We love our Le Creuset. Not only do we love how it cooks, we could stare at our pieces for hours.
Because we love Le Crueset for its form as much as its function, we always try to find a way to keep our collection out (ours is white, which is beautiful and now discontinued).
Plenty will complain about the heaviness of the cast iron and the price, but we say build up those arm muscles and get to William Sonoma, where they are having a good sized sale.
There's a Le Creuset outlet store at the Cabazon Outlets in Cabazon CA, just outside of Palm Springs on Hwy 10. They have a good selection of discontinued items, colors and ranges. Might be worth a phone call, if you need to complete your white set. Prices are okay, but they always have a big sale right before Thanksgiving.
Le, not La. Unfortuantely I know from years of correction by my french-speaking husband and mother. Years of correction because I love mine, too, and always talk about it.
k1ate,
Can you also clarify if it is pronounced 'crewzet' vs. 'crewzay'? I always pronounce it the 2nd way, but I have heard professional chefs refer to it the 1st way.
There are always lots of Le Crueset on ebay.
the "t" is silent
'crewzay'
French people will laugh at you any other way
The first syllable of Creuset doesn't really rhyme with the "oo" sound in American English for "crew" or "boot". It's not perfect, but the vowell sound in American English for "put" or "foot" is more like it.
Some English people make a habit of pronouncing certain French terms a l'anglaise. They do it with absolute authority, and I wouldn't want to be someone who laughed at or corrected un(e) Anglais(e) who pronounced the terminal "t". Yikes!
My father brought home a Le Creuset in the early 80s and that pot had a pretty, embossed vine detail along the rim. My own collection (over 10 years) has grown to 5 pieces, all in different colors. I use mine everyday and enjoy them immensely - whether on the stove or on display. Some family and friends complain of the heaviness whenever they are visiting, but I am smiling. In my mind, they are completely worth the price; the pots will outlive you!
Le Creuset stuff looks great (however pronounced) and is quite functional. As for the Williams Sonoma sale, it seems none too special. The sale prices are pretty similar to the regular prices at lots of other retailers (Amazon, for example -- and Amazon's sale prices are generally a lot better). Off course, WS has a much nicer store to look around in...
I've been collecting the red for a few years and use it daily. Good deals on Le Creuset are at www.cutleryandmore.com and shipping is free if you purchase $59.00 or more. I have found the prices to be better than anywhere else.
Are they worth it? That seems like a pretty good sale. Do they tend to chip?
Nothing cooks better, day after day, than my Le Creuset cookware. Last night's dinner included chicken falling off its carcass, with various root vegetables soaking in with the broth, cooked on stovetop, and in the oven a gratin and also roasted brussel sprouts, both cooked in casserole dishes. And few things would make me happier and more grateful than a few more pieces of Le Creuset.
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