From the author's preface: In older times, knowing how to care for kitchen utensils was something we were expected to learn from our mothers and grandmothers. These days, it is harder to pass on this kind of "everyday knowledge" to younger generations. I also was not taught much by my mother about how to look after kitchen utensil, but I have been fortunate enough to learn from excellent teachers — the makers of kitchenware. It is true that the more we learn about how to handle tools, the more we enjoy using them. We come to understand the beauty of tools that are well-used and care for. When doing some research on the information I gathered from makers I visited, I was surprised to find that many of the things they told we were supported by theoretical chemistry. It seems that "to know its material" is they to mastering the tool. "Taking care of tools" is sometimes understood to mean "keeping them neat and clean." However, I have often heard the makers say, "You will spoil the charm of your well-used tool if you bring it back to a brand-new condition." The texture and character of the tool develop as we use it over time. The true attraction of well-used tools lies in those added qualities as well as their practicality. Your kitchen utensils can continue to improve and become better than when you first used them. If this books helps that happen, I would be more than happy.
