Turning 26 must be something special, as this birthday was a lot nicer than last year’s. I got a bunch of stuff, mostly bought with my own money (you know, buy yourself your own presents keeps the humble ego at bay) although I did get a nice present that I didn’t buy myself. Here’s what I got:

• Steinhausen Marquise SL Watch – Given to me by my roommate’s best friend as a way of saying thank you for being so good to her best friend. I haven’t worn a watch since I was 12, and it was a simple Thundercats watch. This is a $200+ watch that is nice, and simple. No advanced features, just an antique look and beautiful functionality. Doesn’t even run off a battery, instead relying on your body’s movement to provide energy. Turns out this was a fake.
• Wusthof Grand Prix 7-Piece Block Set – The ultimate knives for all cooking needs, these knives are the crème de la crème of the cutlery world. These kind of knives mean less accidents, greater control over your cuts/slices/dices, and a lifetime enjoyment in the kitchen. With my old knife, doing any knife work was a chore and a bore, but with these, my confidence and productivity has increased tenfold. Well worth the investment.
• Henckels Premier Series Opus 45-Piece Stainless Steel Flatware Set – To replace the embarassing set my roommate bought for $1 (no, that is not a typo.) I’m a minimalist by nature, I favor simple, elegant, and clean styles. This flatware set emphasizes that and I think guests will love it too.
• J.A. Henckels Flatware Tray – To store the new flatware in. The cheap blue plastic one I’m using would make even the best silverware look horrible.
• Corelle Just White 34-Piece Dinnerware Set – This is to replace the very heavy set we’re using now. They have flower designs on them, and are distracting when putting food on them. Which is why I favor white plates; they highlight the food and not distract the eater’s attention. Should look nice with the new flatware set too.
• Cuisinart Chef’s Classic 12-Inch Everything Pan with Dome Cover – It’s hard to find a pan without aluminium (possibly causes Alzheimer’s), and even more difficult find a quality non-aluminium pan that suits my needs. Fortunately I found this pan, at a great price, and will meet my needs everyday.
• Komachi Series 6-1/2-Inch Vegetable Santoku Knife – My roommate has been using this old Japanese vegetable knife for too long. This knife will replace it, and at least start a few conversations about how odd the Japanese are, although you can’t deny they may be odd, but focus on quality too. You won’t find much of that here in America.
• Matfer Exopat Nonstick Baking/Roasting Sheet – No need for aluminium foil when you have this on your cookie sheet. It’s non-stick, to boot.