Andréa Perret is a passionate artisan knife sharpener who decided more than 10 years ago to take up this trade in order to be independent and work with his own hands. He has opted to sharpen knives and cutting tools in general.

The process of remoulding a knife is meticulous and requires special know-how. Andréa starts by observing the general condition of the blade, then he resharpens the edge until the thread appears and removes the dead edge. He adapts his techniques to suit the different types of blade, using an abrasive or cloth wheel for knives and a diamond wheel for circular saws, for example.

Andréa believes that his work has a direct or indirect impact on tasting, as the quality of the cut is essential for impeccable visual presentation of the food. He stresses the importance of eating first with the eyes.

Andréa’s daily life is punctuated by challenges: finding customers to support his family and avoiding accidents when handling sharp tools. But he is motivated and passionate about his job. For him, contact with customers is essential and he gets up every morning with the desire to go to work.

His main objectives as an artisan grinder are to make a name for himself, to grow in his business and to last until he retires. He is convinced that he can achieve this by remaining passionate about his work and maintaining good contact with his customers.

In the future, Andréa sees himself continuing to work as an artisan grinder until he retires. He’s proud of his trade and his expertise, and will continue to bring it to life with passion and determination.