For better or for worse, I have a profound aesthetic aversion to most steak knives. The handles are too stuffy, or not fancy enough, or too curvy, or too weapon-like, and so it is that year after year I saw away at beautiful, pan-seared ribeyes with cutlery that doesn't even begin to do justice to the meat. But this steak knife set from the French knife company Opinel just might be the answer: the clean-lined hornbeam hardwood handles feel modern, but still nod at tradition, and the colorful stains keep it all from getting too matchy-matchy.

Opinel Table Knives, $53.95 for a set of 4 at Amazon.com