Steve Pellegrino, an artisanal knife maker from Upper Black Eddy whose custom knives were a staple in many restaurant kitchens throughout Philadelphia, died on February 27 from injuries sustained in a car crash while driving home, writes Kiki Aranita for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
He was 34.
Local chefs expressed their shock at the news.
“I am incredibly heartbroken over this loss,” said Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon of Kalaya.
“Steve is a beloved craftsman,” said Michael Solomonov.
Pellegrino was a self-taught bladesmith with a graphic design degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Twelve years ago, he opened a shop in Lambertville, offering fabrication work, signage, prop design, and set design.
His interest in knife-making led him to apprentice at Portland Razor. After returning to the East Coast, he began crafting knives at his family home in Upper Black Eddy. Though not satisfied with his early results, he continued refining his skills, founding Pellegrino Cutlery in 2017.
Within a year, he was supplying knives to many chefs, including Marc Vetri and Solomonov.
He recently relocated to a Doylestown workshop in hopes of manufacturing more affordable knives for a greater range of customers.
His wife started a GoFundMe following his accident, which will remain open.
Read more about Steve Pellegrino in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
