To chiffonade basil,pick the cleaned leaves from the stem and stack the leaves together lengthwise.Then roll the leaves fairly tightly together into a sort of basil cigar.Using your chef's knife,cut across the roll to make slices about a quarter-inch thick.keep the tip of the knife on the cutting surface and move the base of the blade in a rocking motion as you cut;this will provide stability and help the cutting go faster.