Quality kitchen cutlery is expensive and I believe that you get what you pay for. Three piece starter sets including a either a chef's or santoku knife, utility knife, and paring knife from quality manufacturers such as Shun, Wusthof, Global, Zwilling JA Henkels and Victorinox will range from $179 to $269 at Williams-Sonoma and Swiss Knife Shop. These knives are forged in Japan and Germany, crafted to take an edge, and provide years of service in professional kitchens.
