Design agency Abode Creative are to launch their own range - Abode Gastronomy.
The knife and utensil collection is a side step away from ceramics and homeware, the staple of the business that has seen the company grow to a turnover of £33million in just three years.
The Cotswold based homeware design company was established by renowned designer Gary Birks, 42, who has enjoyed success with high street names, Wedgewood, LSA International, Whittard of Chelsea, Marks & Spencer and Next. He has picked up design awards as part of teams that have produced homeware for Terence Conran and Gordon Ramsey.
Abode Gastronomy was the brainchild of Abode Creative director Gary Birks, whom after speaking to various catering, hospitality professionals saw there was a place in the market place for home use knives and utensils that would work even in a professional kitchen.
“We wanted to challenge ourselves, as designers and as industry experts by producing a collection that is to the standard of an award-winning pro-kitchen that will work equally as well in a domestic setting,” Gary said. “One of the professionals we worked with was executive chef and restauranteur, Ethan Rodgers of Cirencester Park Polo Club, he was one of the first to trial the knives as well as offer his opinion on the shape and ergonomics of the blades.”
Ethan Rodgers won a Michelin Bob Gourmand and his first two AA Rosettes by the age of 25. It was this and the British heritage and history of Cirencester Park that persuaded Abode Creative director and principal designer, Gary Birks, to approach Ethan Rodgers after enjoying a lunch at Ivy Lodge.
The knives are something Gary and his team are particularly proud of, being made of a harder steel.
“The steel on the bread knife for instance, extends back through the handle for strength and balance. The ABS handle is made from a post-consumer waste and is therefore recycled. We wanted to use Ethan’s professional knife skills to show that the blade has a perfect curve on the blade edge so it rocks nicely and smoothly. Lots of cheap knives are flat towards the back of the blade so it never rocks completely. It’s also ground from top to bottom in a fully tapered shape so it’s easy to sharpen and slices through food nice and smoothly,”
he said.
Abode Gastronomy plan to expand the range that currently consists of knives, spatulas, slotted spoons and chopping boards to incorporate all of your cooking needs.
For information on Abode Creative please visit: abodecreative.design