Lever Corkscrew

Waiter's Friend Corkscrew

You might be asking what a waiter's friend corkscrew looks like. Well, look in your kitchen, and you will surely see one: it's that flat metal/brass gadget that you use for opening those wine bottles with its helix metal end. Yes, that simple thing we usually called as a generic corkscrew is actually better known in the wine-drinking circles as a waiter's friend. It is funny how a simple thing can have such a good name, and you do not know it.

Features

The waiters friend corkscrew is so popular that when anybody says "corkscrew," he usually means a waiter's friend. It is also the simplest, flattest, and smallest corkscrew available. In fact, it can fit into your pocket; indeed, it is useful for the waiter who had to work a lot of tables but had to open a lot of wine bottles in a few minutes.

It is also called a sommelier knife and has a folding body with one end usually sporting a bottle opener (crown top), the other a little knife, and the middle part the corkscrew itself.

Use

Even in its simplicity, a lot of people do not know how to use a waiter's friend. You can be lucky if the wine has a stopper, and you wouldn't have to pull off a cork. But for those with a cork, here are some easy steps to follow so that you can open the wine bottle like a pro without the risk of damaging the cork (thus, ruining the wine inside) or the bottle neck:

1. A lot of wines usually have a small cap on top with a seal of the producer. This is then held by an aluminum foil, which wraps the bottle neck as well. Using the knife end of your waiter's friend, carefully cut away the foil to take out the cap. Return the knife to its safe position.

2. Extend the bottle opener out so that it forms a wide angle with the rest of the body. Take out the corkscrew and center it on the cork. Twist down gently but firmly until the helix is deep inside the cork. Using the opener part as a lever (there is a notch that will fit on the bottle neck), gently position it on top of mouth of the bottle. You would want to be careful not to chip the glass.

3. The key to a safe pulling of the cork is proper placement of the lever end. Don't pull yet. Try to gauge if the pressure you are using is enough to take out the cork without shattering the neck. Adjust the depth of the helix so that the perfect fit will allow you to correctly pull out the cork in a zap. Done! A little more practice and you will be a pro!

So the next time you stage a party, do not forget to buy a waiter's friend corkscrew along with a really good wine and impress your friends with your savvy wine-bottle-opening skills. Besides, it is quite inexpensive compared to a screwpull.

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