Laguiole Carving Knife & Fork Sets

Carving set handles: juniper, ebony or wenge

Of the three on offer, juniper is the pale one, beige to light brown with small knots, and its satin finish suits an oak dining table or a country kitchen. Ebony is polished and deep black, which looks smart against white plates and silver. Wenge is dark brown, almost black, with darker streaks and a satin finish. Every set uses one material for both handles, so the knife and fork always match.

Video · 0:42

Watch the juniper carving set

Carving knife and fork, both with satin-finished juniper handles.

View this carving set

What does a carving knife look like?

It has a long, slim blade with a pointed tip, quite unlike the broad blade of a cook's knife, and you slice a joint with it in long, even strokes. You steer the blade round a bone with one hand while the other holds the fork steady. A carving fork sits alongside it, with two prongs to hold the meat. On the Laguiole en Aubrac pair, both pieces use the same handle material, which gives the pair a finished look on the table.

How to carve a leg of lamb

Rest the joint under loose foil for as long as your recipe says, so the juices settle, then move it to a board with a juice channel. Grip the shank bone with a cloth, or fix the leg in place with the fork, keeping your hand well clear of the blade. Starting on the meatier, rounded side, carve thin slices down until the knife meets the bone, then cut along the bone to release them. Turn the leg over and work the other side the same way, laying each slice on the platter as you go.

Carving set questions from UK buyers

You'll find a care leaflet with every delivery. Hand-wash the pair, dry them straight after, and skip the dishwasher entirely.