This is Chef’s Staples, where professional chefs dish on the gear they couldn’t cook without. This week: Chef Linton Hopkin of Holeman & Finch, Restaurant Eugene, Hop’s Chicken, H&F Burger and C. Ellet’s in Atlanta, GA.
If you’ve been in Atlanta in the last decade, there’s a strong chance Linton Hopkins has fed you. The chef and partner behind Holeman & Finch, Restaurant Eugene, Hop’s Chicken, H&F Burger and, most recently, C. Ellet’s has a knack for taking relatable dishes and making them exceptional (H&F’s freakishly hyped burger is the best example). But the James Beard-winning chef’s favorite gear doesn’t follow this line of thinking. From the benefits of a Japanese whetstone to the infinite versatility of a cast-iron skillet, these are the things Chef Linton Hopkins couldn’t live without.
Wüsthof Tri-Stone Whetstone

“The Japanese Whetstone has the ability to sharpen knives, while being meditative. Having sharp knives allow you to get better in touch with the tool which improves your cooking ability.”