​Welcome to Open Tab, my weekly digest of news, gossip, and stories that lingered in my browser tabs all week. Last week, we discussed the astonishing quantity of hot sauces on the Artemis II. One detail from this week’s New Yorker exposé on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (especially his frequent lying) that I can’t stop pondering was a standout among its many bombshell revelations. Ronan Farrow wrote that Altman would pause his “war room” at six o’clock each evening for a round of Negronis. Negronis…every night? This man needs to be introduced to new cocktails. Also out there: Danny Meyer’s new book, *What Could Possibly Go Right?* It will be released in late September. What should we anticipate?  

​Here’s an update to my recommendation: I still love this knife set, but I’ve seen it frequently go out of stock. It’s also substantially more expensive now than when this piece was first published. Although I use these knives nearly every day and eagerly recommend them to anyone who can track them down, I’m no longer convinced they offer the great value they once did. For additional three-piece bundle choices, see our roundup of the best knife sets. When I was 16, I worked as a prep cook at a local banquet hall. Occasionally, the chef would pull out his personal knife roll, allowing us to cut crudités using something besides the usual dull, plastic-handled, grimy kitchen knives we were forced to use. I still recall the distinctive weight of the 8-inch chef’s knife as I pulled it from its sheath, the chef commenting, “Wüsthof makes the best knives.” That works for me. Years later, I requested a Wüsthof set as a college graduation gift and instantly fell in love with their balanced handles, sharp edges, and superior steel quality.  

​What defines a quality chef’s knife. The sharpness of each knife was evaluated using the following criteria. The finest knives effortlessly and cleanly cut through a range of vegetables—from tender tomatoes to dense kabocha squash—while also slicing paper smoothly without tearing or snagging. Construction. Knives forged by hammering a single piece of steel into shape feel more robust and better crafted than stamped knives, which are mass-punched from large steel sheets. Chef’s knives with a full tang—where the metal extends the entire length of the handle—and a bolster offer superior balance compared to partial-tang knives. Comfort. A quality chef’s knife should feel comfortable for various grips, enabling smooth chopping, slicing, and dicing without hand strain or discomfort. They’re also well-balanced between blade and handle for easier knife work, with comfortable handle materials. Other chef’s knives we liked. Unter 1703 Dollar. 100 oder 200. 200 Dollar und mehr.  

​It’s well known that Bon Appétit editors do a lot of cooking for their jobs. It’s no surprise that we also do a lot of cooking in our free time. Here are the recipes we’re preparing this month to get dinner on the table, entertain friends, satisfy sweet cravings, use up leftovers, and everything in between. For even more staff favorites, click here. A party app worth repeating. I’m highly predictable at parties. If asked to bring an appetizer, I’ll bring crudités: typically endive cups, cucumber spears, and radish halves (not popular, but I love them). The dip is usually the same: a romesco I whip up in a personal blender in minutes. I’ve never measured this, but it goes roughly like this: Drain a jar of roasted peppers and pat them dry.  

​This month, Bon Appétit’s Bake Club is reimagining a classic. Tune in as Jesse Szewczyk analyzes his popular Chocolate Guinness Cake recipe. “The cake came to me quite easily.” I experienced a vision. “I’m fortunate,” Jesse tells cohost Shilpa Uskokovic. However, the challenge arose when it came time to develop the frosting. “I felt like everyone in the Test Kitchen had an opinion on what it should be… I definitely tried at least 10 different frostings.” In the end, Jesse settled on brown butter frosting as the ideal topping—not only for its flavor but also because it evoked the creamy head of a perfectly poured Guinness. “It’s fortified with a touch of Guinness—just two tablespoons,” Jesse says.