The Ulu knife is one of those kitchen products I never knew I needed until I had it. And I never would have discovered this unique cutting product if I hadn't visited the Ulu Factory Store in Anchorage.

If you're looking for a traditional, yet practical souvenir of Alaska, consider the Eskimo's Ulu knife: a rounded-edge knife that "rocks" through food in a round wooden cutting bowl.

Throughout Alaska, we saw cheap versions in every souvenir shop but we didn't appreciate the value of a "true" Ulu until we visited the factory store where they are produced. Don't be fooled by the cheap imitations, go to the store to visit and purchase the REAL knife (which must be packed in your checked luggage, by the way.) They also will ship your purchase home: a friend shipped her knife home for $8 Priority Mail and it arrived at her door in New York THREE DAYS later! Impressive.

We didn't think we would get a chance to visit the store because it's a little removed from the downtown shopping/hotel area. But you can pick up a FREE TROLLEY at the Anchorage Visitors Center downtown for the short ride over to the store. The trolley leaves every half-hour or so with cheerful college students at the wheel, so be sure to save a dollar or so for tips.

At the store, see demonstrations of how to use the knife on everything from fresh tomatoes to frozen meat. They aren't cheap: you'll spend $30 - $40 for a knife and cutting bowl. My best tip is to visit the little "Seconds" corner in the shop where you can pick up imperfect models for half-price. Search carefully and you can find ones with only crooked printing on the knife. It's worth it for such a bargain!

An Ulu knife is just a great, unique and very useful product (I easily sliced through a log of frozen hamburg in a minute!)

You also can visit the website at www.ulufactory.com or call (907) 276-3119.