"The possibilities in manipulating hot metal seem endless. I'm inspired to create beautiful knives, built for performance."

Meet The Makers

Don Carlos Andrade - California

Working from his long-time studio steps from the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, Don Carlos Andrade designs and creates heirloom quality chef knives by hand, each with a unique and inviting look and feel all his own. Whether an Alsace-inspired hidden tang butcher’s knife, a precision forged carbon steel chef with clay-induced hamon, or a slim, elegant, satin-finished slicer, Don’s ability to combine form and function makes each creation an instantly recognizable Andrade. Gorgeous blade finishes, uniquely sculpted handles carved from a variety of beautiful materials, unique, cloth-covered sayas, and of course his trademark round handle inlay, are elements we love. His loyal following by chefs around the world, and his status as our longest standing knifemaker, is evidence of Don’s quality, dedication, and ever-evolving approach to his craft.

A formally trained chef and long-time artist with a background in stone and bronze sculpting as well as artistic blacksmithing gives Don the tools needed to produce work that is both technically superb and visually striking. Working in a slow, meditative manner, using simple, handheld tools results in finished objects that seem alive in the hand; we could easily argue that Don’s knives seem to have souls of their own.

Don enrolled in culinary school in Los Angeles in the mid-1980s where he first experienced a handcrafted knife. His fascination with these sacred tools, artfully made extensions of the chef’s hand, quickly led Don to the buying and selling of various one-of-a-kind knives to learn everything he could about the objects through hands-on experience and up-close examination. It would be nearly twenty years from this point before Don made his first knife, but the flame was lit. During those two decades, moving on from kitchens to cast bronze and sculpt stone, Don honed his creative muscles, teaching stone carving for a number of years at a local college. Then, in 2006, after collecting and testing knives of a wide variety and with a growing interest in bladesmithing, Don apprenticed with master metalsmith Tai Goo (also an Eatingtools artist) and he made his first knife that same year.

In the nearly two decades since, Don has become a prolific and sought-after artisan of culinary knives, integrating the skills and knowledge from a lifetime of experience into each project. Our founder, Abe, first met Don around 2007 at a global knife show, and the two have remained close ever since. Upon Eatingtools’ launch in 2012, Don was one of the first artists to join the family, and his exquisite work, from ornate, integral construction blades to simple paring knives, has graced the collection since.

From The Archives

    Archive
    10th Anniversary Personal Chef - Stainless Damascus
    Don Carlos Andrade
    10th Anniversary Personal Chef - Stainless Damascus
    Archive
    10th Anniversary Personal Chef - Carbon Steel
    Don Carlos Andrade
    10th Anniversary Personal Chef - Carbon Steel
    Archive
    Linen Alsace Utility 132mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Linen Alsace Utility 132mm
    Archive
    Alsace Micarta Butcher 115mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Alsace Micarta Butcher 115mm
    Archive
    Midnight Tide EDK Chef 140mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Midnight Tide EDK Chef 140mm
    Archive
    Fauve Step Chef Set
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Fauve Step Chef Set
    Archive
    Golden Fall Apartment Chef Set
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Golden Fall Apartment Chef Set
    Archive
    Desert Step Santoku 138mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Desert Step Santoku 138mm
    Archive
    Rainforest Petty Chef 130mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Rainforest Petty Chef 130mm
    Archive
    Steelhead Chef's Fillet 178mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Steelhead Chef's Fillet 178mm
    Archive
    Stainless Purple Parer 104mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Stainless Purple Parer 104mm
    Archive
    Rainbow Integral Petty 143mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Rainbow Integral Petty 143mm
    Archive
    Curly Green Kiritsuke 178mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Curly Green Kiritsuke 178mm
    Archive
    Tyler Sycamore Petty 107mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Tyler Sycamore Petty 107mm
    Archive
    Buckeye Burl Parer 97mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Buckeye Burl Parer 97mm
    Archive
    Purple Tribal Parer 108mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Purple Tribal Parer 108mm
    Archive
    Sycamore Charcuterie Petty 136mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Sycamore Charcuterie Petty 136mm
    Archive
    Imperial Orb Chef 217mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Imperial Orb Chef 217mm
    Archive
    African Blackwood Petty Chef 153mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    African Blackwood Petty Chef 153mm
    Archive
    Antique Integral Petty Chef 147mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Antique Integral Petty Chef 147mm
    Archive
    Red Dart Utility 162mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Red Dart Utility 162mm
    Archive
    Rainbow Shallot Knife 136mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Rainbow Shallot Knife 136mm
    Archive
    Antique Micarta Alsace Parer 103mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Antique Micarta Alsace Parer 103mm
    Archive
    Geocarta Damasteel Chef 230mm
    Don Carlos Andrade
    Geocarta Damasteel Chef 230mm