Le Creuset Oven : Dutch or French?
One of my dearest of dear (and most favorite) friends emailed me this morning to share something new from Williams-Sonoma : Le Creuset's Wide Oval Dutch Oven (suggested price $255, on sale now for $129.95).
Just last night I was on Sur La Table's website wishing I was in possession of Le Creuset's Oval French Oven in the line's newest color, Cassis.
It dawned on me this morning...French or Dutch? What's the difference?
Come to find out ...there isn't one (at least when it comes to Le Creuset)!
The company was founded in 1925 by two Belgian men, one was a casting specialist and the other was an enameling specialist. The business was located in Fresnoy le Grand in Northern France, approximately 120 miles northeast of Paris and within that year the first Cocotte (French Oven) was produced.
Business took off after the second World War (between 1945- 1955) as they began to concentrate on an extensive range of enameled cast iron cookware in new styles and exciting colors. They began to export their product in 1952 (50% went to Europe and 50% went to the United States). It wasn't until 1974 that they set up a subsidiary (Le Creuset of America, Inc.) in South Carolina.
Why Cast Iron?
It has been used since Roman times and it is still forged and crafted by hand because not only does it look great but it has the ability to retain and spread heat evenly. The raw materials are melted at an extreme temperature in a large cauldron (called a "creuset" in French) and then poured into molds.
FUN FACT: After each use the molds are broken (and recycled) so no two pieces of Le Creuset are ever exactly the same.
Le Creuset currently makes their ovens in a wide variety of colors, the first was introduced in 1934 as their signature color, Flame Orange (Sorry Batali, it was LC's color first!) and most recently they have added Oynx Black, Cassis, and Lilac to the collection.
You can find the ovens most commonly at Williams-Sonoma or Sur La Table. In order to avoid confusion in the purchasing process remember that Williams-Sonoma calls them "Dutch" Ovens (the traditional name) and Sur La Table sticks with "French" Ovens (the name branded by Le Creuset). Not sure why it has to be so confusing or why Williams-Sonoma felt the need to call the product something other than what Le Creuset calls it.
Le Creuset currently makes their ovens in a wide variety of colors, the first was introduced in 1934 as their signature color, Flame Orange (Sorry Batali, it was LC's color first!) and most recently they have added Oynx Black, Cassis, and Lilac to the collection.
You can find the ovens most commonly at Williams-Sonoma or Sur La Table. In order to avoid confusion in the purchasing process remember that Williams-Sonoma calls them "Dutch" Ovens (the traditional name) and Sur La Table sticks with "French" Ovens (the name branded by Le Creuset). Not sure why it has to be so confusing or why Williams-Sonoma felt the need to call the product something other than what Le Creuset calls it.
Bottom Line: Call it what you want to call it, both names will do.. picking out which color you want is more important anyways!
The ovens come either "round" or "oval" and range in size (2qt - 13 1/4 qt) and of course, color.
The ovens come either "round" or "oval" and range in size (2qt - 13 1/4 qt) and of course, color.
[Personally, I love the oval idea because as my dear culinary countess of a friend, Erin, put it, "There's just more surface area to get those juices simmering...and reductions reduced...and gosh darn it...who likes round anyway?" ]
They also make braisers which are wider and shallower to allow for better searing . The braisers range in size from 2 1/4 qt - 5 qt. There are some specialty items too like their Goose Pot (15 qt, $494.95) and their Lobster Pot (pictured right, 16 qt, enameled steel).
Craving more info?
Click on Links Below...
Le Creuset
Williams-Sonoma
Sur La Table
Sarah Simms