To shun:
- To avoid deliberately; to keep away from.
- To bestow with gifts of really swish Shun knives.
Luckily, in my case, it’s the latter definition that applies. On account of having come so far to attend IFBC this weekend, I was presented with a very slick Shun paring knife, all the better to peel potatoes with. This was on top of the Shun Chef’s knife which was included in the outrageously lavish and weighty bag of goodies which all of the conference attendees got from Sur La Table.
My new sharpies
Now, I’m thinking that I’m going to have to do some pretty fancy spud peeling with this gear. Or perhaps learn to throw knives at spuds from a distance. The Spud may have to take on a whole new finely chopped persona (Schizospud?). Meanwhile, normal Spud service will resume when I’ve recovered from the food-induced coma which was an inevitable consequence of this weekend’s foodie conference proceedings. That and when I’ve figured out how to get those rather dangerous-looking objects back to Spud HQ, er, sharp-ish.
Congratulations on your Shunning! Glad the conference was great; hope you recover from your well-earned food coma directly:)
I am so jealous you went to that conference. Please write a post about how you feel about the weekend, I’m thinking of going next year…I wonder where it will be?
Great new definition for shun. They say Americans and people from the UK (sorry to lump you into the whole lot) are a single people divided by a common language..not true..I love your writing!
It was such a pleasure having you at the conference!
Wow… I wish I had a pair of those!!! The conference sounds really great from all the tweets I’ve been reading.
I am so jealous! I did not even know about the conference until yesterday. If you hear of another one/next years, please let me know.
It’s beautiful!!!!
You got a swag bag, too?!? I’m trembling with envy right now! 8-)
Wishing you a speedy recovery from your food-induced coma so that we can get all the wonderful details about your trip to Seattle and SF!
oh, we were all so lucky & you deserve that second fancy *shun* for traveling the farthest, for sure!!! I was also shunned tonight when I used mine for the first time to carve up some veggies for dinner!
All the best for a safe trip home!
Cheers!
Such beautiful knives! The potato peels are gonna be flying all over the place once you return to Ireland. :-)
It was so nice to have met you in person at IFBC. Hope you’re enjoying the rest of your time in the states.
Oh, your photo puts my photo to shame. Ah well.
It was so lovely to meet you – have a great time in SF, and best of luck getting those suckers back to Spudland.
Jenni: I think that the best way to recover will be to eat my way out of the food-coma – at least that’s the theory I’m working on!
noble pig: the summary is that I thought it was a great event – I will post more about it in due course though
Barnaby: I guess I’m developing a whole new IFBC-related vocabulary, I need extra words to describe how great it was :) Thanks so much for organising.
jenn: I can’t wait to try them out once I get back home
Savor: there is another similar event coming up in SF in September – Blogher Food – and if I hear of any others I’ll let you know
Reeni: oh I agree!
Tangled Noodle: …whereas I was trembling with the effort of trying to carry the 23lb swag bag, for which I expect zero sympathy :)
Kristen: thanks – I’m looking forward to introducing my veggies to those knives in due course!
Allen: likewise lovely to have met you! And I do predict a lot of potato peeling action in the future, just watch this space :)
Eagranie: ah yes, if I have to bribe customs and security with offers of dinner in exchange for safe knife passage, then so be it – and glad to hear that your pointy goods made it safely across to Canada – now you just have to persuade Allen to hand them over :)
Indeed, beautiful knives! I am glad thatbthe confrence went great!
Wow, saw the pick you floated on Twitter. I could do with a bit of shunning myself. Look forward to hearing the details and learning all sorts of new carving and cutting techniques.
They look great but I manage to cut myself on an almost daily basis with the kitchen knives! Would lose a few fingers with these I think!
It was so great to spend time with you at the IFBC. I really I hope I make it to Dublin sometime soon so we can eat together on your home turf. Let me know if you ever get to Florida. Enjoy the rest of your holiday!
xo,
carol
I use shun… I wish I got one for free! GREG
Wow… I attended a ‘Star Chef’ convention in NYC one year and got some knives for less than $50 each, and they would have been much much more than that, and I love my Japanese knives. They are extremely sharp, so my students do not get to play with them…
Corrr, Spudness, you’re our Irish representative at an International Food Blogging whatnot? I’m WAAAAY impressed! Knife looks fab too. Can you bring it in your hold luggage? xx
I’m looking forward to your cutting humor when you get back!
Sharp-ish, lol! I suppose US immigration won’t look too kindly upon the massive blades in your suitcases. I can see the upraised eyebrows now…Hope you’ve had a great time!
Score! That’s a nice gift.
Such beautiful photos!
And yes the swag at the IFBC was amazing!
Sophie: thanks, they are beauties, alright!
OysterCulture: I think the first technique I will need to learn will be how not to cut myself :)
Marybakes: I gather they’re pretty sharp alright, so I will have to be extra careful myself!
Carol: so lovely to meet you too – the whole event was such a blast; if you do make it to Ireland at all, I’d love to meet & eat
Greg: if you use ’em, I’m sold!
Chef E: I’m not sure I should be allowed use ’em myself, lol
English Mum: yep, I was there representin’ the Irish blog troops – mad, really, but a lot of fun – and I really hope my hold luggage will get through ok!
Ange: expect razor sharp wit from now on :)
aoife mc: yeah, maybe they won’t mind as much if I’m leaving the country with the knives as opposed to trying to bring them in? we’ll soon find out!
Duo Dishes: nice score indeed :)
Rebecca: I can’t wait ’til I get home and start filling the kitchen with the swag!
Just make sure they go in your checked luggage. I had a chef friend who accidentally packed his whole knife roll into his carry-on. They confiscated the knives, but let him on the flight. He had to fly back to Florida (where it happened) six weeks later for a court hearing regarding the matter. Might be a good excuse for a trip back…
Us cooks understand how a good knife is the best thing ever. Huge score!
Hey, gastroanthropologist, yes indeed, they will go in my checked luggage. I would be gutted if I had to hand them over – and I wouldn’t be too happy about having to explain myself in court either! :)
oooh those knives are lovely. I loooove knives. A little creepy, I know…but I do.
I understand, Megan, I really do!