Len

By now, you probably know Len as one of the familiar faces on our website and social media channels. During his six years at DEKSELS!, he has built up an impressive amount of knowledge about cookware and kitchen tools. Thanks to his broad interests and natural curiosity, he’s still learning something new every day.

Cooking as therapy

Before joining DEKSELS!, Len spent years working in hospitality, gaining experience everywhere from the dishwashing station to the kitchen, restaurant floor, and bar. It’s no surprise, then, that he has a deep love for food, cocktails, and cookware. Cooking is almost therapeutic for him, especially when he has plenty of time to enjoy the process. After a busy day at work he jumps into the kitchen and forgets the rest. He also genuinely enjoys sharing his knowledge with customers in the shop. His favorite part is discovering together what someone is looking for, or what they actually need, because those aren’t always the same thing. When a customer leaves with a purchase they’re truly happy with, Len goes home feeling satisfied.

Len on Instagram

For a long time, Len found it difficult to spend money on quality cookware.

“I never understood why I would buy a pan for, let’s say, €100 when there were pans on the market for €15. It wasn’t until later that I realized how enjoyable it is to cook with well-made kitchen tools. I enjoy cooking much more now, and it turns out the old saying is true: buy cheap, buy twice. My cookware lasts many times longer these days.”

DEKSELS!

Catalonian simplicity

When you ask Len about his favorite product, he doesn’t need much time to think. Without a doubt, it’s the 16 cm Pallarès Solsona chef’s knife with an olive wood handle and a carbon steel blade. His admiration for the knife began years ago when he came across the smaller version being used as a cheese knife in the restaurant where he worked before joining DEKSELS! From that moment on, he started noticing the distinctive Catalan knives everywhere. “I thought they were beautiful from the very first moment.” When DEKSELS! began selling them, he received one as a gift. Since then, several different sizes have found their way into his kitchen.

What appeals to him so much is the combination of simplicity, craftsmanship, and pure usability. The rounded lines of both the blade and handle are unmistakably Pallarès, a family-owned company from Catalonia that still handcrafts its knives today. Len prefers the carbon steel version. It requires a little more care than stainless steel, but stays sharp longer, is easier to sharpen, and develops a unique patina over time.

“My knife really shows the story of how I’ve used it.”

Len

According to Len, there are very few knives in this price range that combine such hardness with such easy sharpening. The approachable price also makes it an excellent gift, although, according to old superstition, the recipient should always give a coin in return.

Organized chef

Perhaps even more enjoyable than owning the knife itself is helping someone else choose the right one. For Len, a good knife isn’t just about steel types or appearances; it’s about how it feels. How does it sit in your hand? Does it suit the way you cook? Every recommendation is different. And once you start paying attention, Pallarès knives seem to appear everywhere, in restaurants, cookbooks, and cooking shows. His most surprising discovery even happened at the cinema. While watching the horror film Men (2022), he suddenly recognized a Pallarès knife being used as a prop. “Strangely enough, I felt a little proud.”

Of course, there are other products Len enthusiastically recommends. One of them is a set of ultra-lightweight stainless steel mixing bowls. They nest neatly inside one another and are useful for countless kitchen tasks. Marinate chicken in them, whisk up batter, or use them to hold chopped vegetables before they go into the pan. Len reaches for them every day and admits that they may actually be the most-loved item in his kitchen.

“I like working in an organized way, so I always start cooking with a proper mise en place. First I chop everything and put it into separate bowls. I even keep a dedicated bowl for trimmings and scraps that are headed for the bin, or the stockpot. They’re inexpensive, stack incredibly efficiently, and are easy to clean, whether by hand or in the dishwasher.”

Len

View the mixing bowls in our shop

Although he likes to keep things organized, Len describes himself as a true freestyle cook. Recipes are mainly reading material and inspiration; he rarely follows them exactly. He prefers to see what’s available in the fridge and cupboards and create something delicious from whatever is on hand.

That said, he does have a few recurring favorites.

“Lately I’ve been making Pad Kra Pao quite often: ground chicken, plenty of chilies, garlic, a generous splash of good fish sauce, and Thai basil. Everything gets stir-fried quickly in a screaming-hot stainless steel pan and served with rice and one, or preferably two or three, crispy fried eggs on top. It’s ready in no time and absolutely packed with flavor!”

Len