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| Le Creuset |
Now that my new Florida home is finished and I have a bit more time, I have decided to return to real cooking. I'm actually a really good cook. I just needed a break.
I would love to upgrade the appliances, but there is a huge shortage as I am sure you are aware. So for now I am styling the kitchen with great accessories, have put in a new honed marble herringbone backsplash, and am upgrading my cookware.
As you know, I love color. I think starting to upgrade my glassware to the colorful Estelle Colored Glass started the wheels turning. I have always admired the iconic Le Creuset. The company is about 100 years old. Each piece takes 10 hours to make, is cast in its own fresh sand mold, and is inspected by 15 people. One reviewer called it the Louis Vuitton of cookware. Here I am carrying my Louis Vuitton Ellipse - LOL.
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| Izzy and Me |
I know some of you must be Le Creuset collectors. I have so many questions.
What was your first piece?
Do you mix and match or collect all one color? My concern with all one color is if that one is discontinued, you are in a bind. And there are so many wonderful choices. There have been about 200 colors.
What color(s) do you collect?
Do you display yours?
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| Le Creuset on Range |
What are your favorite pieces?
I love the exotic pieces too like the tagine for North African cuisine that I love. One of my favorite chefs in Alexandria, Virginia was North African.
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| Le Creuset Tagine |
There is a Le Creuset outlet store near me. Are they great or am I better off just watching for sales and ordering online?
Best places to buy?
Cleaning tips?
My game plan right now is to mix and match their blues. Chinoiserie Chic Le Creuset. I think blues will be so pretty with all my blue and white Chinese porcelain.
Thanks for sharing any tips.
I am very visual and gorgeous cookware will definitely inspire me.
PS - I am planning a trip to the Le Creuset outlet on Wednesday as I will be quite close by there anyway. A commenter mentioned the Staub Pumpkin Cocotte (French term for Dutch oven) in white - I have long admired it. Neiman Marcus has it for $180 with free shipping - everyone else even Amazon sells it for about $300. This looks to be a seriously great deal. Click here. I would keep this on my stovetop and use it as a centerpiece in the autumn. Stunning!
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| Staub 3.5 Quart Pumpkin Cocotte in White |
I've been a Le Creuset LOVER for over 30 years and starting collecting their BLUE first (it's now retired). Have since added some DIJON yellow pieces (not sure if its retired yet). Anywhoo - I have plenty of pieces and probably use my covered dutch ovens the most. In addition, they have great non-stick fry pans, too. LUV:) As for displaying - I do not. Am a Blue/White collector - so those pieces along w/ my Spode Blue Italian and Mottahedeh Blue Canton are on display. PS - there are Le Creuset outlets - check around !
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the info - I'm headed to the outlet here on Wednesday.
DeleteFactory to table sale at outlets and stores began August 6th,goes to end of the month. Perfect timing ,Beth.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I am going on Wednesday and will report back.
DeleteI have quite a few pieces of Le Creuset. My favorite color is the Blue that is almost a French blue. I don't know the real name for the color. I've been buying Le Crueset for more than 30 years, so I have some pieces that are no longer made. My very favorite is a very large deep skillet with a lid and it is no longer made. However, they do make another version, which I also have. (We have several houses, so I have Le Creuset in each kitchen). I love the large stockpots and the large oval baker is perfect for roasting a chicken. I have another pot which has as its lid a piece which is also a small skillet when turned upside down. I use it for making cornbread for two. Some of my Le Crueset is enameled and other pieces have a black interior. I put all of them in the dishwasher and have done this for years--and they are in great shape. I am careful not to burn things. I gave a piece to my elderly mother (the very small stock pot) and she burned things in it. I have inherited that piece now and could not get the burn marks out. I still use it, but it is not as pristine as my other pieces. One caveat about Le Crueset--it is VERY heavy--and some people do not like it for that reason
ReplyDeleteThe French blue that is a current color is Marseille. Thanks for all the tips. Also great to know about the dishwasher. My current cookware I can't put in the dishwasher and that's annoying.
DeleteAd addendum to my comments---Dutch ovens are the pieces I was calling stockpots. Also, I would stick to their cast iron pieces and skip the breakable pieces. I don't think they are as special or as well made. I was not aware that the blue had been discontinued! I was still buying it as wedding gifts a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the stoneware - there are better brands like Emile Henry.
DeleteA friend of mine just moved from California and bought a house in the Dallas, TX area. She texted me yesterday and told me it will be months before she is able to get any large appliances. She and her husband have been vacationing around the country for the last few months, so she had no idea about this shortage. She is now on hold with regard to decorating and furnishing her new house.
ReplyDeleteI can't speak to Le Crueset, as I have never owned any. It's beautiful, but I guess I'm more of a Mauviel girl. I find their copper ware beautiful, but in truth, cooking is not my favorite thing. I lean more towards decorating and gardening. Well, at least with the delays, you will have lots of time to comparison shop and find out what you really want.
We live in Dallas and use Ed Kellam and Sons as our appliance store. They are running ads now for Wolf and Sub Zero appliances so they must have them in stock or be able to get them.
DeleteLisa - My mother collected copper cookware even though she was not much of a cook. I love eating out, but not with the pandemic. I'd rather cook at home. I've also started getting wine shipped here and I love it. I'll have to post about it.
DeleteSusan - I have not read about Wolf or Sub Zero, but I know that the appliances the general pollution is shopping for are unavailable like KitchenAid, Samsung, General Electric, etc. My neighbor here and a friend in DC have had theirs on order for over a year.
Kitchen designer here, my clients are being told that deliveries for Wolf, Sub Zero or Thermador are going to be next February.
DeleteThanks for weighing in - things are crazy out there.
DeleteI just love reading about your adventures in Florida, Beth. Decorating, entertaining, gardening, shopping, your doggies, your daughter's new home. I'm living vicariously through you! Sigh...I'm really ready to pack up and leave CA.
ReplyDeleteYou are so sweet. I am having fun here and also looking forward to spending time in Annapolis. Life is good. California does sound scary.
DeleteI too have the royal blue dutch ovens of two sizes and some fry pans and smaller pots...I too use both of the dutch ovens the most - and no I keep them in the drawers but not out on display - I love my blue collections.
ReplyDeleteThe blues are so pretty. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteI purchased my husband his first piece, a skillet in dark green. He uses it all the time. He wants more but it will have to wait until a sale at Williams Sonoma.
ReplyDeleteLove your picture. Was it taken at the Scottish Christmas Walk parade? When we lived in Alexandria, we went every year.
You are hysterical that you figured out where - Market Square in Old Town - Doggie Howloween. I REALLY miss Scottish Walk weekend. I never missed a year. When I first started going Old Town was still tiny and they had a progressive dinner in people's homes.
DeleteMy first LeCreuset purchase was a 3.5 braiser in a pale French gray. It’s perfect for pasta and meat dishes, especially those one pot meals that start on the stovetop and finish in the oven. For cleaning, I just fill the pot with hot water and let it soak overnight—no issues with stains. I chose the neutral color because I change my kitchen colors seasonally during the year so it blends well with my pinks, aquas, lime greens, and French blues. I will say, however that my Staub bright white pumpkin Dutch oven is my favorite piece—with its gold stem, it’s a stunning piece…sits on my stovetop year round like a beautiful piece of art!
ReplyDeleteThe French Gray is so elegant. I like all the Staub vegetable cocottes - the white pumpkin is beautiful.
DeleteHope you enjoy your new Staub pumpkin as much as I do—buy it, you’ll love it…
DeleteI adore their Dutch ovens and have several. My favorite color is indigo and i love that they are made in France. But beware! Some of their bakeware is made in China! I discovered this while shopping at a local store and the sales associate pointed this out. I prefer Emile Henry bakeware because it IS made in France. Just an FYI!
ReplyDeleteYes, thanks. I agree. I also prefer the Emile Henry tagine/tajine.
DeleteIn a twist of coincidence, I noticed a day or two ago that Zulily had Le Creuset as one of their featured brands...of course, my eyes locked tight on the INDIGO color, which is just stunning. Two other blues in the over 200 pieces they had caught my eye: MARSEILLE and CARIBBEAN, Simply gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI love all those colors as well. Their blues are all gorgeous in my opinion.
DeleteAl Spok Very Very CUTE Dog & Lady p.s. Nice Hand Bag LV
ReplyDeleteThanks - alas my Marc Jacobs, Chanel, and LV all sit in my closet - a bit too dressy for here in Florida.
DeleteI was lucky enough to inherit 2 small pieces of LeCreuset in the original orange color from my mom when she passed away and that’s when my love of this cookware started. I guess you could call me a LeCreuset fanatic and purchased my first piece at Home Goods years ago. It was the medium size Dutch oven in red and quite a bargain. I got several other pieces in red at HG, the large 71/4 qt.Dutch oven, several open and covered casserole dishes and more. At the time, they only seemed to have red, but since then I’ve seen other colors. If I had to do it over, I’d get different colors. I don’t display it but it is a dream to cook with. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI think all their colors are gorgeous. It will be fun to collect and to use. Thank you.
DeleteIt looks like I am the only one who feels this way, but many years ago I bought a large set of Le Creuset and I ended up never using it and eventually giving it away because it was so heavy! I just hated it. You are absolutely right regarding the new appliances. We redid out entire kitchen over the winter and it took forever (months) to get out appliances.
ReplyDeleteThey are heavy, no question. Made to last. I will wait until things normalize on the appliances. Too crazy now.
DeleteCan anyone compare Staub to Le Creuset? I just saw that HG had Le Creuset Dutch ovens I wonder how their prices compare to the LC outlet store.
ReplyDeleteI will report back on the outlet prices after I go. I do like the Staub "vegetable" dutch ovens.
DeleteI love Le Creuset and have two of the large dutch ovens that I use all of the time. I really made a big mistake with the one pot by adding bleach to the water to clean it....pretty much ruined the finish inside but I still use it. The two are in the cream color and I still love the color!
ReplyDeleteThat's an elegant color. A shame about the bleach - I have an aversion to bleach and never buy it or use it.
DeleteMy mom started me off with a medium sized Dutch oven and a stockpot when I was a newlywed. She bought them in Santee at the outlet there. I later stumbled upon a huge yard sale stash, and bought them all for thirty dollars. I got thousands of dollars of pots and gave several away. They were all blue. I do find them to be heavier than I’d prefer, but I use my original Dutch oven, a couple oval bakers, and my mom’s small stockpot often. The key to keeping them nice is to rinse and soak, to use a little Barkeeper’s version of soft scrub on the outside only, and not to heat them too quickly.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping someone would suggest the liquid Barkeeps Friend for cleaning. I keep finding these lovelies at local estate and downsizing sales. I have blues and I keep looking for Caribbean. Soup season is coming!
DeleteWonderful to know about the Bar Keepers Liquid Cleanser and I always have that on hand anyway - and the Le Creuset cleaner is crazy expensive. Thanks!
DeleteI have several pieces in the iconic French blue that I registered for when I got married. We use the Dutch oven the most.
ReplyDeleteThe Rolls Royce of salt and pepper mills also makes me happy- Peugeot.
The dutch oven in blue is a must. Do you have a preference in size and color on the Peugeot. I like the 9 inch in various colors.
DeleteI started with red years ago, and my first piece was a red heart. I gifted that collection to a friend when I decided I wanted the blue. I now have two big Dutch ovens plus the ramekins and I am working on adding the smaller pots. PS I do have the white Staub tomato (which I pretend is a pumpkin in fall) and love it.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that the tomato came in white. I love the tomato in grenadine. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteGreat post, Beth!
ReplyDeleteI've been cooking with Le Creuset for nearly 50 years now. I love it; it holds the heat while responding to flame adjustment well. I cook on an actual Wolf restaurant range, and the pots and pans work great. I don't have a collection, but I have several sizes and colors of Dutch ovens, pots, frying pans, etc. I buy them on sale or at an outlet. I've always cleaned them gently with soap and water. If they get discolored or a burn spot, I clean them according to manufacturer's directions: boil water and a small amount of bleach until clean, rinse, and wipe with vinegar. My largest pot is flame orange, and I make great batches of Sunday pasta sauce in it.
Cooking on a Wolf range with Le Creuset sounds like perfection. Thanks for the tips.
DeleteI have been reluctant to try Le Crueset because of its weight. However, a few years back, I bought a medium-sized dutch oven in gray from WS. I love it! I really want a larger one now, but my kitchen is so tiny, I have nowhere to keep it. When we move and I have a larger kitchen, that's going to be my first purchase. I don't know if I'll stay with gray or try another color. LOVE the Staub pumpkin!
ReplyDelete