Lately, I’ve been focusing on using the “Mammoth Ivory” sommelier knife from Laguiole Unblack that I purchased recently. After using it for a while, here are my impressions:
The moving parts are still quite stiff. It probably needs some break-in or “aging” through regular use.
The foil cutter has a unique shape but is very sharp—quite satisfying. (Although, perhaps my usual Château Laguiole has just gotten dull.)
The screw is rather thick, and the shallow grooves on it cause a noticeable squeaking sound when pulling out corks.
Overall, though, it feels solid and well-balanced, and corks are relatively easy to remove.
As a “go-to sommelier knife,” I still tend to reach for my Château Laguiole out of habit, but I expect this one will become more comfortable with continued use. This one is reasonably priced—usually they go for just under ¥30,000.
Meanwhile, the dragonfly nymphs at our home have completely gotten used to feeding. Now, when I offer frozen bloodworms with tweezers, they snap at them reflexively, and some individuals can eat over ten at a time. Recently, the largest one or two have started refusing food, and they’ve been staying near the water surface more often. One of them, in particular, has been keeping its head above water continuously since yesterday. Could it be that its emergence is finally imminent???