Strong—Not Long   An eight-inch chef's knife is as versatile as a gray flannel suit: It's strong (crunch through the leg joint of a chicken), nimble (carve a roast, section a pear), and precise (mince garlic, chiffonade basil—once you figure out what that means).   $80, j-a-henckels.com  Bring the Lumber   Two words: thick wood. Thin wood will warp and split within a few weeks, and plastic cutting boards can't handle extreme heat. Better to char your wooden board with a scorching-hot skillet than have a toxic event. Just remember to pat the wood dry after rinsing.   $46, johnboos.com