At the end of a long restaurant shift, before the kitchen is cleaned, the chefs meticulously clean, sharpen and store their knives in cases or knife bags.

A memory that sticks out in my mind when thinking about the ideal kitchen(Silicone kitchen glove) arsenal comes from my 10-plus years of serving in various restaurants and lounges throughout the city. Regardless of where I worked, each chef shared a common trait: His or her knife was a (seemingly) permanent extension of the arm. Professional chefs take care of their knives like the rest of us treasure our jewelry or car.

Cooking is meant to be an enjoyable pastime, something to be shared with family and friends (a nice glass of wine always lubricates the conversation, as well). Preparing food with dull, cheap knives is not fun, however, and after receiving a beautiful German-made set as a wedding present, I can attest to the difference they make in the kitchen.

Renee Kohlman, chef and author of the Sweetsugarbean blog agrees. "The most important item you can have (in the kitchen) is an excellent quality knife set." Don't feel you need to buy an extensive selection; she says an eight-inch chef knife, a serrated knife and a few sharp paring knives are more than enough, as those are the ones you will use most frequently. "The more you spend the better quality you'll get. Keep an eye out for sales and keep your knives sharp. I've cut myself more often using a dull knife than a sharp one." she adds.

Kohlman has an unadulterated passion for preparing food that tastes delicious and looks beautiful and knows her way around a kitchen. She was happy to offer up some advice for readers daunted by the rows of shiny, pretty things in kitchen supply stores. Most of the gadgets (like a pineapple or apple corer) are useless; Kohlman claims good knife skills will take you further.

Her other essential items for a well-stocked kitchen include wooden spoons of various shapes and sizes, heat-resistant plastic spatulas, large and small whisks, a sharp vegetable peeler, a silicone pastry brush, a microplane for zesting chocolate, nuts, citrus and cheese, plastic or metal measuring cups and spoons, a large glass measuring cup for liquids, various sizes of mixing bowls, tongs and parchment paper. And, if you can afford it, Kohlman's final must-have is a KitchenAid stand mixer. "Not only does it look amazing on your counter, it's incredible for whipping up batter, dough and whipping cream."