.
Supporting French craftsmanship means perpetuating traditional trades. But above all, it means passing on a heritage to future generations: a love of noble materials, commitment and passion for the craft.
Morta is a French wood, sourced exclusively from the Brière marshes in Loire-Atlantique. Any site presenting morta from Poland, Lithuania or elsewhere is in fact selling Polish or Lithuanian swamp oak, not morta.
Find out why in this video.
Morta: a 5,000-year-old noble wood for your most beautiful table
As you may have guessed, our uniqueness stems above all from our raw material, although it’s reductive to call it that. Morta is a precious wood in the process of fossilization. An oak from the Brière marshes, it takes its name from the dialect of the inhabitants of Saint-Joachim, Mayun or the island of Fédrun. Buried 5,000 years ago following geological upheavals, it slowly mineralized and fed on the soil’s nutrients. Silica and alternating black and brown peat give it an almost ebony color, with hints of caramel and even copper.
How would you like to place 5 millennia on your table?
Best table knives: our other cutlery tips
Round or pointed tip?
Round-tipped or pointed? Pointed, of course. Except for spreading butter. But at the table, a pointed knife offers a superior cutting and tasting experience. Traditionally, round-tipped knives are used by children to prevent injury.
Fixed or folding knife
Tradition calls for a fixed knife. Nevertheless, our loyal customers who own a folding knife would rather draw the blade from their pocket than use the one kindly placed next to their plate. Go figure 😉 !
Ergonomics: the importance of grip
When we welcome our visitors to the JHP workshop, we make a point of placing the knife in their hand. The feel of the wooden handle in the palm shows the importance of ergonomics and material. How could a plastic handle convey such an emotion? Design and comfort are a matter of precise, well-considered design and a noble, warm, authentic, living material.
The budget for a table knife: price and value
How much does a good table knife cost? That’s an impossible question to answer. The price of a knife depends on how it’s made (industrial or handcrafted), how the steel is treated, what the knife is made of (organic or plastic), how it’s decorated and how it’s customized. From short-lived everyday cutlery to prestigious table knives you’ll keep for the rest of your life, of course the price changes. Do you buy a knife to pile up in a drawer, or do you want a timeless, quality object?
With a handcrafted knife, the value is also symbolic and emotional, and that’s priceless. How much would you sell your grandfather’s knife for?
How do you sharpen your table knife?
The secret lies as much in the regularity of sharpening as in the gesture. However, to preserve the cutting power of your knife, we recommend a natural stone and a few best practices, which you’ll find in this video.
So, have you made your choice? Which will be the best knife for your table? We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have. We wish you a wonderful reception and a good appetite, because in the end, the most important thing is to taste.
Article written by Christelle Lorant 🪶
The article’s key questions
Why choose a quality table knife?
A table knife is more than just a useful tool: it enhances the pleasure of eating and adds a touch of elegance to the table. In fact, a beautiful knife with a sharp blade makes a clean cut, revealing all the tenderness of food, whether it’s a juicy steak or a delicate fish.
What are the different types of table knives, and how do I choose the right one?
Every meal deserves its own knife! Here’s a selection of the most common knife models:
- The steak knife: a sharp knife that enhances the cutting of grilled meats with a smooth or slightly serrated blade.
- The paring knife: versatile, it replaces a knife for everyday eating and is ideal for vegetables, cheeses and small cuts of meat.
- Bread knife: with its serrated blade, it makes it easy to cut round loaves and baguettes without crushing the crumb.
- Oyster knife: a must-have for seafood lovers, this knife goes well with a glass of white wine.
Butter and cheese knives: small but essential, they add a refined touch to your set of table knives.
Why choose an artisanal table knife?
A handcrafted knife embodies the expertise of artisan cutlers and the authenticity of tradition. Unlike industrial models, each piece is designed with particular attention to materials and finish.
French table knives from Atelier JPH are handcrafted from noble woods and treated with high quality stainless or damascus steel.
What's the best steel for a quality table knife?
Blade steel and surface treatment influence longevity. High-quality kitchen knives generally use :
- Sandvik 14c28n steel: stainless, it guarantees precise cutting and a pleasant grip.
- 90mcv8 steel: a carbon steel renowned for its strength, perfect for a Brut de Forge knife.
- Damascus steel: recognizable by its moiré sheen, it lends a unique style to wooden table knives.
- X50CRMOV15 stainless steel: used for table-knife sets, it is corrosion-resistant and long-lasting.
Whichever steel you choose, we strongly advise you to wash them by hand rather than putting them in the dishwasher, to preserve their sharpness and prevent damage.
Caution: if the handle is made of morta, never get it wet!
How to care for your French table knives for optimum durability?
A quality table knife needs to be properly cared for to preserve its sharp blade and elegant design:
- Avoid the dishwasher: heat and chemicals damage wooden handles and accelerate corrosion.
- Clean with a dry cloth: especially for wooden table knives, which should not be soaked in water.
- Sharpen regularly: use a natural stone or a sharpening steel to maintain an impeccable edge.
- Store them carefully: in a box or a knife block to avoid shocks that could damage the stainless steel blade.
What's the budget for a quality set of table knives?
The price of French table knives varies according to several criteria:
- type of steel,
- design,
- industrial or artisanal production.
An entry-level set of table knives costs around fifty euros, while a top-of-the-range set, designed by knife craftsmen, can exceed several hundred euros, or even thousands. But beyond the price, it’s the sentimental value that counts: a handcrafted knife tells a story, and can even be passed down from generation to generation.
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